Albuquerque city councilors will vote Wednesday, Sept. 3, on millions in Gateway Center contracts that were postponed from the Aug. 18 meeting after calls for more accountability in the city’s $70 million homeless program.
The contracts with Chicanos Por La Causa for women’s housing navigation and Community Bridges for men’s services were delayed last month. Councilor Joaquín Baca criticized the Gateway program’s lack of transparency and called for better oversight of spending on the facility.
The council will consider changing parts of the city from Multi-modal Corridors to Major Transit Corridors in Resolution R-25-175, stretching from the North Valley near Rio Grande and Indian School east to Uptown along Indian School and Menaul.
City planners say the new designation would prioritize bus service, encourage redevelopment, and better connect neighborhoods to jobs and services along the corridor.
Opponents say the change is about upzoning and gentrification, not transit. They note ABQ Ride says the redesignation isn’t needed and argue it would prioritize cars over pedestrians and bikes in already redeveloping areas.
Councilors will also vote on Resolution R-25-170 to designate about 23 acres near Central Avenue and Lomas Boulevard as blighted, expanding the Central/Highland/Upper Nob Hill redevelopment area. The move would give the city new tools to encourage redevelopment that might not happen otherwise.
According to the city, those tools can include financial incentives for private developers, cutting red tape, investing in streets and infrastructure, forming public-private partnerships, and using Tax Increment Finance for projects.
The goal, according to the resolution, is to stabilize neighborhoods, create jobs, improve services, provide affordable housing, and upgrade buildings and infrastructure to make the area safer and more prosperous.
In housing, councilors are set to vote on Ordinance O-25-91, which would establish the “Preserving Albuquerque Through Critical Housing” (PATCH) program.
The program is designed to provide structural repairs to income-qualified homeowners to help preserve long-term housing stability. Eligible households earn at or below 80% of the Area Median Income, own and live in the home, and could receive up to $75,000 for repairs that affect health, safety, or structural integrity, including plumbing, electrical, HVAC, roofing, foundation and sewer or water connections.
Councilors will also consider Resolution R-25-188, which would authorize the city to accept $21.8 million in state funds for homeless services, facility upgrades and affordable housing.
The plan sets aside $13.4 million for operations, $3.3 million for improvements at the Gateway Center and Gateway West, and $5 million to buy the former Ramada Inn at 25 Hotel Circle NE, which will be converted into Juniper Flats, 204 affordable apartments for unhoused seniors earning below 60% of the area median income.
The funding would cover operations at the Young Adult Housing and Treatment Navigation Center, men’s and women’s housing and treatment centers, the First Responder Receiving Area and Gateway West. It also includes upgrades like a new roof at the Medical Respite Facility and dorm renovations at Gateway West.
In a separate vote, councilors will also vote on a contract with Youth Development Incorporated (YDI) to provide shelter, case management and housing services for young adults.
The agenda includes an update on the Broadband Working Group’s findings.
Get Involved
The City Council meeting is at 5 p.m. Sept. 3 in the Vincent E. Griego Chambers, basement level of the City of Albuquerque Government Center, 1 Civic Plaza NW.
To speak during public comment, you must sign up online by 4 p.m. the day of the meeting.
If you don’t have internet access, call (505) 768-3100 for help.
Join virtually:
- Zoom link: cabq.zoom.us/j/84979163903
- Webinar ID: 849 7916 3903
- Phone: (669) 444-9171, then enter the Webinar ID
Watch live:
- Comcast Channel 16 (GOVTV)
- Stream at cabq.gov/govtv
On YouTube at youtube.com/@GOVTVBoardsCommissionMeetings