ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A transformation could be coming to East Central. “We need more retail, we need restaurants, we just need some other things in our area,” said Albuquerque city councilor Renee Grout.
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She sees the challenges in her district on that stretch of Route 66, which has a reputation for vacant storefronts and public safety issues. She co-sponsored a proposal, along with Councilor Nichole Rogers, to expand Central Avenue’s “Main Street” designation, which passed unanimously through council. “There’s a lot of empty lots, so hopefully with this designation, it’s just, it’ll be a redevelopment.”
Central’s “Main street” designation previously only extended from Coors on the west side, to Wyoming. Now, it stretches another three miles east to Tramway, setting standards for commercial developments along that stretch and offering incentives for developers to build housing. Councilor Grout said, “It has new height requirements, and building requirements; it’s made to be more walkable, more pedestrian-friendly.”…