Scenic Beauty, Cultural Diversity Beckon Newcomers
Published Mar 26, 2006
Rayana Hawks, 2, gazes at the fish tank at the Albuquerque Aquarium, just one of the city’s many popular attractions.
Whether it’s the sweeping views of the mountains, the extraordinarily livable climate, exciting cultural – and multicultural – amenities or great housing, Albuquerque’s quality of life is the engine that drives the city’s remarkable growth.
With a rich history to nurture it and a vibrant future ahead, this jewel in the heart of New Mexico, has a wealth of attractions for those in search of the perfect place to grow a business – or a family.
“I like the whole atmosphere here in Albuquerque,” says Neil Bhakta, who moved from Roswell to open two Red Brick Pizza restaurants in late 2005. “The scenery is wonderful, the weather. There are plenty of things to do, and something is always going on.”
Ask newcomers and old-timers alike what they love about their city and, as with Bhakta, you’re likely to hear first about its physical beauty.
Set dramatically between the 10,000-foot Sandia Mountains and the Rio Grande Valley, Albuquerque basks in a dry, four-season temperate climate with sunny days year-round, perfect for outdoor recreation, from golf to mountain biking to hot-air ballooning.
Add to that affordable housing and a healthy economic climate, and the city’s appeal becomes even more apparent.
Equally appealing to the 700,000-plus people who call metro Albuquerque home is the city’s cultural diversity, which, in turn, fuels the arts, cuisine, shopping and a year-round calendar of special events that brings residents together for fun and education.
While the area’s annual 5 percent to 6 percent growth certainly presents challenges, Albuquerque has kept stride in expanding and improving its infrastructure.
“Great cities can’t stand still. You either grow or you die,” says Mayor Martin Chavez, a lifelong resident of Albuquerque. “The challenge for Albuquerque has not been whether we are growing but growing in the right way, and I think we are addressing that in a good, productive constructive way.”
In his August 2005 state-of-the-city address, Chavez pointed with pride to the city’s dropping crime rate and strong economic climate, with a growing high-tech presence.
The city is a national leader in water conservation, he explained in his address, as well as “one of the cleanest cities in the United States” when it comes to air. In fact, Chavez was one of 149 U.S. mayors to sign the 1997 Kyoto Accord, which aims to curb the air pollution that causes global warming.
High on the city’s priority list has been the conservation and expansion of green space, including the addition of bike trails, a tree inventory and the massive rescue of 2,700 acres of land in the Bosque woodland area.
The city is home to several new attractions, including the Albuquerque Museum, the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum, botanical gardens and a world-class aquarium. The city also enjoys an ever-widening choice of recreational opportunities, from a new skate park to improvements at Tingley Beach.
Marking its 300th birthday in 2006, this is a city with plenty to celebrate.
“What we are doing with the tricentennial is reaching within, looking at ourselves and then articulating that with an eye toward the future … ,” Chavez said during his address. “This is one of the hottest cities of America.”
Story by Laura Hill
Photo by Brian McCord
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