Courtesy photo
Courtesy photo
STATE News:
SANTA FE — New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller today kick-started the demolition of the old Bill’s Auto building located on state trust lands at 10408 Central Ave. SE. The demolition is the next step in ongoing efforts to revitalize the East Central corridor. The State Land Office entered into an agreement last month with Grancor Environmental to complete the demolition and cleanup of the property.
“The East Central corridor has long been impacted by vacant, deteriorating properties. I’m grateful that the State Land Office can play a key role in helping to revitalize this beloved corridor,” Commissioner Garcia Richard said. “There are state land parcels in every county and every corner of the state, so we want to be there to help communities solve their challenges. Thanks to our partnership with Mayor Keller, Grancor Environmental and others, we have made significant progress in reviving this part of Albuquerque in recent years. This is a part of Albuquerque that is near and dear to many people’s hearts. We are doing our part to make sure this parcel comes back to life with a new anchor tenant. This is the next step in the life of the parcel.”
“This area had been frustrating Albuquerque for decades until Land Commissioner Garcia Richard came along and accepted the challenge,” Mayor Tim Keller said. “She became Land Commissioner, and I became Mayor and behind you now there are two amazing housing developments—Farolito and Luminaria—that are now vibrant parts of the community that add to our housing stock. This place has been a longstanding eyesore and a community concern for decades. I’m proud that we’ve accomplished much of what we’ve wanted updating dilapidated buildings right up to this intersection. This is going to be a transformed intersection, and this is really the last critical piece. So with that, Land Commissioner, tear down this building!”
The building was first constructed in 1952 and has been occupied by several businesses in the decades since. Demolition of the building, which has been abandoned for years, will allow for future development to occur on the state land parcel.
Commissioner Garcia Richard and Mayor Keller have worked together to revitalize the area, partnering with Sol Housing to develop two living communities on adjacent parcels of state trust land – known as Luminaria and Farolito – that provide about 180 affordable housing units for senior citizens.
The State Land Office conducted a full historic review of the property and determined the building was not eligible for preservation under the National Register of Historic Places or the State Register of Cultural Properties. An additional review by the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs’ Historic Preservation Division concurred.
Courtesy photo
Courtesy photo