The City of Albuquerque Planning Department created this Anti-Displacement Toolbox in response to community concerns about losing housing, jobs, and businesses as a result of new development and redevelopment.
What’s in the Toolbox?
- Existing resources that may be helpful for residents and businesses.
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Featured strategies that other cities have put in place that can inform our efforts.
- Actions that the City can take to help residents and businesses thrive in their communities.
Why is the City creating a Toolbox?
The Background and Approach Memo summarizes recent community engagement efforts and identifies the most frequently expressed concerns.
- The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated pre-existing challenges, including limited housing availability and economic instability, further fueling factors that can lead to displacement.
- Recent Community Planning Area (CPA) Assessments recommended an anti-displacement toolbox in response to community concerns.
- Community members have shared similar concerns during other City planning efforts.
- Equitable Development Planning for the Albuquerque Rail Trail (2024)
- Housing and Neighborhood Economic Development Fund (2022)
- Displacement is the involuntary relocation of people from their homes and communities due to external forces, including gentrification, development projects, policy decisions, and economic pressures. Displacement can be one component of gentrification.
- Gentrification is a process of change in community identity over time as wealthier people move in, improve housing, and attract new businesses, often displacing historical community members physically, economically, and culturally. Historical community members are either priced out of housing and leases (i.e., displacement) or incentivized to sell because of higher property values. The loss of historical community members and long-time businesses changes the culture and often the character of the place.
What is the City’s role in Anti-Displacement?
The City recognizes that it is important to invest in communities, and that investment can lead to displacement and gentrification if steps are not taken to ensure that long-time residents and businesses can afford to stay and enjoy the benefits of new investment and an improved economy. The City has identified these anti-displacement resources and strategies to help maintain the social and economic vitality of its diverse communities.
- The City of Albuquerque acknowledges that Native/indigenous Peoples and Tribal nations, including the Tiwa Pueblo peoples, and our neighboring Tribal Nations, have stewarded through time immemorial and a millennium of generations, the lands, and waterways of what is now the City of Albuquerque (City). The City also honors and respects the enduring relationship that exists between these Peoples and Tribal Nations and this land and commit to continuing to learn how to be better stewards of the land the City inhabits as well.
City of Albuquerque Land Acknowledgement
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The Featured Strategies include research from the City of Albuquerque Planning Department for potential implementation.
Housing Preservation
Metrics
The City of Albuquerque is committed to actions to promote equitable and inclusive growth. The Action Matrix identifies efforts to prevent displacement and help residents and businesses benefit from investment.
The Albuquerque Social Vulnerability Index assesses social vulnerability by U.S. Census tract. Higher scores indicate greater social vulnerability.
Social vulnerability is measured using data on:
- socioeconomic status
- household characteristics
- racial and ethnic minority status
- housing type and transportation
The City uses the index as one factor in scoring capital investments and complete streets improvements.
This index could be used to help identify areas facing displacement risks or serve as the basis for a Displacement Risk Map that also includes housing market factors.
Measuring and Mapping Displacement
- Boards & Commissions
- See the Boards & Commissions page for groups which oversee or advise on specific issues, organizations, or initiatives in Albuquerque you can join.
- Community Planning Area Assessments
- The City of Albuquerque has 12 Community Planning Areas (CPAs). During year-long assessments in each CPA, Planning Department staff and local communities work together to figure out what each community wants and needs and how to get there. Each assessment report identifies existing programs and resources that address community priorities. The assessment reports also recommend actions for new programs, policies, and regulations that help a community get closer to its vision.
- City Leaders
- At least once a year, the Planning Department brings together community leaders to learn about existing policies and ordinances and other resources that can help improve communities. City Leaders is an important opportunity for community members to learn how to participate effectively in the City’s land development review process and other City planning efforts.
- Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency
- Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency (MRA) partners with community leaders, private developers, property and business owners to support vibrant communities in designated Metropolitan Redevelopment Areas. MRA has several incentive programs to catalyze investment within the Albuquerque community.
- Anti-Displacement Toolbox Survey
- The Planning Department has drafted a survey to ensure we have captured priority community needs through our website and actions. Feedback is encouraged!
Recent planning efforts revealed that community members share concerns about how new development and redevelopment, and investment will impact existing residents and businesses. Planning staff analyzed recent reports and found common concerns related to Housing, Economic Opportunity, and Community Voice as communities change over time.
The community concerns are reflected in these shared community priorities.
1. Production of new housing
Identify strategies that increase the supply of a broad range of housing types, including affordable and market-rate housing, for renters and homeowners.
2. Protections and improved access for residents in vulnerable communities
Identify strategies that protect vulnerable renters and homeowners from displacement and improve access to housing for families with historical roots in communities at risk of gentrification.
3. Preservation of affordable housing
Identify strategies that preserve the existing supply of subsidized and naturally affordable housing for both renters and homeowners, including identifying and protecting areas vulnerable to displacement pressures.
4. Opportunities for local business
Identify strategies that support existing and new small and local business owners and entrepreneurs.
5. Opportunities and access to employment
Identify strategies that improve employment opportunities.
6. Community voices
Identify strategies that respect the identity and values of the neighborhoods by supporting effective and accessible opportunities for participation in public processes and opportunities.
Comments or Suggestions?
Please tell us your concerns and what you think would be important strategies and actions to address them.
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