By Elizabeth McCall, City Desk ABQ
Albuquerque’s Westside may be on its way to getting road improvements and new parks after the City Council approved a bill on Wednesday that creates a list of guidelines to upgrade some neighborhoods and businesses in the area.
City councilors unanimously approved the bill which aims to improve roads and run-down properties and add infrastructure to certain areas on the Westside. The bill — sponsored by Councilors Joaquín Baca, Klarissa Peña and Louie Sanchez — is a partnership between Bernalillo County and the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District.
“This will probably create a footprint and help to really identify some of the needs and things that we can do to create economic development opportunities in this area,” Peña said Wednesday night.
Baca told City Desk ABQ the western boundary of the area in question would include the Central Avenue Bridge going west toward Pat Hurley Park, and halfway toward I-40 on the north and south side. He also said the Bosque’s west side has potential for “a lot of park space.”
During Wednesday’s meeting, Sanchez said he grew up in the area and that it’s “amazing to see things change in a good way.”
“We need to really, really rejuvenate this area,” Sanchez said. “We got councilors working together to improve Albuquerque and I’m all for it.”