The City Council also approved an ordinance requiring vacant properties in Downtown Albuquerque to be registered with the city and pay a fee starting July 1.
The ordinance passed with a 7-2 vote.
The proposal — known as Downtown Vacant Premises Ordinance — impacts all property owners on Central from east to west from First to Eighth streets and north to south from Copper to Gold avenues.
According to the ordinance, if the properties are vacant within the “Downtown core,” each must make sure their buildings are “weather tight” — secure from trespassers and safe for law enforcement in case of emergency.
“Somewhere along the way, it became okay for the most visible part of our city, the iconic Route 66, to just sit there, falling apart,” said Councilor Joaquín Baca, who introduced the idea.
In October, Baca introduced an early version of the ordinance, and it was reworked.
Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Terri Cole said at the time the Chamber appreciates Councilor Baca’s passion for revitalizing our Downtown, and in fact hoped to collaborate with him in the future on ordinances targeting building vacancies.
“He’s right – we deserve a safe Downtown with clean and unobstructed sidewalks and occupied and well-maintained buildings,” Cole said of Baca’s proposal. “We look forward to more (of these) streamlined versions that will in fact revitalize Downtown and make it a great place to invest in and live, work and play.”
This ordinance is set to take effect on July 1.