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FAQs

Downtown Albuquerque Business Improvement District - Frequently Asked Questions

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  • The City provides basic services, but a BID goes above and beyond. The BID invests directly in downtown, with services chosen and managed by downtown property and business owners. This means cleaner, safer, more vibrant streets that attract customers and increase property values—things the City alone cannot provide at the same level.

  • The BID will be governed by a board of property and business owners from downtown. Budgets, work plans, and performance reports are transparent and publicly available. You’ll know exactly where every dollar goes.

  • The cost is based on property type, size, and location. Rates are designed to be fair and affordable while generating enough resources to make a visible impact. (Insert local cost examples here.)

  • BIDs must be renewed every five years. If it isn’t delivering results, property owners can vote to change direction or even dissolve it. You are never locked in forever.

  • The BID’s success is tied to accountability: measurable goals, regular reporting, and oversight from a board made up of your peers. If services aren’t being delivered, you’ll have a direct voice in fixing it.

  • Because the board is made up of local property and business owners—people with the same challenges you face. The BID only works if it reflects the needs of its stakeholders.

  • A professional management team hired by the BID board. This ensures expertise in safety, cleaning, marketing, and outreach—while the board sets priorities and holds them accountable.

  • This BID is designed by local property owners, not imposed from outside. It is built on proven models from cities across the country that have transformed their downtowns into cleaner, safer, and more successful districts.

  • Voluntary programs sound appealing, but they don’t work—too many benefits without contributing. A BID ensures everyone pays their fair share so downtown can thrive as a whole.

  • No. The BID will not replace police. Instead, it funds safety ambassadors who provide a constant presence, deter crime through visibility, report issues, and coordinate with law enforcement. This has proven effective in other cities.

  • In the Standard District, you’ll receive daily cleaning, graffiti removal, safety ambassador presence, marketing support for downtown, and advocacy for business owners.

  • In the Premium District, you will get enhanced services such as more frequent cleaning, (3 to 4 times a day on average), graffiti removal, safety ambassador presence,  downtown marketing, and additional ambassador coverage tailored to higher-traffic areas.

  • No. The BID budget and work plan will serve the entire district, not just one street. Central is important, but every block in the district benefits from the core services.

  • The Downtown Albuquerque BID produces an annual report and budget, reviewed by the board and available to all members. You’ll see measurable outcomes—number of cleanings, ambassador reports, graffiti removed, events held, etc. Also, the technology used to track Downtown performance is extremely sophisticated so you will be able to confirm with the BID what services are being delivered to your property on a daily basis.

More FAQs

  • The BID provides extra “eyes and ears” on the street, a stronger visible presence, and better coordination with police. Clean, active streets discourage crime and make customers feel safe.

  • Improving safety isn’t separate from improving cleanliness, activity, and business. They go hand in hand. A clean, busy, welcoming downtown reduces crime naturally.

  • Because safety alone doesn’t bring customers back. Clean sidewalks, attractive streets, marketing, and events all create a positive cycle: more people downtown → safer environment → stronger businesses.

  • The BID markets downtown, improves the customer experience, and makes people want to come back. More foot traffic, safer streets, and a better image mean more customers for your business.

  • No. A BID can be formed downtown, even though there are governmental uses.

    • §3-63-3.C NMSA says the district must have clearly defined boundaries “in which at least three-quarters of the area is zoned and used for business or mixed commercial or retail use….”

    • Downtown Albuquerque is zoned as MX-FB-ID. The MX-FB means mixed use form based, which means it can be used for many things, including business, retail, or mixed commercial uses, and governmental uses. The statute does not define “used for business” and the reasonable understanding of the statute is that having operating government buildings in which people work and provide services does not prevent formation of a business district.

    • A substantial portion of the property shown as titled in government entity has a private beneficial owner. Some of the hotels and office buildings are titled in a government entity but the beneficial owner is actually a private owner.

  • We need fifty-one percent of the total real property owners in the proposed district, exclusive of any real property owned by government entities. The meaning of “real property owner” is a person or entity, such as a corporation, partnership, trust, or LLC. Some individuals own various LLC’s which own property downtown. Each of those LLC’s gets one vote.

  • No.

  • There is widespread support for using a BID to make downtown better.

  • Yes. It is true the governmental entities cannot be “assessed” as a part of the District. Nothing prevents the government entities from entering into a fee for services agreement in which they will agree to pay for the services provided by the BID. ​​This BID is being formed with the expectation that the City and County will contribute their fair share.

  • The BID is different because it will NOT be run by the government. It will be run by a non-profit organization which will be run by Downtown Property Owners. Unlike property taxes, the BID money will not be sent to other areas. The money will be reinvested downtown in ways that strengthen downtown. It’s a chance for Property Owners to take control and do the things that will promote an interesting, vibrant downtown.

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  • "Every other Major City in the United States has a Downtown Business Improvement district. These cities have population growth, high paying jobs, convention business, and are becoming more safe every year thanks for these types of improvement districts. The BID in downtown in an investment in our future. Let’s bet on our future selves today."

    Adam Silverman

  • "I’m proud to support the downtown Business Improvement District (BID) because I believe in a downtown that reflects the best of Albuquerque — vibrant, welcoming, and full of opportunity for residents and visitors alike. This BID is more than a program; it’s a commitment to making downtown the beating heart of Albuquerque, where businesses prosper and the community comes together."

    Del Esparza, Esparza Digital & Advertising

  • "The BID is an opportunity for Downtown to organize our voices, and amplify the sound through our community and a serious budget. The BID is us coming together to build a new and better Downtown for everybody."

    Echoes Albuquerque

  • "Downtown is our home. As architects, we know that great design goes beyond buildings. Supporting the BID helps create public spaces that energize our city and inspire people to want to live, work, and gather there.”

    Art Tatum, FBT Architects

  • “Downtown Albuquerque is the heart of our city, and it deserves to be treated as such. The BID will allow us to work together to enhance safety, improve cleanliness, and foster a sense of pride in our community. I’m proud to support this initiative and believe it will benefit everyone who lives, works, and visits here.”

    Scott Throckmorton