Berry to take another look at downtown arena

[Arena]

Basta wrote:

<quoted text>
Why not build an arena between Moriarty and Edgewood? PLENTY of room!

If WE HAD to build an "Arena" (and we don't), the best place to build it would be at the WINROCK GHOST-MALL. Lots of room and parking place; easy access to I-40 and the WIDE PORTIONS of Louisiana; close to Uptown, and close to LOTS of restaurants and shopping all over the area, without the hassles of car thefts, vandalisms, muggings, fights, massive police-state-like presence by APD, AND GREAT PARKING all over the place.

[NYCNYC4EVER]

All For It wrote:

Jobs...Economic Development...Increased Revenue not only for downtown Albuquerque, but the ENTIRE city...this means hotels,tourism, local mom and pop shops, food establishments - places YOU work and own and whos lively hood depends on PEOPLE SPENDING MONEY!
I dont know if people stop and think about the HUGE economic impact this would have on our city.
I am not saying take from the kiddos and build this, but the city needs it...it will benefit us all in the long run.
Come on folks - this has nothing to do with race or the rich or poor - its about building a stronger city base and bringing jobs (which we need desperatly)- times are tough, we cant just sit here and "wait it out"...open up your minds to new ideas!
All I am saying is do some research before slamming this great idea into the ground.

Thank you!! I was beginning to think that there wasn't a single person in this entire metro area that was considering the ENTIRE idea. For all you lame brained idiots on this post, this proposed project isn't solely an arena. It includes an extention to the convention center as well as new restaraunt and shopping spaces. You may complain about the taxes and construction at first, but when the city begins bringing in revenue and business (as well as creating more jobs) due to this project, i'm sure you won't be complaining then. If you ask me, WHY NOT ELABORATE THIS IDEA?! Think of the long term effect this will have over Albuquerque... Be a little more open minded. Success doesn't just come without effort!!!!!!!!!!

[NYCNYC4EVER]

Arena wrote:

<quoted text>
If WE HAD to build an "Arena" (and we don't), the best place to build it would be at the WINROCK GHOST-MALL. Lots of room and parking place; easy access to I-40 and the WIDE PORTIONS of Louisiana; close to Uptown, and close to LOTS of restaurants and shopping all over the area, without the hassles of car thefts, vandalisms, muggings, fights, massive police-state-like presence by APD, AND GREAT PARKING all over the place.

Consider that this whole idea isn't just an arena. It's an effort to bring in more business opportunities. Think of all the other cities that are prospering that are our size (and some are considerably smaller and are still more prosperous). They all have DT arenas. Downtown is more acessible than Uptown IMO with both freeways near by, the railrunner and Alvarado station. Also take into consideration the crime in our downtown as oposed to the downtown of a city i've lived in before. New York City. I bet that more robberies, rapes, car jackings, brutal attacks on civilians, and far more things take place there than in the whole city of Albuquerque. Does that stop people from crowding into their downtown?! Obviously not...

[NYCNYC4EVER]

Basta wrote:

<quoted text>
Why not build an arena between Moriarty and Edgewood? PLENTY of room!

We DO Need and arena DT. But....... Maybe not RIGHT NOW... We should take smaller baby steps to improve downtown before we start considering this idea. For one, we should open up some grocery stores down there. That all on its own will attract lots of people who live in that general vicinity into downtown to spend money. Maybe we should also open up some other more family oriented places down there too (not just stupid bars). In Mineappolis,(last time i went anyways) there was like a neat 3 to 4 story toys-r-us in their downtown that attracted tons of families. Then a few more years down the road when we've completed tasks such as these (and have lots of people who enjoy going downtown because of these tasks), that's when we try this arena idea again. Who knows, maybe oneday..... This will work and our downtown will be vibrant and a major hotspot in New Mexico....

[Bluntly Spoken]

NYCNYC4EVER wrote:

<quoted text>
We DO Need and arena DT. But....... Maybe not RIGHT NOW... We should take smaller baby steps to improve downtown before we start considering this idea. For one, we should open up some grocery stores down there. That all on its own will attract lots of people who live in that general vicinity into downtown to spend money. Maybe we should also open up some other more family oriented places down there too (not just stupid bars). In Mineappolis,(last time i went anyways) there was like a neat 3 to 4 story toys-r-us in their downtown that attracted tons of families. Then a few more years down the road when we've completed tasks such as these (and have lots of people who enjoy going downtown because of these tasks), that's when we try this arena idea again. Who knows, maybe oneday..... This will work and our downtown will be vibrant and a major hotspot in New Mexico....

I'll make a deal with you, you put up your money for the arena and assure the rest of us that our taxes won't increase one penny to support it AND that there will be bookings to keep it full year round then I might re-consider that having one is worth it.

But there is no professional team, no professional anything in ABQ that warrants spending millions for an arena.

The millions required to build it could, no should go to better things, teachers salary increase, better schools, a few more police officers, re-surfacing streets etc.

But an arena is not something that is needed here, by taking another look at it Mr Berry is proving himself to be Marty in disguise.

Let him put it up to vote to the tax payers and see whether we want it or not, after all it is our money that would pay for it.

[CornDaddy]

NYCNYC4EVER wrote:

<quoted text>
Thank you!! I was beginning to think that there wasn't a single person in this entire metro area that was considering the ENTIRE idea. For all you lame brained idiots on this post, this proposed project isn't solely an arena. It includes an extention to the convention center as well as new restaraunt and shopping spaces. You may complain about the taxes and construction at first, but when the city begins bringing in revenue and business (as well as creating more jobs) due to this project, i'm sure you won't be complaining then. If you ask me, WHY NOT ELABORATE THIS IDEA?! Think of the long term effect this will have over Albuquerque... Be a little more open minded. Success doesn't just come without effort!!!!!!!!!!

Speaking of lame brains... People ARE looking at the long term effects. And they're just as dismal now as they will be in 5 years. Its a waste of money!

Creating jobs for the sole sake of jobs is stupid. If we're going to build something and create jobs, then how about we do it so there are some benefits to the taxpayers.

The arenas and such venues we already have in the area are pretty much failures, why would we want to add to that?

[CornDaddy]

NYCNYC4EVER wrote:

<quoted text>Consider that this whole idea isn't just an arena. It's an effort to bring in more business opportunities.

Business opportunities??? For whom? The entire project is a sham in order to bail out the failing convention center by adding the hotel and other useless fluff. The arena proposal is an attempt to misdirect people from the real issue and make peopel think its all for them instead.

NYCNYC4EVER wrote:

<quoted text>Think of all the other cities that are prospering that are our size (and some are considerably smaller and are still more prosperous). They all have DT arenas.

So because they have such, we should too? That's not sound logic. Our DT is a disaster, and adding all this crap will not change it in the least except to perhaps make it worse. Crime will increase, people still won't go because of lack of money and crime, and taxpayers will be stuck with another freaking white elephant. Abq's idea of revitalizing DT is to add MORE alcohol serving venues, of which an arena would be another.

[CornDaddy]

NYCNYC4EVER wrote:

<quoted text>
We DO Need and arena DT. But....... Maybe not RIGHT NOW... We should take smaller baby steps to improve downtown before we start considering this idea. For one, we should open up some grocery stores down there. That all on its own will attract lots of people who live in that general vicinity into downtown to spend money. Maybe we should also open up some other more family oriented places down there too (not just stupid bars). In Mineappolis,(last time i went anyways) there was like a neat 3 to 4 story toys-r-us in their downtown that attracted tons of families. Then a few more years down the road when we've completed tasks such as these (and have lots of people who enjoy going downtown because of these tasks), that's when we try this arena idea again. Who knows, maybe oneday..... This will work and our downtown will be vibrant and a major hotspot in New Mexico....

Now you're applying some sound logic. I can pretty much embrace your entire post!

[NYCNYC4EVER]

CornDaddy wrote:

<quoted text>
Business opportunities??? For whom? The entire project is a sham in order to bail out the failing convention center by adding the hotel and other useless fluff. The arena proposal is an attempt to misdirect people from the real issue and make peopel think its all for them instead.
<quoted text>
So because they have such, we should too? That's not sound logic. Our DT is a disaster, and adding all this crap will not change it in the least except to perhaps make it worse. Crime will increase, people still won't go because of lack of money and crime, and taxpayers will be stuck with another freaking white elephant. Abq's idea of revitalizing DT is to add MORE alcohol serving venues, of which an arena would be another.

Since you seem to think that DT is such a disaster, why leave it that way? How the heck can something be successful when people like you have negative attitudes and don't want to even try to do jack shit? So yeah, lets leave DT as it is never try to do anything. Lets just totally not focus on it and let it get worse and worse... Now i'm not prosing that we go through with this project right now, i'm saying sometime in the future would be nice... Back off.

[Bluntly Spoken]

Question for you NYCNYC4EVER,

You're hot on adding to downtown so would you try and explain exactly where all the added vehicles would park?

As crowded as DT is and with the lack of parking spaces where would you suggest they add more parking?

Build a 3 level down and 5 level up parking structure? condemn some of the old homes to make room for more parking?

Won't even go to the other issues, parking as it is is so bad we avoid going downtown.

Let's make one thing clear here, not looking for an argument but solid answers.

[WildBurp]

Arena wrote:

<quoted text>
If WE HAD to build an "Arena" (and we don't), the best place to build it would be at the WINROCK GHOST-MALL. Lots of room and parking place; easy access to I-40 and the WIDE PORTIONS of Louisiana; close to Uptown, and close to LOTS of restaurants and shopping all over the area, without the hassles of car thefts, vandalisms, muggings, fights, massive police-state-like presence by APD, AND GREAT PARKING all over the place.

Ah, but then UNM would have to approve the sale. Isn't that mall on leased UNM property?

[WildBurp]

NYCNYC4EVER wrote:

<quoted text>
Since you seem to think that DT is such a disaster, why leave it that way? How the heck can something be successful when people like you have negative attitudes and don't want to even try to do jack shit? So yeah, lets leave DT as it is never try to do anything. Lets just totally not focus on it and let it get worse and worse... Now i'm not prosing that we go through with this project right now, i'm saying sometime in the future would be nice... Back off.

Ya know, it's nice to be for something and have something to look forward to. NYCNYC4EVER...nice moniker. If you think that NYC,NY was so damned great, why don't you take the next Greyhound and leave?

[soft landing]

WildBurp wrote:

<quoted text>
Ah, but then UNM would have to approve the sale. Isn't that mall on leased UNM property?

Yes it is.

[Bluntly Spoken]

WildBurp wrote:

<quoted text>
Ya know, it's nice to be for something and have something to look forward to. NYCNYC4EVER...nice moniker. If you think that NYC,NY was so damned great, why don't you take the next Greyhound and leave?

He would get there faster if he thumbed a ride with a trucker who does not agree with him.

Just stick him in the refer trailer and let him feel the cold all the ways back to NY.

Greyhound Bus, they still around?

[ABQNM69]

NYCNYC4EVER wrote:

<quoted text>
We DO Need and arena DT. But....... Maybe not RIGHT NOW... We should take smaller baby steps to improve downtown before we start considering this idea. For one, we should open up some grocery stores down there. That all on its own will attract lots of people who live in that general vicinity into downtown to spend money. Maybe we should also open up some other more family oriented places down there too (not just stupid bars). In Mineappolis,(last time i went anyways) there was like a neat 3 to 4 story toys-r-us in their downtown that attracted tons of families. Then a few more years down the road when we've completed tasks such as these (and have lots of people who enjoy going downtown because of these tasks), that's when we try this arena idea again. Who knows, maybe oneday..... This will work and our downtown will be vibrant and a major hotspot in New Mexico....

These ideas are good. The other ideas of yours seem to be a tad (ok, a lot) farfeched... If we are EVER to build an arena downtown, we would need to have a larger metro area and better public transportation.. Lets reintroduce this idea in about 10 to 15 more years. That's about the time when the city should (hopefully) have picked itself up a little and the people then might actually want to go downtown after hours... We should try out the ideas that you've displayed here, and maybe try to make downtown a little bit more accessable. Maybe set up some light rail or something better down there. As for parking, the construction of a large parking structure would be nice. Not just a 5 floor structure like previously done.. The people in this city often try to make downtown into something it's probably never going to be... We're no New York. I can't stand it when New Yorkers move over here and want to make Albuquerque into another NY...

[ABQNM69]

Bluntly Spoken wrote:

Question for you NYCNYC4EVER,
You're hot on adding to downtown so would you try and explain exactly where all the added vehicles would park?
As crowded as DT is and with the lack of parking spaces where would you suggest they add more parking?
Build a 3 level down and 5 level up parking structure? condemn some of the old homes to make room for more parking?
Won't even go to the other issues, parking as it is is so bad we avoid going downtown.
Let's make one thing clear here, not looking for an argument but solid answers.

There are a lot of parkig lots in downtown that can be turned into large parking structures... You know, i think our downtown is so poorly planned.... People didn't really seem to think about the future very much back then upon the construction of our present downtown....

[WildBurp]

Bluntly Spoken wrote:

<quoted text>
He would get there faster if he thumbed a ride with a trucker who does not agree with him.
Just stick him in the refer trailer and let him feel the cold all the ways back to NY.
Greyhound Bus, they still around?

I think so...Go Greyhound and leave the driving to us. Yep they are around here somewhere.

[ABQNM69]

NYCNYC4EVER wrote:

<quoted text>
Thank you!! I was beginning to think that there wasn't a single person in this entire metro area that was considering the ENTIRE idea. For all you lame brained idiots on this post, this proposed project isn't solely an arena. It includes an extention to the convention center as well as new restaraunt and shopping spaces. You may complain about the taxes and construction at first, but when the city begins bringing in revenue and business (as well as creating more jobs) due to this project, i'm sure you won't be complaining then. If you ask me, WHY NOT ELABORATE THIS IDEA?! Think of the long term effect this will have over Albuquerque... Be a little more open minded. Success doesn't just come without effort!!!!!!!!!!

NYCNYC4EVER, where the hell do you propose we're going to get $350 million?!?!?!?! The answer is us. WE'RE going to be paying for all of this! We need to wait for the economy to get better first and then we need to wait until we actually need an arena..

[Bluntly Spoken]

ABQNM69 wrote:

<quoted text>
There are a lot of parkig lots in downtown that can be turned into large parking structures... You know, i think our downtown is so poorly planned.... People didn't really seem to think about the future very much back then upon the construction of our present downtown....

That I know of there is one underground parking lot, not been in it but have seen it, what they do need is a couple of big parking structures and one for police and other city vehicles, they take up all the parking spots forcing others to park blocks away and walk.

The few times I have had to go DT all I see are cop cars parked in spaces that should be for us. Perhaps if the city used just one of their lots and let the cops walk so we can park closer to city hall it would be nice.

Oh well I can dream, hey wait, maybe incoming mayor Berry will do something about it.

[CornDaddy]

NYCNYC4EVER wrote:

<quoted text>
Since you seem to think that DT is such a disaster, why leave it that way? How the heck can something be successful when people like you have negative attitudes and don't want to even try to do jack shit? So yeah, lets leave DT as it is never try to do anything. Lets just totally not focus on it and let it get worse and worse... Now i'm not prosing that we go through with this project right now, i'm saying sometime in the future would be nice... Back off.

Where did I say it should remain as is? All I said was a hotel and arena are not worthwhile projects, nor will they improve DT.

If you want to change it for the better IMO, add a grocery store for local residents since there is not one there, especially since housing in the area is present, both new and old! Close the portion of Central between say 1st & 10th (or longer) to regular vehicular traffic (excluding cross traffic) and attract eating and shopping venues. The basic model to follow would be the 16th Street Mall in DT Denver. They have FREE CNG buses on 16th St (Central here) and bicycle cops within that zone. The street has seats for people to congregate at, water fountains, coffee shops, tourist trap shops, restaurants (a few serve alcohol), a used book store, flower shop and all manner of other attractions incl a hotel (Hyatt here). The cops keep the riff raff, gangs and homeless element from harassing people. Its a great place to visit and it connects to other forms of transportation (bus & LR there, bus, FailRunner & Amtrak here). It encourages people to walk and enjoy the area with the free rides along 16th St (Central). Most of the important elements are already in place here. As success comes about, the length can be expanded. By the time such is completed, PERHAPS we can look at an arena.