HUNING HIGHLANDS REVITALIZATION STUDY

Albuquerque, NM: 199_

A proposal to restore and revitalize an historic 2-square-mile district of Albuquerque, just east of the downtown core. The area, which straddles Central Avenue--historic Route 66, which forms the commercial backbone of that city—is largely populated by Victorian houses originally built by and belonging to employees of the Southern Pacific Railway, whose main station and trainsheds lie within a close distance. Prior to the study, the area had fallen into disrepair, and signs of blight were everywhere, Central having become a haven for prostitution populated mainly by rent by-the-hour motels and fast food joints. The charge given the design team was to develop an economic and design strategy that would attract residents, merchants and patrons back into the area.

Based upon a 2-day community charrette/design workshop, the team developed a series of design scenarios that would result in the repedestrianization of the neighborhood. Ideas included the creation of a planted median running down Central; the installation of gardens in the vacant lots that were at that time signs of blight; the lighting and enhancement of alleyways leading from the residential areas to Central; and the introduction of a few “anchor” projects that would serve as socio-cultural magnets and economic engines to attract the right kinds of patrons into the district, which was envisioned to be thematically oriented around its once abundant music and jazz clubs and al fresco dining. Based upon this vision, a set of design guidelines were developed by the RSAUD that could serve as a protocol for the community to use as a means of insuring that new development occurred in a way that was synonymous with their projected vision.

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