Judy Young, a candidate for Bernalillo County Commissioner is helping a group called Women Taking Back our Neighborhoods circle a petition opposing the City of Albuquerque’s plan to convert the SureStay Hotel on Hotel Circle into affordable housing.
“The City of Albuquerque is involved in another City boondoggle where people living in the area, including the businesses affected, are living in the dark—not having been notified of the project, nor does the City plan to notify the public for fear of losing the deal that is pending at this time,” Young said in a press release. “It is a Tiny Homes-type public project (but many times larger) with an impact that could stand to destroy an entire business district near I-40 with repercussions that will be amped up for additional purchases.”
According to the petition, the city, and the Real Property Division plan to buy and convert the SureStay Hotel on Hotel Circle. The SureStay Hotel is a privately owned business in an area near other hotels and businesses. It is across the street from the Econolodge and Days Inn hotels.
In order to make these purchases, the city needed to create an amendment in the zoning plan which would allow for this type of transaction. This amendment, according to the release, was passed by the City Council and allows for buildings that weren’t initially intended for permanent housing to be converted into permanent housing without a full kitchen. Those opposed to this plan point out that this is insufficient for permanent living conditions, especially for families.
“Anyone staying in a motel room for longer than a week knows first-hand how insufficient these units are for permanent living conditions,” the release said, “especially for a family without a freezer for other than immediate needs, no over, and very limited space.”
As of now, the reduced kitchen exception is limited to projects that are funded through the Albuquerque Department of Family & Community Services. The city will propose an amendment to the IDO to open this exception to all housing developers, regardless of whether the project is funded through the DFCS or not. This will increase the supply of affordable housing, as the city hopes to house 1,000 unhoused and lower-income individuals by 2025.
The petition contends that none of the businesses along Hotel Circle has been notified of the city’s plans. “Not a single business along Hotel Circle, from Lomas to Eubank has been notified of the City’s year-long plan to buy the SureStay Hotel for Family and Community Services to provide permanent public residential housing, using tax-payers federal tax funds through HUD for the purchase,” the petition said.
Businesses that are in the direct area of the SureStay Hotel include Sadies, the Owl Café and Applebee's, along with Target, Office Depot, Best Buy, Home Store, Petco and the Mattress Store. According to the city, the purchase is not completed yet.