Posted at: 11/20/2012 8:14 PM | Updated at: 11/20/2012 10:16 PM
By: Chris Ramirez, KOB Eyewitness News 4
The 4th Street Mall in downtown Albuquerque is one step closer to getting a major facelift with the help of a federal grant.
Currently, many people avoid 4th Street near Civic Plaza downtown. People loiter there for hours and the planters have turned into beds for the homeless. On top of that, rodents have infested the area and businesses are moving out.
In an effort to rehabilitate the 4th Street Mall, the City of Albuquerque secured a $2 million federal grant. The funds come from a federal program that helps downtowns in need.
"What we would like to do is take out the pedestrian features and basically convert it back into a street with pedestrian sideways for retail, cultural, and youth type activities," said Rob Perry, City of Albuquerque Chief Administrative Officer.
The plan adds a one-way vehicle accessible road through the mall and incorporates both retail and restaurant space on each side.
Perry said he hopes to have the project done within one year.
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