Community Celebration (October): Final Plan

We had an exciting Community Celebration held at the International District Library on Saturday October 18th from 3:00 to 4:30 pm. Approximately 40 participants joined this last meeting, including neighborhood residents and residents from the focus housing sites as well as the Choice Neighborhoods planning team with members from the City of Albuquerque and Albuquerque Housing Authority. District 6 Councilor Nichole Rogers, Albuquerque Housing Authority's Executive Director Linda Bridge, and Monica Montoya from the Department of Health, Housing and Homelessness shared remarks about the success of the planning process and hopes for future implementation efforts.

The focus of this meeting was to review goals, strategies, and projects for the Final Plan elements and share updates on the Early Action Activities. The meeting format included open engagement activities through stations displaying materials and prompts for resident input; it also included an interactive map of the planning area showcasing Neighborhood and Housing projects and strategies. 

The People station displayed projects on health, wellness, and education where attendees learned about ideas for creating education programs that span all ages, increasing accessibility to health and wellness services, and enhancing economic stability for residents with diverse backgrounds.

The International District interactive map was our feature tool to present Housing and Neighborhood strategies and projects. Neighborhood projects include key themes such as connections, accessibility, identity, and safety. The map also showcased the proposed redevelopment for Wainwright Manor and Grove Apartments. Residents populated the map with input cards with their insights on projects that are missing and those which should be prioritized. The station also featured boards with illustrations of physical interventions and new developments in the planning area.

The top projects residents shared their excitement about were:

• Upcoming developments at the Kathryn and San Mateo site such as the Growers Market and the Cosecha Housing project

• Activating open spaces through programming and physical interventions

• Streetscape improvements at key intersections aimed to improve pedestrian experience 

Key aspects that stood out from the housing redevelopment concepts included:

• Courtyard and active open space with programming such as fitness classes

• Residential spaces and amenities that allow for gatherings among residents

• Open space designated for children and family activities

• Mixed-use on the ground floor for commercial space

The latest updates on the Early Action Activities included the upcoming installation of art panels at Wainwright, Grove and Pennsylvania. This station featured the artwork designs, information about the artist and her involvement with the International District community as part of the creative process of the panels aimed at celebrating the community's character and identity.

At each station, participants found additional cards with prompts that invited them to share what projects or strategies or elements of this community vision they were the most excited about.

Councilor Rogers also joined for this special day and hosted a station where attendees were able to learn more about District 6 initiatives and projects. Thank you to all the participants and the International District Library staff for all their support to host this meeting. We look toward the International District’s future with hope, excitement, and energy.