In urban centers throughout the world, the availability of convenient and affordable housing, commercial, arts and public spaces are critical to the viability and sustainability of the community. Unfortunately, the very efforts that make downtowns more attractive ultimately make them less affordable to all but the affluent. In many cases revitalization causes the displacement of long-term residents, traditional communities, businesses and places for the arts.
Understanding that the involvement of these communities as well as that
of the adjacent neighborhoods is essential to sustaining the vitality
of downtown, the Civic Trust aims to ensure that downtown investment
and revitalization is consistent with and sensitive to the history, culture
and fabric of the neighborhoods that make up and surround downtown. The
Downtown Albuquerque Civic Trust is dedicated to insuring that while
the Downtown revitalizes, it remains a community desirable and available
to all. Numerous community leaders have been working and planning for
several years in this effort, supported by the Ford Foundation, the McCune
Charitable Foundation, the Enterprise Foundation, HDIC and other leading
community development, business and finance experts.