June 2024 | Issue No. 49

Hello & welcome to my June 2024 newsletter. Thanks for being here! Albuquerque is home to many incredible neighborhoods with very distinct personalities & vibes. One of my favorite parts of being a Realtor is having the opportunity to explore all of the different areas of the city. It is invaluable to be a neighborhood expert when buyers are deciding which area will fit best into their lifestyle. Over the course of 29 years in the business, I have definitely seen major changes & growth throughout Albuquerque & the surrounding towns & suburbs. This will be a continuing series that I'll revisit on an ongoing basis, highlighting different popular areas of the city from time to time. I'd love your feedback on where I should visit in an upcoming newsletter. What neighborhood is your favorite?

To start, I am going back to the beginning….my beginnings in Albuquerque specifically. When I moved here 3 decades ago, the first home & investment property I bought was in Barelas. So you could say, this career that I love, also had its beginnings there. The property consisted of a Victorian main house made from adobe, built in 1886, a triplex & 2 small guest houses. I lived in the main house & rented out the other units to help pay the mortgage & support myself. The original deed owners were Hazeldine, Stover & Hunning, the first developers & names you'll recognize from landmarks around the contemporary neighborhood. One of my fondest memories, one that still gives me goosebumps, is from the first Christmas Eve I lived in Barelas.  Opening my door that evening, I was greeted by flickering farolitos lining the streets & the traditional holiday Las Posadas de Barelas. This historic & eclectic neighborhood will always occupy a special place in my heart. 

 The past few years have brought about a lot of growth & change, but Barelas still manages to embody the charm of one of Albuquerque's first designated neighborhoods. Did you know that the settlement was formally established in 1662, predating even Old Town? The land was originally settled around 1250 by the Tiwa people, so the history & soul of this area runs deep. You can still find traditional adobe homes dating back 400 years that have withstood the test of time & seen history play out around them. It is a rare gift to retain this living legacy of our city that we can still experience & explore today. 

In 1926, Fourth Street was part of Route 66, so the area was a hub of traffic & commerce. With the realignment of the historic thoroughfare in 1937, came a decline in livelihood & money flowing into the neighborhood. However, the heart & soul of its multi-generational inhabitants remained steadfast. In 1997, the National Register of Historic Places designated the Barelas-South Fourth Street Historic District. A delicate balance of reestablishing a commercial presence alongside the desire to keep the authentic roots of the area has emerged. 

Some of the prominent establishments located in Barelas include the National Hispanic Cultural Center, the ABQ BioPark, the South Broadway Cultural Center & the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce & Barelas Job Opportunity Center. The historic Rail Yards complex has been a source of growth for the area & continues to evolve with support from the City of Albuquerque & input from the residents who share space with it. The Barelas Coffee House has been serving traditional New Mexican fare to residents & visitors for over 40 years & is a beloved mainstay & destination in the community. Colorful murals depict the art & history of the area & a mixture of vintage architecture & modern development, both commercial & residential, can be seen.

One of the long-time businesses that found its home in Barelas was B Ruppe Drugs, hailed as the oldest continuously operating pharmacy in New Mexico. B Ruppe was on my corner & I can still remember the wonderful herbal aroma & the calming energy  I experienced every time I visited. The business began in 1883 in Old Town & found a permanent home in Barelas in 1965.  The outside wall now depicts Maclovia Sanchez de Zamora, the renowned healer. The mural was created to honor Zamora in 2014 by artist Nanibah Chacon. 

Zamora became part owner in 1985 & created a legacy of healing & teaching far beyond New Mexico. Years following the closure of the pharmacy/yerberia the building was purchased by Homewise (2017) with guidance from the Barelas Community Coalition. The goal has been to preserve & honor the legacy of the property & proprietors, alongside revitalizing the physical space where Zamora's work could continue with present day healers. The building now houses a Micro Museum & Secret Gallery that pay tribute to the past & give healers & artists space. It is open to the public with limited hours & by appointment. 

Many locations in Barelas have been featured in films & tv shows over the years. The historic Rail Yards complex, built between 1915-1925, is a favorite destination. Designated on the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties & the National Register of Historic Places, the 18 surviving buildings are part of an ongoing redevelopment project funded in part by the City of Albuquerque. The Rail Yards is one of 20 sites in Barelas featured in Walking Barelas, a curated historic walking tour around the neighborhood.

June Special Feature!

For June, I wanted to highlight a local weekly offer available through the Rail Yards Market (May through October). The RYM Veggie Box features 5-8 seasonal produce varieties from local New Mexican farms each week. The fun thing about the box is that it varies depending on availability & seasonality so you get to try something new each week. Plus, 75% of sales go directly to the farms & 25% is donated back to the market. You need to pre-order by Thursday at noon for pickup at the market on Sunday. Recently they have partnered with Door Dash to offer limited delivery options & there is a subscribe & save option too. Check out their site for specific information & ordering options. This is truly a way to support the local economy while also enjoying the freshest produce each week. And the quality & variety of veggies & fruits make this a great deal for the price. Click on the photo above for more info.

June is National Homeownership Month! I am honored to celebrate this month alongside all of the past, present & future homeowners who I'm incredibly fortunate to know & get to work with each & every day. YOU are the reason I love my career in real estate & strive to be the very best Realtor I can be. 

The real estate market in Albuquerque is on course to continue adding more inventory of available homes this summer. The spring season has been strong & is beginning to feel slightly more balanced than in recent history. It is still a competitive market with many buyers seeking new homes. Give me a call today if you are weighing your options or considering selling your home this year. I'd love to help guide you through the process. I'm incredibly honored to have been recognized again this year by Real Trends among the Nation's Top Individual Producers. Let me put my expertise to work for you to help achieve your 2024 real estate goals!

Thanks for joining me again this month! This was a nice trip down memory lane. What's your favorite thing to do in Barelas? I'd love for you to share with me! 

The upcoming years are sure to be pivotal in the future of the neighborhood as new development continues & the delicate balance of history & growth is ironed out between the city &  residents. Personally, I am hopeful that community involvement & input will honor the past on the way to the Barelas that we'll see into the future.  

-See you next month-