ALBUQUERQUE, NM (KRQE) – The city of Albuquerque is working to revitalize downtown to make it safer for all. The city and Mayor Tim Keller see that all successful large cities also have very lively inner cities. They believe downtown Albuquerque has potential.
Mayor Keller calls the city center the core of the city, but says it needs to be safer. First, the city plans to lower the speed limit across the area and remove the police presence in the city center.
They sold the Rosenwald building on Fourth Street and Central to a company that wanted to build condominiums. This deal includes a lease with the Albuquerque Police Department to convert part of the first floor into a substation. Officials hope the condos will help build more relationships with downtown residents.
“Being downtown, being visible, having a place where people can go directly to file a police report, or ask for services or help, makes us much more effective,” said Officer Also Williams, Albuquerque Police Department .
The city’s inner-city patrol will move from the Transit Center to the Rosenwald building after the renovation work is complete. They are also planning a shift change for APD to revise shift times so officers are out during downtown rush hours. In the past two months, downtown officials said they had responded to 31 fights and 47 DWI arrests.
Watch the full press conference
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