Michelle Worley, L&LNM Blogs Abq's Central Avenue
On Christmas
Eve, L&LNM met with Mary Driscoll near Atrisco and Central. Mary
has lived in this 'hood for a long time and has seen the changes over
the years. She has kept up with community news about A.R.T. and its
effects on local businesses. She, too, is concerned that a rapid transit
system like this is too much for Abq and unnecessary. Mary was kind
enough to walk with us and share her experiences living in the area.
One
story we heard was that of a local favorite, El Charritos. A.R.T. is
making them first, move their sign, and then cut their already small
parking lot by 6 or so spaces. The city will reimburse them part of the
cost but the majority of it will have to be paid by the restaurant. REALLY? Should they have to pay for any of it?
Mary
pointed out two or three empty buildings that promise to soon be in
business but who knows if that will really happen. She told us of
businesses that moved once, twice, because of A.R.T. and still lost or
went out of business. For rent signs abound.
As well as it being
xmas eve, it was a Saturday so there was no construction and probably
less traffic than usual. I appreciated the quiet to hear Mary's
stories.
We plan to drive through this area soon, during a
regular business day, and see what happens. Cone-wise, it looks a lot
like what we've been seeing on east Central. It's easy to imagine what
it's like during rush hour on a Wednesday.
The Numbers
Between
Atrisco and Coors, we counted 49 (88%) in-businesses and 7 (12%)
out-of-businesses. For the entire distance we've covered so far, we have
counted 695 total businesses, 537 (77%) of which are in business and
158 (23%) of which are out of business.
Next Steps
We
are thinking that we will meet every other Saturday and invite others
to join us. We'll be doing our usual unorganized blogging in between but
it is nice when people from the 'hoods we blog are there to tell their
stories.
The next time we will blog will be Saturday, January 7, 2017, at 1:00 pm. Don't know where yet. We'll let you know.
Michelle Worley, L&LNM Blogs Abq's Central Avenue
Mariah, Danny, and I decided on the spur of the moment to blog
Central a little while we were out and about. We walked between Girard
and Yale, the UNM 'hood. This is another area where there are more
in-businesses than out-of's, littered with shops that cater especially
to the college student.
I earned both of my degrees from UNM, and
I have fond memories of being a UNM student. I feel the nostalgia when
I'm on campus but not so much when I'm walking Central in front of UNM.
It's just an A.R.T. mess, and when you look up University, the nightmare
only gets worse.
But it's the winter break so it isn't as bad as
it would be if school were still in session. That's about all I have to
say about this stretch of Central. It's a quiet week for blogging.
The Numbers
Between
Girard and Yale, we counted 39 (93%) in-businesses and 3 (7%)
out-of-businesses. For the entire distance we've covered so far, we have
counted 639 total businesses, 488 (76%) of which are in business and
151 (24%) of which are out of business.
Christmas Eve Blogging near Atrisco
L&LNM
(Kelsey, Danny, Mariah, Jesse, and Michelle) will be blogging the
Atrisco 'hood this Saturday, Christmas Eve, at 1:00. We will meet at the
Monte Carlo parking lot. Join us if you can!
Today, Kelsey and I L&LNM blogged Abq's Central Avenue between
Carlisle and Girard. We had a nice time. There was no wind, it wasn't
cold, and this is an area with lots of neat little shops, getting close
to the UNM campus. We might go back and do a little shopping.
When we tally, we take note of those buildings we are unsure about and look them up when we get home. Max's Magic Shop and Theatre and Skyway Trading
are two. Max's looks to be in business, and Skyway has a sign in the
door saying their office hours are 11 - 1 for UPS and other deliveries.
But it looks empty and out of business.
There are several nightclubs and dinner restaurants, only open in the late afternoon/evening to the wee morning hours.
There
are some buildings we wondered about -- they looked like they had
businesses, or out-of-businesses, on the bottom level but condos perhaps
on the upper levels. Are those condos occupied fully, or close to
fully? Does anyone know?
We saw some amazing street art that we will post more of on Facebook as well as more photos of interesting buildings.
The Numbers
Between
Carlisle and Girard, we counted 76 (87%) in-businesses and 11 (13%)
out-of-businesses. For the entire distance we've covered so far, we have
counted 597 total businesses, 449 (75%) of which are in business and
148 (25%) of which are out of business. I have to admit, the numbers are
looking better.
Next Steps
We will be blogging the Atrisco area this Saturday, Christmas Eve, at 1:00. We will meet at the Monte Carlo parking lot. Anyone who wants to join us is welcome.
Joaquin Baca, guest blogging for L&LNM Blogs Abq's Central Avenue
I
walked from 10th street to Central and Lomas. This is an interesting
section. Not too long ago it was restriped from 2 lanes in each
direction with a center turn lane, to 1 lane in each direction, bike
lanes, parking and no center turns.
I wasn’t sure how that was
going to affect Central but after it was done, it made for a nicer
driving experience due to slower traffic. I know that seems
contradictory. I drove during rush hour in order to experience traffic,
and then walked the next day to count in/out businesses. The traffic
was minimal and walking went ok despite the construction.
Currently,
a lot of construction is going on due to ART. It would be nice if it
wasn’t stopped for the holidays and could be finished. I also wonder
where they would be if work hadn’t been stalled for two months because
of litigation.
The Numbers
The numbers for
this stretch are 47 (90%) in-businesses, including 11 condos/apt/houses,
and 5 (10%) out-of-businesses. I added housing because ultimately
people make a community, and the more people that live on Central the
better it will be.
[For the entire distance we've covered so
far, we have counted 510 total businesses, 373 (73%) of which are in
business and 137 (27%) of which are out of business. -- L&LNM]
Change Can be Good
An
enormous amount has changed on this stretch over the years. I remember
the curandera shop, the old bus station, empty lots, and apartments that
burned down. In their place now are quite a few new apartments and
condos, restaurants, and businesses. It looks like this area will be a
walkable, thriving part of Central once the construction is done.
Having
spent a good part of my youth in this part of town, I definitely feel a
sense of loss over what no longer exists or what may soon disappear. I
definitely don’t agree with everything I see, but a lot of it is
positive (including ART).
Central is changing -- it always has
been -- and I am hopeful that the growing pains we are feeling now are
part of the revitalization of Central, our communities, and our city.
Michelle Worley, L&LNM Blogs Abq's Central Avenue
Working
on this project has been eye opening but also totally depressing. I've
been trying so hard to embrace Abq Rapid Transit but that is hard to do.
All I've learned about A.R.T. as I've been blogging Central is that it
is hell bent on destroying a unique and highly valued part of the city's
history -- Route 66 -- for the sole purpose of making money.
I
listen to those businessmen who say that A.R.T will bring business to
Abq but honestly, they are only bringing business to a select few. It's
political, no doubt. Someone is making BIG money on this.
I won't
say more about that. I want to look at this from a non-political
perspective, the perspective of someone who has grown up in NM, went to
UNM, and drove up and down Central.
I want to talk about it from
the perspective of the person who loves NM and its history and wants to
see Route 66 make a comeback, a very wise business decision by the way.
It would bring tourism to the state and we would make connections with
other Rt. 66 states.
There is talk about a Rt. 66 museum on the
west side but that's not the same thing. It really isn't, not when we
could have a living museum that runs across Abq, one that everyone can
enjoy simply by driving up Central.
I'm mourning the loss of Central.
I'm sad and angry because it has already been destroyed and we can't
bring it back -- all so a few businessmen/politicians can make some
money.
I'll end this post here. I needed to get this off my chest. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way.
Today,
I plan to turn my thoughts to the Turquoise Trail. If anything can take
my mind of the ugliness of A.R.T., it's the beauty of the Turquoise
Trail. Go New Mexico!
Michelle Worley, L&LNM Blogs Abq's Central Avenue
Today,
Kelsey, Danny, and I blogged Central Avenue between San Pedro and San
Mateo. It was a quick walk, most of it on the road because A.R.T.
construction is destroying the sidewalks. We had cones to protect us
from traffic.
Except for the Trade Winds Plaza (where Bob's
Burgers is), there weren't that many out-of-businesses on this short
stretch of Central. On another post about the Trade Winds Plaza, I
reported 2 in-businesses and 14 out-of's but today there was one suite
that had activity so we decided to call it an in-business.
Then
there is the Bank of the West tower, which looks out of business but
when I googled it on arriving home, I discovered that some State offices
are housed there. It looks like a creepy place to work, if you ask me.
Is anyone who works there reading this? Is it creepy?
We weren't
sure about Fareast Fuzion either but it looks like it is an in-business.
If I remember a reader's comment on this building correctly, it used
to be the Casa Luna Pizzeria.
There were a couple of long-empty lots that we just didn't count at all as either in or out as they had no For Sale/Rent signs.
A
reader commented on another post that the old hotels on Central will
all be gone within three years but for now, the ones we saw are in
operation so we counted them as such.
The Numbers
Between
San Mateo and San Pedro, we counted 23 (62%) in-businesses and 14 (38%)
out-of-businesses. For the entire distance we've covered so far, we
have counted 458 total businesses, 326 (71%) of which are in business
and 132 (29%) of which are out of business.
Michelle Worley, L&LNM Blogs Abq's Central Avenue.
Yesterday, we quickly blogged Central between Louisiana and San Pedro.
It was 2:00 in the afternoon but I can count on one hand the number of
pedestrians we saw out and about.
Many businesses in this area
have signs up, telling us to ring the bell for service. Doors are
locked. This area also houses the state fairgrounds and casino.
This
is the hood that has the lapidary shop I have been curious about. I was
thinking it is an out-of-business but it has a sign telling us to go to
the open gems and minerals store next door for help so we counted it as
an in-business.
I noticed in the door of Studio D, a person I
assume is an employee or perhaps owner, just standing there watching the
construction. Same thing at Central Tires, employees just standing out
in their parking lot, blocked off and isolated by A.R.T.
I'm at
the point where I feel the need to go in and ask people who work at the
in-businesses for their stories. I haven't yet. I don't know why. This
project is getting to me. It's a sad story. I'm not sure I'm ready for
more.
Second shout out for help
We have put
out one call for help on this project and have heard NOTHING back!
That's okay. It's all good. I've had a lot of experience getting less
than great responses to my calls for help.
But think about it
if you are a college student looking for a great research project, or
if you are someone who loves Abq and Central Avenue and history and
sharing stories.
A.R.T. is moving too fast for us to blog
Central and capture its history. We need to cover ground more quickly.
If you can help, even by just taking photos, commenting, and sharing,
let us know.
The Numbers
For the stretch of
Central between Louisiana and San Pedro, we counted 25 (74%)
in-businesses and 9 (26%) out-of-businesses. For the entire distance
we've covered so far, we have counted 421 total businesses, 303 (72%) of
which are in business and 118 (28%) out of business.
That's all for today. It's bitter cold out there, New Mexico. Be safe. Stay warm.
Michelle Worley, L&LNM Blogs Abq's Central Avenue.
Yesterday,
we blogged Central between Washington and Carlisle. This is the hood
that suffered a major fire a couple of weeks ago, which affected not
only the condos that were being built but two adjacent businesses.
When
the fire happened, it was reported that those two businesses would be
closed for the following weekend. I'll tell you that at least one of
those still hasn't opened.
We did notice that there will be a
bike shop opening up soon, a good thing. There are some nice art
galleries in the area, tucked back away from the street. And there was
an open workspace that was dark and seemed unused.
Yesterday was
windy, which could explain the incredible lack of pedestrian traffic. I
know that this weekend, too, there are lots of events happening in Nob
Hill -- the Twinkle Light Parade, Shop and Strolls, etc. Hopefully,
there will be people everywhere then.
Signs
I
have, like many, a love of old signs, which has been enhanced by this
project. Reader comments on one FB post connected to today's excursion
(the Mind of the World sign) led to the discovery that the sign was
actually a student project where they took old signs and turned them
into art. Now I am looking into that for more detail. If anyone knows anything, please comment.
The
sign shown with this post is another out-of-business. They had a
handwritten notice on their door, apologizing for having to shut down.
Another business had a sign on the door saying they have relocated to
Taos.
The Numbers
For the stretch of Central
between Washington and Carlisle, we counted 44 (63%) in-businesses and
26 (37%) out-of-businesses. For the entire distance we've covered so
far, we have counted 387 total businesses, 278 (72%) of which are in
business and 109 (28%) out of business.
HELP!
We
are loving this project but A.R.T. threatens its completion. We need to
tally businesses before they are destroyed by the construction. I'm
hearing about stuff happening on west Central and feel like we won't get
there soon enough.
So I'm asking for help. This would be an
amazing research project for college students or anyone who loves Abq
and wants to record the history of Central Avenue.
We could
form teams to cover different hoods along the road. We could research
more deeply, even conduct interviews with residents, employees, business
owners, etc.
What do you think? Are you with me? Please comment.
