Residents in some of Albuquerque’s historic neighborhoods are speaking out against the city’s proposed soccer stadium. The $50 million bond for the multi-use facility will be on the ballot for thousands of people come Tuesday, Nov. 2. “This initiative with the stadium would be something that would actually be beneficial for the community,” Cindy Naba, a consultant for the “New Mexico United For All” campaign, said.She added she’s excited about an increase in tourism and employment.”The creation of jobs, right? And clearly, you know, travel and more tourism coming into the state,” Naba said. “This is a beginning for innovation.”However, not all residents agree.On Oct. 29, the Historic Neighborhoods Alliance held a rally to voice their concerns about the proposed stadium. The group consists of a collection of neighbors from South Broadway, Barelas, Santa Barbara Martineztown, Wells Park, and San Jose. “We are old, historic neighborhoods and we’re often slated for development that really does not fit,” Diana Dorn-Jones, who lives in South Broadway, said. Dorn-Jones added the soccer stadium would be too grand for their smaller, quaint neighborhoods. The proposed facility could also cause problems, like the Albuquerque Rail Yards. “People that are on the west side of our neighborhood, closest to the rail yard, they can’t sleep at night when those concerts are going on,” Dorn-Jones said. “Their windows are rattling, and there’s a lot of traffic. We’re concerned about that.”Bianca Encinias has lived in Wells Park for 15 years. “I love our community. I’ve always wanted to live there since I was a little girl, growing up in the south valley. I’ve always considered it a dream to be in the city,” Encinias said.Like others in her community, she’s also worried about problems the proposed soccer stadium could bring.”There’s not a traffic study that’s been done,” Encinias said. “There hasn’t been a noise study to see what kinds of impacts the noise and traffic congestion are going to create.”Especially in historic neighborhoods where African-Americans and Hispanics often reside. “Communities of color have already been disproportionately impacted, and we don’t understand why another major development project is being proposed for our communities,” Encinias said. Instead of the multi-use facility, the alliance is focusing on greater needs within the neighborhoods, like housing rehabilitation for seniors, permanent affordable housing, and funding for small businesses. “We want development that fits. We want small business development. We want to have housing development, and we want to have a place where our older people, elderly people, can age in place,” Dorn-Jones said. All for the sake of their own communities. Just in time for election day.”Think about our little neighborhoods, and what we’re trying to do, and vote ‘no’ on the stadium,” Dorn-Jones said. Residents added, despite the official outcome of the vote, they will continue to work with Albuquerque city officials on what they want to see in their own neighborhoods. KOAT reached out to New Mexico United officials for an interview or statement. They declined our request.
Residents in some of Albuquerque’s historic neighborhoods are speaking out against the city’s proposed soccer stadium.
The $50 million bond for the multi-use facility will be on the ballot for thousands of people come Tuesday, Nov. 2.
“This initiative with the stadium would be something that would actually be beneficial for the community,” Cindy Naba, a consultant for the “New Mexico United For All” campaign, said.
She added she’s excited about an increase in tourism and employment.
“The creation of jobs, right? And clearly, you know, travel and more tourism coming into the state,” Naba said. “This is a beginning for innovation.”
However, not all residents agree.
On Oct. 29, the Historic Neighborhoods Alliance held a rally to voice their concerns about the proposed stadium. The group consists of a collection of neighbors from South Broadway, Barelas, Santa Barbara Martineztown, Wells Park, and San Jose.
“We are old, historic neighborhoods and we’re often slated for development that really does not fit,” Diana Dorn-Jones, who lives in South Broadway, said.
Dorn-Jones added the soccer stadium would be too grand for their smaller, quaint neighborhoods.
The proposed facility could also cause problems, like the Albuquerque Rail Yards.
“People that are on the west side of our neighborhood, closest to the rail yard, they can’t sleep at night when those concerts are going on,” Dorn-Jones said. “Their windows are rattling, and there’s a lot of traffic. We’re concerned about that.”
Bianca Encinias has lived in Wells Park for 15 years.
“I love our community. I’ve always wanted to live there since I was a little girl, growing up in the south valley. I’ve always considered it a dream to be in the city,” Encinias said.
Like others in her community, she’s also worried about problems the proposed soccer stadium could bring.
“There’s not a traffic study that’s been done,” Encinias said. “There hasn’t been a noise study to see what kinds of impacts the noise and traffic congestion are going to create.”
Especially in historic neighborhoods where African-Americans and Hispanics often reside.
“Communities of color have already been disproportionately impacted, and we don’t understand why another major development project is being proposed for our communities,” Encinias said.
Instead of the multi-use facility, the alliance is focusing on greater needs within the neighborhoods, like housing rehabilitation for seniors, permanent affordable housing, and funding for small businesses.
“We want development that fits. We want small business development. We want to have housing development, and we want to have a place where our older people, elderly people, can age in place,” Dorn-Jones said.
All for the sake of their own communities.
Just in time for election day.
“Think about our little neighborhoods, and what we’re trying to do, and vote ‘no’ on the stadium,” Dorn-Jones said.
Residents added, despite the official outcome of the vote, they will continue to work with Albuquerque city officials on what they want to see in their own neighborhoods.
KOAT reached out to New Mexico United officials for an interview or statement. They declined our request.
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