Neighbors oppose development near UNM

A neighborhood dispute is brewing in Southeast Albuquerque.

Residents there say they want to see development, but not the kind one developer is proposing and are pointing to his track record as proof that his plan is a bad idea.

Now even the University of New Mexico is getting involved in the fight.

 

UNM has big plans to turn an area near The Pit into one of the city's hot spots for economic development.

Organizers are worried about the Clayton Heights Lomas del Cielo neighborhood west of I-25 and north of Gibson. There is a plan to develop the old Vagabond Inn into an apartment complex, but neighbors say the eyesore will only attract crime.

"They started bringing in guards because it's been broken into and a lot of the precious metals have been stripped out," said Neighborhood Association President Lee Graham.

Graham explained members of the association investigated the developer's background and found that a similar project, the Crestridge Apartments which used to be a hotel near Central and Tramway and was converted into apartments, has a high crime rate.

They provide photos of what they say is a run down facility and source online records which show Albuquerque police have responded to nearly 500 criminal calls in the are in the last six months.

It's something neither they nor the university want in an area they have been trying so hard to commercialize and expand.

 

UNM has a dog in the fight because the vacant lot next to the Vagabond is it's next big project. There are plans to put in a fitness center and retail lots on the land. Officials say it will be easily accessible to UNM's South Campus and the fairly new Lobo Village.

Members on both sides will voice their opinions at Monday's city council meeting.

News 13's efforts to reach out to the developer were unsuccessful.