Reimagining Albuquerque
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reimaginingabq.bsky.social
Reimagining Albuquerque
@reimaginingabq.bsky.social
62 followers 130 following 59 posts
Albuquerque with an Urbanist/YIMBY lens. Read at www.reimaginingalbuquerque.com
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reimaginingabq.bsky.social
What does it mean to live a car-free life in a city built for cars?

From ART to avocado toast, this urbanist diary explores the daily rhythms, quiet resistance, and real hope of living without a car in Albuquerque.

Read it here:
🔗 reimaginingalbuquerque.com/2025/07/11/a...

#ABQ #Urbanism #Transit
A promotional graphic for the blog Reimagining Albuquerque. Bold green and white text reads: “An Urbanist Diary in Albuquerque.” Below, a subheading says, “Notes from a car-free life in the high desert, between bus stops, taquerias, and a future worth fighting for.” The background shows Central Avenue with parked cars, scooters, and historic buildings under a clear blue sky. A graphic titled “On the Blog” from Reimagining Albuquerque. The text summarizes a blog post about living car-free in Albuquerque after returning from a larger, more transit-rich city. It describes finding hope through ART, recognizing fellow bus riders, and asking what kind of city we want to build in the face of NIMBYism and political inertia. The background shows a colorful ART bus on the street near the Nob Hill area.
July 12, 2025 at 12:11 AM
reimaginingabq.bsky.social
In the 50s, ABQ bulldozed a neighborhood to build I-25.

Now, the state wants to expand it—again—claiming it’s for ‘safety.’ But the damage never stopped. #abq

We dug through the archives and explain why it’s time to rethink the S-curve:
reimaginingalbuquerque.com/2025/05/30/a...
title a City Divided: The Legacy and Future of I-25 Through Albuquerque How one Albuquerque neighborhood was shattered to make way for I-25—and why the state wants to do it again Albuquerque once tore through a thriving neighborhood to build I-25. Now the state wants to do it again. A $400 million expansion of the I-25 S-curve threatens to deepen historic wounds—widening frontage roads, sacrificing parks, and sidelining better alternatives like transit. We trace the untold history of Terrace Addition, the community it destroyed, and ask: What kind of city are we building? We break down what happened in 1956, what’s being proposed in 2025, and why the fight to rethink I-25 is about more than traffic—it’s about justice, memory, and the future of Albuquerque.
May 30, 2025 at 6:52 PM
reimaginingabq.bsky.social
Las Cruces just passed one of the most progressive zoning reforms in the U.S.—and it might be the blueprint for ABQ.

We break down how “Realize Las Cruces” works, what it avoids, and how it can help us envision a more just, walkable, and vibrant ABQ.

reimaginingalbuquerque.com/2025/05/23/r...
Realize Las Cruces and the blueprint for Realize Albuquerque How Las Cruces's Bold Zoning Reform helps us Envision Albuquerque's Future Las Cruces just passed one of the most forward-thinking zoning reforms in the country—and it’s already reshaping what’s possible in New Mexico. Realize Las Cruces legalizes middle housing, small businesses, and walkable neighborhoods. It’s flexible, intuitive, and rooted in justice. We break down how it works, what it avoids, and how it can help us envision Albuquerque’s next chapter—from Central to Cottonwood, UNM to Volcano Heights.
May 23, 2025 at 3:56 PM
reimaginingabq.bsky.social
Downtown #Albuquerque is finally gaining momentum.
Vacancy enforcement. Arts activation. A BID in the works.
But other cities aren’t waiting for us to catch up.
What’s working, what’s stalled—and what needs to happen next:
🔗 reimaginingalbuquerque.com/2025/05/20/d...
Downtown Albuquerque Is Turning a Corner—Let’s Not Waste the Moment Vacancy fines, culture, transit, and investment are starting to work. Now comes the hard part. Downtown Albuquerque isn’t doomed—it’s starting to turn a corner. Vacancy enforcement is already working. New cultural programming is in motion. A BID could bring safety, cleanliness, and street life back to the core. But momentum is fragile—and while cities like Tucson and Boise surge ahead, ABQ still struggles to get housing projects and transit investments across the finish line. We break down what’s working, what’s stalled, and what it will take to turn momentum into real change.
May 20, 2025 at 4:18 PM
reimaginingabq.bsky.social
#LasCruces just passed one of the boldest zoning reforms in New Mexico—and beat back a fear-driven, far-right petition campaign trying to stop it.
This is what leadership looks like. #Albuquerque and #SantaFe: take notes.
🔗 reimaginingalbuquerque.com/2025/05/19/l...
Las Cruces Just Beat The NIMBYs. New Mexico Should Take Notes. Zoning Justice Starts in Las Cruces. Let's Bring It Statewide. With Realize Las Cruces officially moving forward, New Mexico just got a glimpse of what bold, future-focused local leadership can look like. This zoning reform is one of the most ambitious in the state—legalizing apartments, neighborhood businesses, and walkable urban development across the city. A reactionary petition campaign tried to stop it with fear, misinformation, and procedural outrage. It failed. We break down what Realize does, who tried to derail it, and why Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and the Roundhouse should be taking notes.
May 19, 2025 at 11:14 PM
reimaginingabq.bsky.social
The mayor’s race in Albuquerque is finally getting serious.
Alex Uballez just dropped a real platform—with bold ideas and some risks.

We break down where he gets it right, where it could backfire, and what it’ll take to deliver.

🔗 reimaginingalbuquerque.com/2025/05/13/a...

#abq #albuquerque
May 13, 2025 at 8:44 PM
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“Just because your mom told you you didn’t deserve beautiful things doesn’t mean the rest of us have to live by that script.”

Albuquerque deserves better. Say yes to housing, vision, and leadership. #abq

🗳️ On November 4th, Let’s get them off the stage.
🧵 reimaginingalbuquerque.com/2025/05/08/t...
May 8, 2025 at 5:18 PM
reimaginingabq.bsky.social
Albuquerque City Council’s latest meeting was a meltdown.
Farmers insulted. Survivors dismissed.
Downtown reinvestment tanked.
Public comment silenced.
This is not how a serious city is governed. #abq #albuquerque

🧵 Read the full breakdown:
reimaginingalbuquerque.com/2025/05/07/w...
May 7, 2025 at 5:19 PM
reimaginingabq.bsky.social
Part 6 of our series explores how justice language can block investment and silence diverse voices. In Barelas and beyond, real justice means shaping change—not stopping it. The threat isn’t growth. It’s fear of the future. #abq #albuquerque #yimby

🔗 reimaginingalbuquerque.com/2025/04/29/a...
April 29, 2025 at 2:42 PM
reimaginingabq.bsky.social
Some say they're protecting working-class communities. But what if the real threat isn’t growth—but stagnation disguised as protection?

Part 5 of our series looks at Martineztown, GENM, and how exclusionary tools often backfire. #abq #albuquerque

🔗 reimaginingalbuquerque.com/2025/04/27/a...
April 27, 2025 at 3:44 PM
reimaginingabq.bsky.social
Some say they support affordable housing,
but oppose every policy that would build it.

Part 4 of our series shows how “process” and “affordability” are used to block reform and protect privilege.

The affordability smokescreen is real. #ABQ

🔗 reimaginingalbuquerque.com/2025/04/26/a...
April 26, 2025 at 4:07 PM
reimaginingabq.bsky.social
🏗️ Housing, film, & local industry projects are shaping a more connected, invested Albuquerque.

New UNM-area housing
Frivolous appeal defeated
Westside job growth rising

Will we grow wisely—or repeat the mistakes of the past? #abq #albuquerque

🔗 reimaginingalbuquerque.com/2025/04/25/h...
April 25, 2025 at 4:19 PM
reimaginingabq.bsky.social
Environmentalism has always shaped how cities grow—but not always for the better. In Part 3 of our series, we explore how ‘green’ rhetoric is used to block housing and reinforce exclusion. Part 3 in our series. #abq #albuquerque
🔗 reimaginingalbuquerque.com/2025/04/22/a...
April 22, 2025 at 11:40 PM
reimaginingabq.bsky.social
O-24-69 legalized more housing near transit and curbed frivolous appeals.

The backlash exposed something deeper: how NIMBYism spans the political spectrum from neighborhood groups to anti-capitalist activists. #abq #albuquerque

Part 2 of the series:
reimaginingalbuquerque.com/2025/04/21/a...
April 21, 2025 at 3:12 PM
reimaginingabq.bsky.social
How the past haunts the present:
Many who once marched for justice now block housing and inclusion. O-24-69 revealed the deep divides shaping Albuquerque’s future. New series on NIMBYism now live ↓
reimaginingalbuquerque.com/2025/04/20/a...
April 20, 2025 at 7:53 PM
reimaginingabq.bsky.social
Albuquerque doesn’t need to wait for a miracle—we’re already seeing momentum in clean energy, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing. But we have to make it easier to build housing and opportunity here. #abq
Read more on how we rise to the moment:
🔗 reimaginingalbuquerque.wordpress.com?p=228
April 18, 2025 at 2:21 PM
reimaginingabq.bsky.social
Downtown doesn’t need more gravel lots—it needs vision. A new performing arts center, housing, and bold investment can bring it back to life. Martineztown deserves a future shaped by participation, not fear.

📰 Downtown Deserves a Future
🔗 reimaginingalbuquerque.com/2025/04/17/d...
April 17, 2025 at 5:51 PM
reimaginingabq.bsky.social
Some say closing Central to cars would kill culture. But what if it actually brought it back to life? Downtown deserves to be for people again—not just traffic. #abq #albuquerque #downtownabq #abqlocal

🏙️ Read more: reimaginingalbuquerque.com/2025/04/14/c...
April 15, 2025 at 4:36 PM
reimaginingabq.bsky.social
Governor Lujan Grisham has had six years to lead on housing. Instead, she fired the experts, empowered the insiders, and left New Mexicans behind. #abq #nmpol #newmexico #mlg #housing

Now on the blog: reimaginingalbuquerque.com/2025/04/11/g...
April 11, 2025 at 2:56 PM
reimaginingabq.bsky.social
Sending troops won’t solve a housing crisis. Albuquerque needs opportunity, not occupation. 🏙️✊ Read why investment—not force—is the way forward:
🔗 reimaginingalbuquerque.com/2025/04/09/a... #albuquerque #abq #abqlocal #nmpol #abqpol #urbanism
April 10, 2025 at 2:25 PM
reimaginingabq.bsky.social
Neighborhood coalitions are suing the City of Albuquerque. Not to build more housing — but to keep blocking it.
We break down what O-24-69 actually does, why the lawsuit matters, and how “community voice” is being weaponized.
🔗 reimaginingalbuquerque.com/2025/03/27/n... #abq #albuquerque #abqlocal
March 27, 2025 at 3:10 PM
reimaginingabq.bsky.social
Downtown shouldn’t feel like a fortress. Fear-based design locks people out, drives away business, and kills joy. We can build trust instead. Albuquerque deserves better. 👇 #abq #albuquerque

reimaginingalbuquerque.com/2025/03/26/h...
Title of post: Hostility Hurts Cities: How Fear-Based Design Undermines Urban Living in Albuquerque Summary of blog saying: In Downtown Albuquerque, everyday errands for cyclists, pedestrians, and transit riders are made needlessly difficult by policies rooted in suspicion: locked merchandise, inaccessible restrooms, missing seating, and surveillance-heavy spaces. These fear-based design choices don’t make us safer — they drive people away and hollow out the city’s core. If we want a downtown that is vibrant, welcoming, and alive, we need to reject hostility, invest in trust, and build spaces designed for dignity, joy, and human connection. At the bottom is the website reimaginingalbuquerque.com
March 26, 2025 at 2:06 PM
reimaginingabq.bsky.social
You turn the key — the lock doesn’t work. The heater’s broken. It’s winter in Albuquerque, and you’re left cold and on your own.

For 36% of Albuquerque households who rent, this isn’t hypothetical. It’s real. Until now, recourse has been minimal. #abq

reimaginingalbuquerque.com/2025/03/21/h...
March 21, 2025 at 6:41 PM
reimaginingabq.bsky.social
The Rail Trail is coming. The vacancy ordinance is in place. Small wins are adding up. Now, a downtown performing arts center could help Albuquerque finally recenter its heart. But only if we choose to invest.

reimaginingalbuquerque.com/2025/03/20/c...
March 20, 2025 at 2:43 PM
reimaginingabq.bsky.social
Albuquerque City Council just stood up to NIMBY obstruction. A key appeals fee stays in place — with fair exemptions — to help curb baseless challenges that drive up housing costs. Reason (and good policy) prevailed.
reimaginingalbuquerque.com/2025/03/19/c...
March 19, 2025 at 1:29 PM