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Some of the participants of the January 29th, 2003 town hall meeting indicated to association members their concerns about a hotel boutique, residential or any use:
If a boutique motel does not succeed--the lack of a converted use could again lead the property to being used by drug dealers and prostitutes.
I would like to see more mixed uses out of the property.
"The study indicated that as a residential use, the property would support a senior community or a student community--I would rather have seniors, but why would they live there?"
We need a place that supports our poor artists--a place of vibrancy that offers creative space.
"My house backs up to the De Anza, and a motel use is too loud, but a residential use is not my first choice either, what say will I have in what kind of residents live there?"
"How do we know if tourists come from Europe and Asia to visit the property?"
"If there is a Nobhill Merchants Association, why isn't there a Highland Merchants Association?"
"This whole process seems skewed, why isn't an Albertson's being considered and who is to say if this property has any historical significance?"
Responses from volunteers who have been involved in the area for decades included:
While there is no assurance that any use would lower crime, given the amount of money a developer/investor must spend to acquire and renovate the property, the highest and best use analysis does not support the current use economically. Even if the motel rents were merely doubled from the low $20 range to the mid $40 range, the economics of crime are no longer easily supported in this community. Increased security, a parking gate, and the mixed use nature of the property are also likely to discourage criminal activity.
The study recommended a lodging use (or boutique hotel with the appropriate marketing), followed by a residential use. Although both uses are economically viable, the lodging use supports a variety of other mixed uses including the restoration of the old Turquoise Café, an addition of a museum/gift shop/zuni pueblo/curio store, and a cultural center show casing the unique, if not priceless art and history of the property.
The Highland Senior Center is approximately two blocks from the De Anza and it's on Albuquerque's most trafficked bus line. The area has been home to senior communities for over three decades--including Manzano del Sol, and Encino Gardens, and is also home to the new Valencia Court Senior apartments, which is adjacent to the Albuquerque Grand.
Any support of a limited use such as artist lofts, decreases the income the property can generate, which decreases what an investor can pay the City to purchase the property. Decreased rents leave less money for necessary renovations and leave less money for the City to reinvest in the area from its sale's proceeds of the property.
The City of Albuquerque will select a developer in its request for proposal (RFP) process, which allows area stakeholders an opportunity to comment on the various proposals.
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