Downtown Albuquerque’s newest addition was unveiled on Monday — a public toilet. The Portland Loo sits directly on the Civic Plaza’s south end, and is wrapped in Route 66 regalia.
The loo is a single stall, but beefed up with thick, stainless-steel walls and heavy, metal construction that implies durability. It’s also a feature, according to city officials, that makes it resistant to graffiti and very easy to clean,
As the heavy door latches firmly in place, and the lock slides shut with a satisfying metallic clunk, one is greeted with a large accessibility-compliant interior, which includes a baby changing station, and is more private than the slats at the top and bottom of the walls would suggest.
Albuquerque Municipal Development spokesperson Dan Mayfield said those slats allow emergency responders a way to see inside if need be, and discourage drug use and criminal activity. The blue lights are also an anti-drug feature, he said, as they make intravenous drug use difficult…