Archives for October 2014

 
Quiet floating on the Rio Grande River presents an economic opportunity for the Albuquerque area (John Fleck/Journal)
ALGODONES – The kayaks and canoes spread across the Rio Grande downstream from the Baca Ranch were a sight to behold. It’s a wonder, I thought to myself as I floated along on a recent sunny afternoon, that you don’t see this more often.
“The river works magic on people,” said Dave Simon, New Mexico State Parks director from 2003 to 2010, “if you can just get out there.”
But “just get out there” is not, at this point, a trivial exercise for someone wanting to float the quiet waters of the Rio Grande through New Mexico’s largest metropolitan area.
There are few good places to put boats in the river and take them out, but the biggest hurdle seems to be cultural inertia. People don’t realize floating the Rio Grande is something you can do.
As Albuquerque struggles to envision its economic future, there is a wonky argument (which I’ll get to below) about the “amenity value” that could be provided by what Simon calls the “blue trail” through the metro area. But beyond the wonkishness or craven economic self interest, let’s point out that floating the Rio Grande is just plain fun. The shallow water makes it a poor waterway for motorized boating, but in a canoe or kayak, it’s a delight.
The boats of my afternoon armada, mostly from the Bernalillo-based float trip company aptly named Quiet Waters, were carrying visitors in town for a conference of nonprofit foundations. I tagged along because when someone says, “Hey, want to join us on a Rio Grande float trip for a couple of hours tomorrow afternoon?” it’s good practice, whenever possible, to answer “yes.”
Plus, I’ve been interested in the growing numbers of paddlers I see on the river that flows through our community, and a friend’s inflatable kayak with a paddle in my hands seemed like a good way to conduct the necessary research.
When Michael Hayes first set up temporary residence here in the summer of 2007, in a camper truck at Coronado State Park in Bernalillo, he was the only one with canoes. “I stopped at Coronado and said, ‘Oh, cool, there’s a river there,’ ” Hayes recalled in a recent interview.
On a combination epic road trip and search for a new place to live and a new way to make a living, Hayes found himself looking down at a Rio Grande that seemed inviting, but with a catch. There was no access from the campground down to the river.
Prodded by Hayes’ questions, the campground manager cut a trail, and a veil pulled back on the metro area’s Rio Grande boating scene.
At first, Hayes was just floating friends down the river, but in 2010, Quiet Waters became his new way of making a living.
Hayes, who runs most of his float trips on the stretch of river from Algodones to Alameda, has had to cope with drought, occasional bosque fire restrictions that closed access to the river, and a lack of good places to put boats in and take them out.
There have been periodic attempts to expand boat access, including a boat ramp proposal in Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry’s recent “Rio Grande Vision” conceptual plan for trails and other bosque development, which has been slow to get off the ground. But Hayes has persevered, with growing traffic just about every year, he said. He’s also seen more and more private boaters out enjoying the float.
“When you’re out on the river, it’s beautiful,” said Reed Benson, a University of New Mexico law professor who both studies the river and observes it firsthand from the seat of his own kayak.
A friend of mine who occasionally plays a role in recruiting Ph.D.-level talent for an Albuquerque employer told me his introduction routine generally includes a trip to the Rio Grande Nature Center and a walk to the Rio Grande. This particular employer can’t quite compete with larger players on salary, so my friend is offering up what economists call the “amenity value” of the river.
I believe that Hayes, Benson, Simon and others opening that river up for paddle sports are increasing that amenity value, beyond the direct flow of dollars to Quiet Waters itself. To stand on the river’s bank and watch a canoe float past is to extend our understanding of the role the river can play in the life of our community.
As Albuquerque leaders push “innovation” as a potential economic engine, we need to recognize what Bruce Katz of the Brookings Institution calls “demographic preferences for quality places.” Simon’s idea of the Rio Grande as a recreational corridor can be a piece of that.
The connection between community economic development and river recreation is unquestioned in Colorado, where state law explicitly recognizes the use of water for recreation as a “beneficial use,” a legal bridge we’ve not yet crossed here in New Mexico, according to Benson.
More and better access points for boaters is still a major problem, according to Simon. Given the economic benefits to the community – both paddlers’ direct spending but also the increasing amenity value – improving access to the river and encouraging people like Hayes and Benson is “a no-brainer,” Simon said.
By: John Fleck (Albuquerque Journal)
Click here to view source article.

Thanks to all of the brokers, sponsors and guests who attended the October 2014 CCIM Deal Making Session. Over 3 million dollars of commercial real estate properties available for sale were presented from all over New Mexico. Click here to view powerpoint presentation from October 2014 CCIM Deal Making Session.

1.	Nicosha Schedlbauer	6040 Brentwood Lane	$1,750,000
2.	Coralee Quintana	917 Pennsylvania NE	$169,200
3.	Michael Reneau & Matt Reeves	Plaza del Sol Shopping Center	See Agent
4.	Michael Reneau & Matt Reeves	Gardenswartz Shopping Center	See Agent
5.	Steve Kraemer	135-137 N. Camino del Pueblo	$435,000
6.	George Chronis	480 Rio Communities Blvd.	$379,900

 

TIJERAS — Sounds emanating from 1,300 feet of roadway just west of Tijeras have been listened to around the world, and it’s more than just tires on pavement catching international attention.
The Singing Road, installed last week, uses rumble strips to play “America the Beautiful” for drivers who obey the speed limit as they cruise down Route 66.
The National Geographic Channel approached the New Mexico Department of Transportation about the project last June, asking if they could construct the road for an upcoming series. The project was privately funded by National Geographic and NMDOT didn’t make – or spend – any money on it. Since the road was finished last week, Melissa Dosher, the public information officer for NMDOT, said she’s fielded questions from television stations as far away as Australia.

“My boss thought it was a really cool idea,” Dosher said.”It promotes public safety because the goal is to have people drive the speed limit. Plus it can be an attraction along Route 66.”
In addition to encouraging cars to slow down to hear the tune, Dosher said the rumble strips can help keep sleepy drivers awake as they wind their way through the Tijeras Canyon. The attraction is expected to draw visitors from Albuquerque to the East Mountains for tourism.
“They were looking for something off the interstate, with a speed limit of 45 mph, a long stretch of road instead of curved, with not too old pavement. That stretch had recently been repaved about a year ago,” Dosher explained. “It’s not near any homes so it shouldn’t be distracting for anyone living nearby.”
The song is played as a car’s tires hit grooved metal plates underneath the asphalt. Each plate produces a musical note that come together to play the song. The road is only one of six of its kind in the world and the second in the United States. A road in Lancaster, Calif. plays the “William Tell Overture” and was created by Honda.
“They used a mathematical equation to space the notes out and make it play directly,” Dosher explained. “National Geographic chose “America the Beautiful.” It’s not copyrighted, and it represents Route 66 because the area is really beautiful.”
The attraction was created by Tigress Productions for the National Geographic Channel as part of a new series called “Crowd Control” premiering this November. The series performs experiments designed to test and curate social behavior to gain insight into how and why people behave as they do, according to an NMDOT press release.
By: Elise Kaplan Telegraph (Albuquerque Journal)
Click here to view source article

How and when Bernalillo County will consolidate its Downtown Albuquerque office operations is still an open question, as is whether Downtown will remain in the equation.

Deputy County Manager Vince Murphy said Wednesday at an Economic Forum of Albuquerque breakfast at the Albuquerque Country Club that officials received 14 responses to a request for information (RFI) that Manager Tom Zdunek released recently. The RFI laid out the county’s minimum requirements — at least 265,000 square feet of space, 750 to 800 on-site parking spaces and access to public transit, to name a few.
“Some of the ideas are creative and unique,” Murphy said without going into detail. “Others proposed public-private partnerships. No decision has been made.” The RFI expired last month.
Zdunek and other county officials have been looking at a variety of options for the consolidation of county offices and other operations — many of which are scattered around Downtown and are in deteriorating buildings. Zdunek previously said the chances were slim that the county’s needs could be met under a scenario that would keep them Downtown. But others in the public and private sector have said they would like to keep the county and its 700 workers in the Downtown corridor.
“There is not a blatant attempt for the county to abandon Downtown,” Murphy said. “And consolidation isn’t just to bring county workers together, but to improve customer service.”
The county is one of the largest property owners in Downtown, with about 150 buildings in its portfolio. It is looking at options for repurposing many of them, including issuing a request for proposals (RFP) to demolish the former Downtown jail.
Murphy said the county is looking at other options, too. One is to convert a building into a boutique hotel, an idea he said came from the dean of the UNM School of Architecture and Planning. Another idea, he said, was finding space for the UNM College of Fine Arts, so it could have a permanent Downtown presence.
By: Damon Scott (Albuquerque Business First)
Click here to view source article.