Rail Yards Market draws thousands; will it accelerate development?
Damon Scott
Reporter-
Albuquerque Business First
The first Rail Yards market drew thousands of attendees to the city development just south of Downtown this weekend.
Organizers said a conservative attendance estimate was about 4,000 for the May 4 event, which took place in the 27,000-square-foot Blacksmith Shop on the 27-acre property.
Eric Griego was one of a dozen people involved in organizing the event. The former Albuquerque city councilor is a longtime resident of the Barelas Neighborhood, which abuts the Rail Yards at 1st Street and Hazeldine Avenue SW.
“It was great, we were overwhelmed and overjoyed,” Griego said. Griego also sits on the Rail Yards Advisory Board, which includes representatives from the Mayor Richard Berry administration and city, county and state officials, as well as neighborhood representatives.
What the Rail Yards might look like in the future is being negotiated under a master development agreement with California developer Samitaur Constructs. Samitaur is led by land-developer couple Frederick and Laurie Samitaur Smith, who tout one of their specialties as developing areas in blighted urban neighborhoods to spark activity and job creation.
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