Business owners near First Street and Interstate Highway 40 say the homeless problem that existed when Coronado Park was closed has made its way to their neighborhood.
“They camp out there, they [defecate] out there, they’ve got needles out there, they throw empty bottles across my fence line or trash on my side of the property,” Steven Garcia, owner of Lucky Boyz Limo, told KOB.
Garcia said he opened his business about five months ago after purchasing the old Maaco Auto Shop. He never anticipated what's happened to the area.
“You buy a building, you’re spending the money, you’re spending on it trying to fix it up to make the environment look better and these guys just come destroy the atmosphere,” Garcia said. “Destroy the look.”
Connie Vigil, a business owner in the area and president of the Greater Albuquerque Business Alliance, said she has seen the problems grow since the city closed nearby Coronado Park.
“Multiple businesses are having multiple problems all over again and it’s as if the city just wants to repeat Coronado Park part two,” Vigil said. “It’s really not acceptable.”
Vigil proposed the city invest more money to improve conditions in Gateway Center or risk another Coronado Park.
“Enough is enough,” she said. “The city and county have to do way better for our business sector and our residents.”
