City Removing Nuisance Properties to Restore Safety to Neighborhoods

March 19, 2019

Today, Mayor Tim Keller joined officials from the Planning Department’s Building Safety and Code Enforcement Divisions and the City Attorney’s Office to kick off the demolition of a dilapidated property near Downtown Albuquerque. The abandoned residence at 1510 John St. SE has been on the emergency demolition list since 2017.  

“In every corner of the city, we want people to be proud of where they live. Taking down abandoned and blighted buildings is an important way we can support all those Albuquerque residents out there who are fighting to either restore their neighborhoods or make sure their neighborhoods remain strong,” Mayor Keller said. “Properties like these are a nuisance and can become hot spots for criminal activity. Knocking them down is the key first step that can open the door for renewal.”

The City of Albuquerque will continue to aggressively investigate and determine which properties need to be demolished. There are approximately 500 substandard properties in Albuquerque and 75 properties eligible for demolition. To demolish a building, the City first works with the property owner to set a timeline for necessary repairs. If that fails, the City begins the process of obtaining a court order to proceed with demolition.

The administration is committed to making all neighborhoods safer by removing nuisance properties and minimizing blight. Last year, Mayor Keller approved additional funding for the Safe City Strike Force, giving them the resources to fully enforce the Nuisance Abatement Ordinance, Uniform Housing Code and Dilapidated Commercial Building Ordinance.