The Bernalillo County Commission is holding a groundbreaking for phase two reconstruction of Isleta Boulevard on Friday, Aug. 26, 11 a.m. at 2920 Isleta Blvd. SW. County Commissioner Teresa Córdova, associate professor in the School of Architecture and Planning, and students from the school's Resource Center for Raza Planning (RCRP), which she directs, have been involved in the Isleta Blvd. project from the start.
“The first phase included the realignment of Deadman's Curve and a widening of Isleta from Bridge to Arenal. Phase II will address curb and gutter and widening from Arenal to Rio Bravo,” said Maggie Adams, RCRP project manager.
RCRP continues with other work along Isleta. Córdova and her students put together a sector development plan for Isleta Boulevard. “The community made it clear they want to retain the area's semi-rural environment and sense of place while also looking at ways to grow the economy,” said Jacobo Martinez, RCRP project manager.
Through site design and land use, the sector plan calls for a series of seven village centers along Isleta Blvd. from Bridge to Isleta Pueblo. “They will be places of synergy, places to gather, much like the plazas and squares throughout New Mexico,” Martinez said.
Martinez said the village centers also direct where development should occur. He said that the goal is to put the businesses close to the street. “The village centers will be walkable, pedestrian friendly and attractive to local and small business. Parking will be adjacent to the amenities,” he said. He added that through zoning, open spaces will be preserved to maintain the rural character
“Instead of developing a comprehensive master plan, we've put together a small scale plan that is set in ordinance and regulation for land use,”
“The community expressed a need for a sector plan. The county provided funding that came to RCRP for the advanced planning studio to conduct it. Previously, the county had completed a Southwest Area Plan that provided guidelines and principles that the students used in the sector plan to establish ordinance and policies,” Martinez said.
“This project is part of a broader South Valley strategy the community has participated in every step of the way,” Córdova said.
Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920
Posted by scarr at August 25, 2005 11:37 AM