ALBUQUERQUE MAYOR R-J BERRY ANNOUNCED HIS 23-MILLION DOLLAR PLAN FOR DOWNTOWN LAST WEEK … MOST OF WHICH IS DESIGNED FOR TOURISM. DOWNTOWN IS PART OF CITY COUNCILOR ISAAC BENTON’S DISTRICT … AND HE TELLS US HE LIKES THE MAYOR’S PLAN.
HE ALSO SAYS ONE OF DOWNTOWN’S MAJOR PROBLEMS ON WEEKENDS … DRUNKENNESS AND BRAWLS … HAS BEEN ADDRESSED. HE SAYS THE TWO ESTABLISHMENTS THAT WERE CAUSING THE MOST TROUBLE HAVE SINCE BEEN CLOSED AND THE CITY IS BEING MORE CAREFUL WITH ISSUING LIQUOR LICENSES.
BENTON SAYS THE CITY HOPES TO BROADEN THE AFFORDABILITY RANGE FOR DOWNTOWN LIVING TO ATTRACT MORE YOUNG PEOPLE.
UNDER THE MAYOR’S PLAN, DOWNTOWN ALBUQUERQUE COULD HAVE A 10-THOUSAND SEAT ARENA WITHIN THE NEXT TWO YEARS AND A NEW PARKING STRUCTURE AT 1ST AND CENTRAL.
