New resolution looks to add more properties to Nob Hill redevelopment project
The city councilor for the area said a revamp is long overdue on San Mateo Blvd. between Lomas Blvd. and Copper Ave. She's pushing to rope it into a special redevelopment zone that could speed up a potential overhaul.
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It's a major Albuquerque roadway, but if you've gone through San Mateo, from Copper to Lomas, you've more than likely seen the old and empty strip malls that have seen better days. But Albuquerque City Councilor Nichole Rogers wants to change that, introducing a plan targeting the area for improvements that could draw in new businesses.
Her resolution looks to add the half-mile stretch of San Mateo to the nearby 'Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan,' giving new benefits to 58 properties in the area. 'The MRA zone, because it is on Central, we're able to use those incentives for the San Mateo Towers, so why can't we do the same thing for smaller business owners and not just big developers?' said Councilor Nichole Rogers.
If it passes, one of the benefits could allow area businesses to get a seven-year property tax freeze, which could help avoid costs associated with upgrades. 'Any business owner who is wanting to expand, either renovate their area, expand their businesses, they're adding jobs, people want to add housing to this area. These tax abatements can help,' said Rogers.
Some residents have expressed concerns about the change, which comes with designating properties as 'blighted,' something that could also affect property values. But Councilor Rogers says this won't be an issue for long. 'It might feel funny to say 'yes, it's blighted but it won't be when we're done' and that's the purpose of using these tools, it's to take a blighted area and change that,' said Rogers.
The potential 'MRA' expansion goes to city council's Land Use and Zoning Committee next week. If it passes, city council could vote for final approval, potentially by June 16. Councilor Rogers is hosting a 'Community Conversation' about the potential MRA on Thursday.
We also reached out to the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency who provided a statement on the project.
'The MRA has been working with Councilor Rogers on legislation to extend the Central/Highland/Upper Nob Hill Metropolitan Redevelopment Area up San Mateo Blvd. to Lomas Blvd. MRA staff conducted an analysis in the area which merits inclusion in an MRA. Expanding this MRA will help unlock incentives to help spur economic investments in a highly traveled commercial corridor in the heart of the city. The expansion of the MRA will support small businesses located near MRA-supported housing projects already in the works along Central Ave. and San Mateo Blvd.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Because you can hit a wing, but it will only tear it off and not destroy the target itself,' Olha Bihun, co-founder and CEO of Anvarix, a terminal guidance system developer, told Interceptor drones, CP added, 'could destroy a Shahed with either a direct hit or with a special warhead that explodes near the target, creating a cloud of debris.' FPV drones designed to intercept Shaheds are just a small fraction of the cost to fire surface-to-air missiles like a Patriot PAC-3 interceptor, which costs nearly $4 million a piece. Ukraine has also been using advanced National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) and Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (ASRAAM) against Shaheds as well, which cost many hundreds of thousands of dollars each. Gun systems and electronic warfare systems, as well as other SAM types and fighter aircraft have all played a role in defending against the onslaught of Shaheds. Iranian Shahed drone, intercepted mid-air by a Ukrainian the vision — layers of our interceptor drones in the sky. Ukrainian-built. Ukrainian-led. Shaheds won't slip through. Civilians won't live in need to beg for unstable 'aid.'We've got the brains,… — Bandera Fella *-^ (@banderafella) June 27, 2025 In addition to new, improved drones, Ukraine also needs more operators to defend against Shaheds. That's where Azov said it can help. 'Our unit's tactical approaches are shaped by the nature of today's drone threats — especially the enemy's large-scale nighttime attacks and use of asymmetric tactics,' Danyliuk told us. 'We apply non-standard detection techniques and preemptive measures, integrating traditional air defense assets with advanced technologies, including autonomous platforms and digital solutions.' Danyliuk declined to offer specifics, citing operational security concerns. 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'Our forces will be deployed where they are most needed — swiftly, precisely, and without reliance on fixed positions,' he added As far as when these new units will be deployed, Danyliuk declined to provide a timeline. 'The decision to initiate operations will be made once the unit reaches the required level of technical and tactical readiness, in line with real-world frontline challenges,' he stated. Azov's counter-drone recruitment effort is one of several taking place in Ukraine. Last month, Ukraine's parliament unveiled a plan to recruit local volunteers to shoot down Russian drones. The new program offers up to 100,000 hryvnias (around $2,400) per month from local budgets. 'The project will recruit members of paramilitary units and volunteer territorial defense units who have the necessary drone operation skills or qualifications,' the Kyiv Post reported. 'They will be tasked with defending against Russian aerial threats, including detecting, tracking, and shooting down drones using UAVs, piloted aircraft, and personal weapons.' Another major concern is the infusion of AI into the Shahed-136 airframe, which is already underway. This will have massive repercussions we discussed in great detail a year and a half ago in this previous feature. Further information has been released regarding the downed Shahed-136s with imaging guidance and AI of materials and electronic components indicate Iranian camera is an analog thermal imager for both reconnaissance and terrain following.1/ — Roy (@GrandpaRoy2) June 28, 2025 The U.S. military-industrial complex is finally catching on to what Shahed-type drones can bring to the table, though far later than it should have. Last week, 18 American-made drone prototypes were put on display at the Pentagon. It was part of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's move to increase U.S. domestic drone production. Among them was one called the Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drone, a delta-winged weapon closely resembling a Shahed. We will have more on this U.S. development in an upcoming special feature, so stay tuned for that. But as it sits today, Ukraine has a major Shahed problem that is only growing at a time when traditional missile interceptors are becoming more scarce. The hope now is that additional drone units armed with many types of lower-end weaponry can help keep the growing hoards of Shaheds at bay. Contact the author: howard@ Solve the daily Crossword
