The Albuquerque City Council on Oct. 20 adopted an updated Downtown Metropolitan Redevelopment Area plan, Downtown 2050, intended to meet state tax-increment financing (TIF) requirements and unlock future redevelopment tools for the downtown metropolitan redevelopment area.

Councilors approved a technical amendment clarifying formatting and non-substantive edits and then voted to pass R182. Councilor Joaquín Baca, the sponsor, said the document is a high-level strategic plan intended to meet state requirements rather than a detailed development program. “This is a development plan. It is for the TIF,” Baca said during closing remarks, noting extensive public engagement and upcoming site-specific steps before any TIF is created.

The plan update is the first that will be required for the city’s MR zones as the municipality pursues TIFs and other downtown investments. Supporters said the plan provides the necessary vision to seek state and county participation in future TIFs and to coordinate investments such as planned public restrooms and transit center improvements. Opponents in public comment urged additional neighborhood-level engagement and raised concerns about potential displacement, asking that specific properties be removed from the plan for further neighborhood review.

Council discussion emphasized the plan’s strategic scope: it does not itself rezone property or commit funds or actions beyond setting the framework for later project-level decisions. Councilor Baca said the city expects additional public processes and state approval steps before any tax-increment districts or projects proceed. The council adopted amendment 1 (technical format changes) and then approved R182 as amended on an 8–0 vote during the meeting.

Public commenters from nearby historic neighborhoods asked the council to deny R182 or to withdraw two properties from the plan, saying the neighborhood leadership had not been included in advisory committee work and had not had adequate outreach. Other downtown residents and business advocates said the plan is a necessary first step to access funding tools that have driven downtown reinvestment in other cities.

The adoption triggers subsequent work: project-specific analyses, feasibility studies, and the multi-step approvals required to form a TIF and seek state and county participation. City staff said public restrooms tied to downtown investments are scheduled to move toward construction this winter.

Votes at a glance: R182 (resolution) — amendment adopted then resolution passed as amended.

Ending: With R182 adopted, the council and city staff will move to the next phases of project-level outreach and state-level approvals; neighborhood leaders signaled they will continue to press for targeted engagement on specific properties cited during public comment.