Expect big changes downtown in the next four years.
But don't expect a major reversal in the working relationship that Downtown renovation leaders have with City Hall.
"I would hope that won't change," said incoming mayor Martin Chavez, who was elected Tuesday. "I'm ready to work with them."
The efforts to spruce up the city's center - one in a string of nearly 30 attempts over the years - came to the forefront under Mayor Jim Baca's watch.
For Baca, the rebuilding of Downtown brought together some of his core beliefs, including fighting growth at the city's edges by investing in the older part of the city and aiming to bring cultural activities Downtown, for example, with the renovation of the KiMo Theater.
"The Downtown effort is a ball rolling down the mountain," Baca said. "Unless someone sets out purposely to stop it, it will continue."
Parts of legislation approved in 1999 - in particular, the city's $16 million contribution of land and infrastructure - have caused some city councilors consternation.
But incoming mayor Chavez said he's not expecting many fireworks over the effort now.
"I've already spoken with a majority of the new councilors," he said. "And we're going to meet more specifically on Downtown, but I've always been a big supporter."
After he takes office, Chavez said he'll meet with representatives from the Downtown Action Team, the group spearheading the campaign to clean up the urban core.
"Of course, I know most of everything anyway, but I want to sit down and have not a superficial conversation but a talk about the dollars and cents of what's going on," Chavez said.
Luisa Lindsey, head of the Downtown Action Team, said she's anticipating partnering with Chavez to continue sprucing up Downtown.
"We're looking forward to working with the next mayor," she said.
Overall, Lindsey said, she's not worried the Downtown effort will lose steam.
"We feel the momentum we've gained will continue," she said.
Lindsey said the next step is to move on to Phase Two of the entertainment district, which includes a grocery store and more housing.
The housing that is part of Phase One is already in high demand, she said.
For example, the 160-unit Villa San Felipe apartment complex on Coal Avenue between Seventh and Eighth streets Southwest is set to open by the end of the year.
"For every one apartment, three applications have been filled out," she said.
One Downtown project Chavez said he hopes to push along as well is a transportation museum at the old Santa Fe Railroad Repair Shop along Second Street Southwest, just south of Downtown.
"The project at the railroad will be moved to the front burner of my administration," he said. "I think that's one of the most exciting things.
"It won't happen overnight. It will be 20 to 30 years, I think. But I want to do it."
Planners are in the fund-raising stages of the project.
Apart from the Wheels Museum, Chavez said he doesn't have any big projects he'll push for in Downtown. That includes locating an arena in the city's center - something Baca had stumped for early in his term.
One study showed that such a facility would cost as much as $100 million.
At this point, the project likely won't develop beyond the look at its cost.
"I'm not saying no," Chavez said. "But it's not really on my priority list."
One concern the mayor-elect does have, he said, is about a parking garage planned at Lomas Boulevard and Second Street Northwest.
The $11.5 million project could draw up to $500,000 a year from the city's general fund if revenues from parking fees aren't enough to cover operating costs, city officials said.
Baca officials say the idea is to help the parking structure - which would be used by Downtown employees - if the money is available.
The lot would help attract offices for the Department of Social Security and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which are expected to locate nearby.
"In the short term, we need to visit that," Chavez said. "I don't know what phase it's in, but I think a half a million from the general fund is a lot."
The City Council has approved moving forward with project, but city Chief Administrative Officer Lawrence Rael said he's also concerned the structure will drain too much from the shrinking budget.
"At this point I think I would tell the council unless we can get more money in revenues somehow, that it's not a good thing to do," he said.
The council will consider the project again later this month or in early November.
| Coming up Downtown: Several projects are nearing completion in the city's center. Among them:
A 14-screen movie theater is expected to open in late November near Central Avenue and First Street Southwest. In addition, Tucano's Restaurant, Comida Buena and Marble Slab Ice Cream are expected to open in the same area.
Buses should start to roll at the Alvarado Transportation Center at Central Avenue and First Street Southwest by the end of the year.
The Social Security building on Lead Avenue between Sixth and Seventh streets Southwest is expected to open by December.
The Villa San Felipe apartments on Coal Avenue between Seventh and Eighth streets Southwest is expected to open by the end of the year.
The first phase of loft apartments in the old Albuquerque High School at Central Avenue and Broadway Boulevard Northeast should open in December.
Officials are determining whether key one-way streets in Downtown should be converted to two-ways. Those include Second, Third, Fifth and Sixth streets and Lead and Coal avenues within the city's core.
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