Participatory Budgeting Recap, Zinc's Last Shift in Photos, Traffic Signal Back Up and More
Rogers: ‘The Tide is Turning in District 6’
Four top-voted community projects to be implemented
By Damon Scott
A months-long participatory budgeting pilot program involving District 6 residents—charged with choosing a neighborhood project to be implemented with $1.5 million in set-aside funds from the city budget—culminated May 3 at a reveal celebration at the Mesa Verde Community Center.
Albuquerque city councilors each receive annual set-aside funds to use on projects within their districts. District 6—represented by Nichole Rogers—encompasses areas of the Southeast Heights, including Nob Hill, the International District and the University of New Mexico.
Rogers shepherded the pilot project with the help of community members who asked residents for project ideas and later canvassed them to vote. Through the six-month process, 242 project submissions were ultimately whittled down to nine that were considered the most feasible before voting took place. Many of the projects sought to address issues that have plagued the International District in particular for years: traffic and bicyclist safety, vacant and dilapidated properties, a lack of public restrooms and insufficient services for those experiencing homelessness.
The winning project with the highest number of votes was a growers’ market at San Mateo Boulevard and Kathryn Avenue SE (630 votes), followed by a “5 Blocks for Life” initiative to revitalize the area around Wilson Middle School (597 votes); a one-stop respite station to provide storage and mailboxes for those experiencing homelessness (571) and three Portland Loo restrooms (570 votes).
Rogers said the pilot was so successful that organizers figured out a way to see the top four projects funded instead of just one. The growers’ market will incorporate the respite station and one Portland Loo restroom within the $1.5 million budget. Rogers intends for the “5 Blocks for Life” revitalization initiative to be funded through a $2 million request in the city’s next general obligation bond cycle.
“Which is pretty huge from thinking we were just going to get one,” Rogers said.
Rogers spent much of the May 3 event praising the 60 volunteers, including students and interns who canvassed residents and attended meetings and events, as well as 1,150 residents who voted.
“The tide is turning in District 6,” she said. “It’s because we’re all pulling together in the same direction to make things happen. We have a long way to go, obviously we know that, but this energy, it’s happening in our district.”
Timeline on blast
Rogers intends to move quickly and have all four projects done within the next two years. The growers’ market is first, set to break ground next month and celebrate a spring 2026 opening. The “5 Blocks for Life” project will take a little longer due to the bond cycle, but she expects it to be completed within the two-year timeline.
“We have to see immediate results, or people aren’t going to trust it,” she said. “This is where the rubber meets the road. It’s not a success until we get it done.”
Rogers wants to make participatory budgeting a fixture in her district. Volunteers documented the process for other city councilors to use, too.
“I think we have built something that everybody’s watching,” she said. “We can literally hand them the playbook.”
The other projects under consideration in the vote were turning vacant land into parklets, a first responder mural, Buena Vista Drive bike infrastructure improvements, a playground at the Gateway Family shelter and adding traffic circles in the Trumbull neighborhood.
Give the Gift of Quality, Local Journalism
Know someone who would love Nob Hill News? Gift them a subscription!
The Last Service: A Farewell to Zinc
By Roland Penttila
Saturday marked the end of a decades-long run for the Nob Hill staple, Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro (3009 Central Ave. NE). After 22 years, the staff took one last curtain call for their dedicated customers.
Signal at Monte Vista and Campus Boulevards Back Up
The intersection of Monte Vista and Campus Boulevards once again has a functioning traffic signal after operating as a four-way stop for about six weeks. Damage to the utility aggravated by an old wiring configuration caused the extended delay in repairs, city traffic engineer Tim Brown said at a May 12 meeting of the Greater Albuquerque Active Transportation Committee.
The extended downtime did, however, give the city a chance to consider other options, including keeping the intersection as a four-way stop, changing Monte Vista to a through street or even installing a roundabout in the intersection. But ultimately, a combination of the school crossing and the traffic patterns led to the decision to leave it as a signal. The roundabout, while a preferred choice for Brown, would not easily work due to the angles at which the roads meet.
According to Brown, the signals will receive an upgrade in the coming weeks to make them more efficient. Currently, the lights cycle through at designated intervals. The city plans to add detection devices to monitor Monte Vista Blvd., allowing the light on Campus Blvd. to turn green when approached if there is no cross traffic.
Nob Hill Public Safety ECHO this Wednesday
APD is partnering with neighborhood organizations to host the next installment of the Nob Hill Public Safety ECHO on May 21 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The topic for the session is de-escalation training. The program “will provide a platform for participants to engage in discussions, share experiences and develop practical solutions to address local safety concerns,” according to an announcement sent out by the city.
Join in person at the APD substation (1009 Bradbury Dr. SE) or via Zoom.
In Other News
Loma Linda Community Garden reopens - KRQE
Multi-agency rescue mission leads to Blackhawk helicopter landing on UNM campus - KRQE