Interview with Joaquín Baca, North Fourth Spotlight, Trustees Hold Special Meeting and More
North Valley Coalition
City Councilor Juggles a Diverse District
By Carolyn CarlsonJoaquín Baca is the Albuquerque City Councilor for District 2, which includes key central areas such as downtown, Old Town, the North Valley and a small portion of the West Side. A hydrologist by training, Baca was elected in November 2023 and took office in January 2024. He previously served on the board of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, which manages irrigation and flood control systems. As a city councilor, Baca has focused on several critical issues facing Albuquerque, advocating for a safer and more sustainable community. His legislative efforts include addressing the city’s housing crisis by proposing ordinances that streamline development and reduce red tape, as well as supporting fully-funded homelessness services. He is a proponent of downtown and Fourth Street revitalization and has sponsored legislation to address building vacancies, dilapidation and parking issues to encourage a thriving urban core. Additionally, he advocates for protecting natural resources, such as the bosque and acequias, and supports renewable energy initiatives. North Valley News spoke with Councilor Baca about his diverse district, which also includes a small hook of the West Side around the Pat Hurley and West Mesa neighborhoods. The boundary crosses the river between I-40 and Central Avenue, extending west to Coors Boulevard. This section was added after the 2020 Census to balance population among the nine city council districts.
How do you see your job in protecting all of the unique neighborhoods that make up the North Valley?“It’s definitely a juggling act. It’s not as rural as people like to say a lot of times. I was with the conservancy district board prior to this position, where it really was about agriculture, recreation and the bosque and has definitely helped me in preparation for this position,” Baca said. Problems in the North Valley are not that different from the rest of his district or the city. “The idea of housing is a big issue for us. Our young folks can’t buy homes anymore. And by young, I mean working professionals in their 30s.” Affordable and other multifamily housing is appearing along Fourth Street and downtown, though not always popular in surrounding neighborhoods. Baca sees infill as a way to protect the environment. “I’m a hydrologist, we don’t have unlimited water, right? We saw the river dry this summer, so I’m against sprawl. So how do you balance infill in that context? If you’re against sprawl, then you have to be for infill.”
What about the bosque? What condition is it in? What activity do you see happening along its banks?“A lot of people won’t realize that the bosque is pretty much dead at this point. Like, it’s going to be gone,” he said “So you got to start planning for what the new bosque is going to look like. And that’s not an easy thing for people to do, that change is difficult for people to be okay with.” Baca sees the connections between fragile land, diminishing water, and growing populations.
Baca does not see the Rio Grande becoming anything like the San Antonio River Walk. “We still have a river running through a major metropolitan area, and that’s a very unique thing. What we have now is not a natural system, right? It was created. There was a bosque before this bosque that didn’t look anything like this bosque. We have to protect it, even as it changes,” he said. “Simultaneously, I think that is one of the great economic aspects of our city. Like, we actually have a living entity here. You can go see porcupines, and we have badgers down there. Further south, there’s hunting for elk in the bosque. That in and of itself brings economic value to our community in our city.” Baca thinks that any effort to commercialize the natural landscape of the bosque would detract from what is unique and important about the urban river forest that runs through the metropolitan area. He said there were plans being talked about to create more park-like spaces on the west side of the river. “We need more of that type of development. You know, it’s way nicer on our side than it is on that side and I think there’s opportunities to balance that out,” he said. Driving north along Edith, Second and Fourth homeless residents seem to gather and it seems like District 2 has, if not the most, nearly the most, homeless residents on the streets?“No, not even close,” he said. There are two spots on an advisory board for city councilors with the most homeless in their district, and he was not asked to sit on it. “The two counselors with the most homeless are on that council. I’m not,” he said. Councilors serving on the homeless council are Councilors Nichole Rogers (Nob Hill/UNM/International District) and Renée Grout (Southeast Heights/Foothills). “I mean, we’re bad. I’m not trying to downplay it. It’s just that much worse over there,” he said. Baca said he is a supporter of neighborhood Safe Outdoor Spaces to help get the homeless, who are not going to shelters, off the streets, out of doorways and other public spaces. He thinks the Gateway Center has evolved into something that will work. “Gateway, as originally envisioned, has never come to fruition. That original vision, I’m not supportive of that,” he said “But as it is now, it’ll function.” One challenge in providing services to homeless residents is their diverse needs. “There’s a population there that absolutely needs to be in jail. These are people that are preying on others, that are assaulting others, bringing in the drugs,” he said. “Then there’s a huge portion of the homeless that can’t make decisions. I mean, we’re essentially creating a class of disabled people, permanently disabled people. The fentanyl is so bad at this point.” And then, he said, there’s the group that is mentally ill who need to be on medication, often in a therapeutic setting. Baca said plans are in the works for a recovery center in his district, off of I-25, just north of I-40. And improvements at other shelters are helping get homeless residents off the streets. “The Gateway West (aka West Side Shelter) used to be a nightmare. There have been massive improvements over there. It’s not great by any means. I went to stay a night there once just because people say it’s safer to be on the streets than it is in that shelter. It’s just not safer to be on the streets,” he said. “There’s services, there’s a bus line out there now.” A Possible Next Council President?Some observers say Baca would be a strong candidate for the next city council president. While he has not announced whether he will seek another term in 2027, Baca remains focused on balancing the city’s growth with preserving the cultural character of the North Valley, Old Town, and downtown. He is optimistic about the potential for positive transformation along Fourth Street and Menaul Boulevard, driven by collaborative solutions for housing, economic vitality and public safety. Cruising North Fourth Street DesignationsThe policies and people impacting a tricky stretch of road By Carolyn CarlsonHeading north out of downtown on Fourth Street, one sees a hodgepodge of weathered businesses, including restaurants, small meat and grocery stores, cannabis outlets, used car lots, affordable housing developments in various stages of construction and other services targeting the 59% Latino population. This stretch often seems invisible to those passing through to get to downtown. Yet, at the same time, it begs for attention. It’s a complicated stretch of road. One ongoing planning initiative and three governing documents guide the section of North Fourth Street within Albuquerque city limits—roughly from I-40 to Solar Road, the border with Los Ranchos. The governing plans are:
In addition, the City of Albuquerque Planning Department is actively engaged in community planning initiatives for the Near North Valley area. Current efforts focus on updating existing policies and addressing neighborhood concerns through the Near North Valley Community Planning Area (CPA). The Near North Valley CPA spans the area between the Rio Grande and I-25, from I-40 to Montaño. Key aspects of this planning effort include an assessment process that began in September 2025. According to city documents, the planning aims to address residents’ needs while preserving the area’s semi-rural character, rich history and traditions. The process also considers the area’s agricultural heritage, the acequia system, and the surrounding natural environment, including the Rio Grande and bosque trails.
While primarily a county project, the North Valley Center for All Ages is proposed for Fourth Street. Bernalillo County is moving forward with the acquisition of a 2.3-acre site at 3501 Fourth St. NW—just south of Fourth and Candelaria—for a new 23,000-square-foot community facility. This center is intended to be a vibrant hub with potential programming such as sports, arts, fitness, and a café, all aimed at revitalizing that section of the corridor. Another major development near Fourth and Candelaria is Calle Cuarta, a 61-unit mixed-use affordable housing project. The project was developed by YES Housing, Inc., a non-profit organization focused on community revitalization. The units are a mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. These units are income-restricted to serve households at various levels of the Area Median Income (AMI). “This is an innovative, community-focused project that directly tackles several pressing issues from housing availability to economic vitality along the Fourth Street corridor,” Baca said. In addition to the apartments, the development incorporates ground-level storefronts intended to revitalize the commercial corridor. The project had a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony in September 2025 and is largely complete, with most units leased and retail spaces actively marketing to tenants. City Councilor’s viewNorth Valley News inquired with Councilor Joaquín Baca about this section of Fourth Street and the plans for other busy North Valley roads. Baca agreed that Fourth Street is a vital corridor in need of enhancement, emphasizing the importance of promoting housing development to foster neighborhood vitality, support local businesses and address the citywide housing crisis. One solution, he said, is the use of Business Improvement Districts—geographically defined areas where local stakeholders, typically commercial property and business owners, collaboratively fund and manage services and improvements beyond those provided by the city. Does Baca support a business improvement district along Fourth Street to generate revenue for improvements? “Yes, I think we need one. I’m trying to get one here, and I think we need a few throughout the city. Most cities at this point know that it is kind of the basis for a lot of good things. I think that would be a very positive thing,” he said. “Mayor Keller supported it as well, so if he wins, we’ll hold him to it.” Restripe or no?The lack of dedicated bike lanes in the proposed redesign of North Fourth Street between Candelaria and Menaul has become a significant point of contention among community stakeholders. The current plan, a “road diet” that would reduce the number of driving lanes from two in each direction to one, along with a center turn lane, does not include striped bike lanes. Advocacy groups like BikeABQ argue that the inclusion of bicycle facilities is essential for a “Main Street” revitalization and is mandated by the Complete Streets Ordinance, which calls for accommodations for all users. They contend there is enough space in the corridor for both on-street parking and bike lanes if minimum widths are used for travel and turn lanes. Baca says the plan was vetted before he took office and was put in by former City Councilor Isaac Benton. According to Baca, the project’s design consultants, Toole Design advised against including bike lanes due to safety concerns given the road’s narrow width. Baca supports the consultants’ safety assessment, while cycling advocates continue urging him to find a solution that incorporates bike lanes into the final project. “I’m always averse to reversing something that’s spent 10 years in planning, right? Like a lot of people put in a lot of time to make something happen. So I’m very cautious whenever I revisit anything,” he said. “But I paid for a study, I hired the ones who did the city bike plan. That consulting group is like the gold standard for bike lane infrastructure.” He said they concluded that because Fourth Street narrows significantly between Candelaria and Menaul, bikes cannot fit safely. “Not only can you not fit a bike, but the pedestrian infrastructure is really, really bad there too,” he said. “You can’t go through there with a wheelchair either because of poles right in the middle of the sidewalk.” Whether the restriping will move forward is still uncertain. Baca said Mayor Keller has not shown much support for the plan, and if he does not win re-election, it is unclear what candidate Darren White’s position on the project would be. Nearby Menaul also busyThe area around Menaul and University is the focus of a comprehensive revitalization initiative known as the Menaul Metropolitan Redevelopment Area (MRA) Plan. This plan aims to reverse economic decline and improve conditions along the corridor just east of I-25.
Baca voted against the MRA, saying, “The neighborhoods were against it.” The Menaul MRA and the 12th & Menaul Study—described below—do have significant implications for the corridor stretching west toward the Rio Grande (Menaul merges with Indian School west of 12th Street). A major goal of both plans is to improve connectivity. Menaul is now designated as a “Major Transit Corridor,” prioritizing high-frequency transit service and multimodal connections. The plan seeks to provide better access for pedestrians, cyclists and transit users through proposed multi-use trails, wider sidewalks and coordinated transit services that connect to the greater community, including areas near the Rio Grande. “It is going to add more buses, which is probably a good thing, because the Menaul corridor is the third-busiest corridor in the city, which was surprising to me to learn,” he said. Improvements in the MRA are intended to provide better linkages to destinations farther west, such as Old Town and the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park, through new pedestrian and bicycle connections, according to city documents. “I don’t think it will actually matter much, because Menaul on the west side of I-25, it’s built out. It is as wide as it can be. There’s no space to build anything. There’s residential or there’s businesses. The only empty plots are at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, and they already have their master plan in place.” The “12th & Menaul Study” proposes to slow vehicle speeds and discourage non-local “cut-through” traffic in adjacent residential neighborhoods, which could impact how traffic flows toward the Rio Grande area.
“There is a culture in Albuquerque - everybody speeds. One thing that stops this is speed cameras,” Baca said, hinting at possible traffic control options. The plans for the areas around Fourth Street and Menaul involve distinct but complementary efforts to revitalize these major corridors. The overall vision is to transform areas suffering from blight and economic deterioration into vibrant, mixed-use communities with improved safety, mobility and connectivity. Changes Headed to Trustees’ TableVillage Planning and Zoning Commission revamps code By Carolyn CarlsonThere was a lot to unpack at the Village of Los Ranchos Planning and Zoning Commission’s regular meeting on Nov. 12. The commission has been working to amend the text of several sections of the Comprehensive Zoning Code. The amendments address duplicate and unused terms—modifying the existing format for consistency and clarity—and update standards to meet applicable specifications and requirements. The proposal also includes creating a new Core Commercial Zone from a portion of the existing Village Center Zone. Approximately eight amendments were approved before the commission’s unanimous vote.
The commission is under a tight deadline to get the changes to the trustees’ table. A moratorium on new development applications in the Village Center is set to expire on January 1, 2026. It was initiated on March 24, 2024. The moratorium has drawn criticism as it has held up some small businesses in the Village Center area from making improvements to their properties. The Village Center is the area surrounding the intersections of Fourth Street, Osuna and Chavez.
Commissioners also approved the addition of a specific zone for municipal open space and park uses, as well as flexibility in height standards for architectural features in the Village Center. The recommended changes will be sent to the board of trustees for consideration and final approval. Once the trustees approve, North Valley News will review the final document. The full agenda, video and draft minutes can be found on the Village of Los Ranchos website. Board of Trustees Holds Special MeetingProposed zoning changes to be advertised in advance of approval By Carolyn CarlsonA special Los Ranchos Board of Trustees meeting took place on Dec. 1, during which four significant ordinances—primarily involving major zoning updates—were considered and approved for publication and public advertising. The changes were passed out of the Planning and Zoning Commission on Nov. 12. The clock is ticking, as a moratorium on new applications in the Village Center Zone expires on Jan. 1. The bulk of the changes affect this area. The ordinances approved for publication are:
This comprehensive amendment modernizes several sections of the zoning code. Key actions include standardizing formatting, removing outdated terminology, establishing new development standards and officially creating a new zoning designation— the Core Commercial (CC) Zone (§ 9.2.14.5)—complete with its own specific regulations.
To implement the new Core Commercial Zone established by Ordinance No. 306, this ordinance formally updates the official zoning map. It specifically rezones several existing parcels from the former Village Center (VC) designation to the new Core Commercial (CC) designation.
This ordinance introduces additional text amendments, updating several procedural and regulatory sections within the zoning code, including: the structure and role of the Planning and Zoning Commission (§ 9.2.2); General Regulations (§ 9.2.4); specific standards for the A-1 Agricultural/Residential Zone (§ 9.2.7); the Application and Approval Process (§ 9.2.25) and Standards for Conservation Development Permits (§ 9.2.27). All of these proposed changes have moved through the village Planning and Zoning Commission. Trustees accept grants, hear reports from various committeesAt the Nov. 19 meeting, Los Ranchos Village Trustees passed two resolutions related to funding from the New Mexico Finance Authority (NMFA). One authorizes a Water Project Fund (WPF) Grant Agreement with the NMFA, and another approves a funding application to the NMFA’s Local Government Planning Fund (LGPF). The resolutions address different projects: Resolution No. 2025-11-01 authorizes the execution and delivery of a Water Project Fund Grant Agreement with the NMFA for a specific water project in the village. Resolution No. 2025-11-02 authorizes the administration to proceed with an application for funding from the Local Government Planning Fund (LGPF) to develop a comprehensive strategic plan for the village’s Agri-Nature Center (ANC). The Agri-Nature Center has long served residents by providing agricultural education, and there is interest in expanding several of its popular programs. The meeting included several presentations, including an update from Bernalillo County Commissioner for District 1, Barbara Baca and a proclamation honoring the retired Bernalillo County Fire Department Chief Greg Perez, along with an introduction of the new Chief, Zachary Lardy. The board of trustees meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in person at Village Hall and via Zoom. The Planning and Zoning Commission meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in person at Village Hall at 6718 Rio Grande Blvd. NW and via Zoom. For more information and links to meeting videos, go here. Plaintiff in Palindrome Lawsuit Reflects on the Battle and What Comes NextTackling misconceptions and looking to the future of the village By Carolyn CarlsonFriends of Los Ranchos members would like to clear the air on what they feel are some misconceptions. North Valley News met with Nancy Nangeroni and Gordene MacKenzie at their Guadalupe Trail home for a catch-up. Who’s who and what’s what?The Friends of Los Ranchos (FOLR), a local non-profit organization that advocates for preserving the village’s rural character, filed multiple lawsuits against the Village of Los Ranchos a couple of years ago, primarily focused on the controversial Village Center Project development at Fourth Street and Osuna. Nangeroni, along with the FOLR, is the named plaintiff in the lawsuits against the village and Palindrome Communities LLC, the developer. She is also the secretary of the organization. MacKenzie serves as a friend and advisor to the group. When asked why she agreed to be a named plaintiff, Nangeroni said she initially declined. However, when Joe Craig—who at the time was president of FOLR—was elected Los Ranchos Mayor, which required him to play for the other team, the situation became more complicated. “I volunteered because it seemed like they needed somebody and I was there and I was deeply involved at that point. So why not?” she said. The core of their legal challenge centers on allegations that the previous village administration violated state law during the approval process for the high-density development, which includes a 204-unit affordable housing complex and retail spaces.
Litigation and moreOne of the other misconceptions MacKenzie and Nangeroni would like to clear up is that while a judge did order a total of $175,000 settlement—split between the village and Palindrome—the money did not go into FOLR accounts. The settlement agreement states that the funds were paid to Peifer, Hanson & Mullins, P.A., the plaintiff’s attorneys. Nangeroni said the law firm discounted its fees to this amount from more than $200,000. In a significant ruling in May 2024, a state District Court judge sided with FOLR, finding that the village had indeed violated the Open Meetings Act by improperly delegating approval authority to administrative staff and failing to hold public meetings for key project approvals. The judge declared the prior approvals for the project’s site plans and plats invalid. FOLR had opposed the development due to its density and potential impacts on traffic and community character. This legal victory prompted the village administration—which included former FOLR president Joe Craig, who died in May 2024—to seek a court injunction to halt construction. However, another judge subsequently ruled against the village’s motion for an injunction in June 2025, allowing construction to continue while legal battles over damages and project validity persist. “I advocated unequivocally for tearing it down. In truth, personally, I think it would be a tremendous waste to do that. A real shame. But I felt that to give us the best bargaining leverage in the negotiation, I felt that I needed to take that position. And we thought it would have been a tremendous waste,” Nangeroni said on behalf of her and MacKenzie. So after the more than year-long legal battle, the FOLR were left with no major cash influx to purchase open space or pursue other priorities. The group held a fundraising campaign to cover legal fees during the litigation. “We knew how much trouble we’d had raising $100,000,” Nangeroni said. Members of the group have been actively involved in the recent overhaul of the village’s zoning code, which tightens and changes many of the parameters in place when Palindrome’s first phase was approved. A moratorium on new applications in the Village Center area has been in place since March 2024 and is set to expire on Jan. 1. FOLR recently participated in a community yard sale and raised a couple thousand dollars to donate to the village for open space acquisition in memory of former Mayor Joe Craig. Where are we now?North Valley News asked Nangeroni and MacKenzie how they—and FOLR—felt now about the people who have moved into the Palindrome apartments, especially after some Los Ranchos residents made negative comments about future tenants during public meetings before the project’s completion. MacKenzie said those comments did not reflect how the majority of FOLR members felt. She noted that they campaigned at the complex during the recent trustee election and had the chance to meet many of the residents. “They were all nice people. We’re not opposed to affordable housing, but we are also concerned about how the residents are going to be treated,” MacKenzie said. “We’re not somebody who’s trying to keep out anybody.” Nangeroni said some of their concerns stemmed from issues they had heard about at other Palindrome developments, such as the nearby Sawmill project. She said tenants reported that routine health and safety maintenance was not performed and that month-to-month leases allowed rents to be raised without notice. (North Valley News was unable to reach Palindrome representatives before deadline. We hope to include an interview in a future issue.) Another question posed to Nangeroni and MacKenzie was who was responsible for the negative emails targeting specific trustee candidates sent during the recent election. They said a cantankerous Los Ranchos resident had gotten hold of the Keep Los Ranchos Rural group’s email list, which shares many of the same members. “No, we did not send them,” MacKenzie said. “There’s a rumor that we did it. They were horrible.” They added that the same individual was responsible for the extremely negative political signs placed along Rio Grande near former Mayor Don Lopez’s house during the Palindrome litigation. How to move forward from hereNorth Valley News asked how they were going to bring all of the village residents together now. “Can’t we all just get along? You know?,” MacKenzie said. “Well, that’s where we’re at, because we’re past the litigation. We’re past all of that.” Nangeroni echoed the sentiment that it was time to move forward. “We all live in the village, and we’re all here for a particular reason,” she said. “We’re seeing too much division in the culture.” “We reached, I think, every corner of the village while we were campaigning, and there’s vast socioeconomic differences here. So let’s talk about our plans moving forward, because that’s what your question was. We don’t have any,” Nangeroni said with a bit of friendly chuckle. She explained FOLR is planning a public meeting in January at the Raymond G. Sanchez Community Center to get input on the direction to take. “Everyone in the village is welcome to attend,” MacKenzie said. We asked if this included inviting another active Los Ranchos group that formed in response to the litigation, called Informed Los Ranchos. “Absolutely,” Nangeroni said. “We’re going to have to form a new idea of what we’re going to look like.” MacKenzie added, “This is kind of a moment for the village to come together.” For more information about the January meeting, keep an eye on the FOLR website. North Valley News BriefsBy Carolyn Carlson
Sandhill cranes hang out in a field on the corner of Guadalupe Trail and Chavez in Los Ranchos. The nearly nine acres are slated for development into 16 houses with two acres for open space. The field is a popular spot for cranes and geese. The following road closures are in effect:
The Bernalillo County Treasurer would like to remind property owners that the first half of their 2025 property taxes are due, and late fees will accrue if not paid by Dec. 10. The Albuquerque City and Bernalillo County Clerks would like to remind voters that the runoff election for Mayor and City Council Districts 1 and 3 is underway, with early voting locations open through Tuesday, Dec. 9. Starting Dec. 13, ABQ RIDE is implementing the first round of route improvements for the ABQ RIDE Forward Network Plan, which may affect bus routes serving the North Valley.
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