There’s an urban revitalization effort underway in the International District in an unlikely location — residential alleys. Those involved in the undertaking do so with little to no budget and say it’s an effective way to make the area safer, spark community engagement and assist those experiencing homelessness.
After months of preparation, the South San Pedro Neighborhood Association (SSPNA) held an alleyway pop-up event Sept. 14 to showcase what is possible and inspire other neighborhoods. Residents cleaned alleys, designed and painted murals, and planted vegetable gardens and climate-ready plants.
It’s placed eyes and activity on an otherwise underused urban space more known for trash, tumbleweeds and illegal activity.
“The alleyways obviously can be pretty problematic if nobody’s watching them; kind of a security issue for the residents who live on the alley,” Tawnya Mullen, SSPNA board chair, said.
She counted at least 60 alleys between South San Pedro and the adjacent Elder Homestead neighborhood, totaling 10 to 15 acres of unused, neglected property.
While the SSPNA began its work in earnest in April, the idea of alley beautification was formed years ago by International District community activists Enrique Cardiel and Reynaluz Juarez. The city recently named a community center for Juarez, who died in 2022.
“There are not a lot of safe parks for us,” Mullen said. “Elder Homestead doesn’t have any parks within their neighborhood, so they’re particularly interested in safe spaces for their families and kids and neighbors to join together.”
Mullen said the project is also helping to improve food access — especially important in an area that’s home to a large number of people who live on the streets. Food like tomatoes, peppers, berries and squash have been planted in the alleys.
“People just pick it when they come through,” Mullen said. “I interact with unhoused people almost every single morning who are able to pick their breakfast.”
City, county support
The effort has the attention and support of city and Bernalillo County officials.
The city has donated mulch to the SSPNA and the county recently awarded it a $2,800 grant from its Cultivating Bernalillo County initiative.
“Both the county and the city have also given us moral support,” Mullen said.
She said the city often sends a representative from its Office of Civic Engagement to alley meetups, and county interns who are part of an urban agriculture project help distribute flyers, coordinate with residents and give presentations.
Not all alleyway activity in the city has been so positive, however.
In July, the city closed the commercial alley behind the Circle K gas station at 6300 Central Ave. SE, citing chronic loitering, rampant drug use and other illegal activity. Officials were in the process of closing at least two other problem alleys in the International District this summer.
Such closures come with a cost, although it’s one largely supported by businesses affected by illegal activity. The cost of erecting gates and fences ranges from $30,000 to $90,000, depending on an alley’s size.
Mullen said there were mixed opinions within the neighborhood association when the city closed the alleyway behind the Circle K.
“Some people felt like there were a lot of unhoused people who were displaced in that alley closure — people who were probably being victimized by organized crime, sex traffickers and drug traffickers,” she said.
The city, meanwhile, said it notifies those loitering or camping in the alleys of impending closures and offers connections to city resources.
Up next
The SSPNA began a second alleyway project last month called the Wilson Trailway, near Southern and Trumbull avenues and California and Dakota streets.
“The next block south of that, we’re planning to start one in conjunction with Elder Homestead’s activation of their alleyway,” Mullen said.
Alleyway mural projects headed up by Cardiel are also in progress in the 700 and 800 blocks of Valencia Drive.
Elder Homestead’s alley pop-up event is scheduled for Oct. 20. More information is available here. For more on the SSPNA, click here.