Duke City Fix

Life, food, events, and community in Albuquerque, NM

Spring Griffin

Businesses are starting to sniff around The Place in Nob Hill

Dekker/Perich/Sabatini

Back before The Place in Nob Hill (on Central between Wellesley and Tulane) was approved by the city, I went to one of the Nob Hill Neighborhood Association Meetings where the project was being discussed. I haven't been back to another meeting since then, one old lady was hissing at some of the speakers she disagreed with and people booed one another. Yeah, I can't subject myself to that kind of thing on purpose-community my Aunt Fanny, I'm out. In spite of the emotionally charged discussions that surrounded the approval process, it got approved and has been going up pretty quickly. I've walked past The Place for months watching it become a real building.

I'm not interested in rehashing the arguments for or against the project now, I'm more interested in seeing how this new element of my neighborhood will affect the place I live. I've been wondering for a while now about which businesses will go in when it's done, bless the New Mexico Business Weekly for staying abreast of the issue. NMBW ran a piece this week that states, 'Jason Daskalos said he has signed Boba Tea Co. to a 1,500-square-foot lease and American Apparel has signed a letter of intent for 3,500 square feet.' I am certainly a fan of a local chain like Boba Tea Co. doing some expansion into my 'hood. Then there's American Apparel; its CEO's questionable sexual mores don't detract from its funky cachet, in fact they probably add to it for some. I've been enjoying the younger hipster vibe that Urban Outfitters has brought to the neighborhood (whatever my feelings about the President of the company's politics might be) and I suspect that American Apparel would reinforce that vibe.

The floorplan section of The Place's website lists the townhouses from $400,000 to $600,000. Based on those prices, I'm expecting to see some fancy schmancy businesses make their way to the location. I can't wait to see who signs on next...

33 Comments

Black is the new Black Comment by Black is the new Black on October 10, 2008 at 2:52pm
Personally I'm just excited to see the gaping hole that was the previous empty lot finally filled in. Now the only two significant scars on the Western portion of Nob Hill are Disco (which as a store is funky/cool but is a ridiculous place to have a warehouse/shipping yard parking lot) and Arby's.
Doug R Comment by Doug R on October 10, 2008 at 3:38pm
anti-Arbite! ;-) Love the logo, hate the food.
Black is the new Black Comment by Black is the new Black on October 10, 2008 at 3:43pm
Oh no, I don't have anything against Arby's as a business (well, I do in that I think their food is disgusting). My point was that the Nob Hill district is a pedestrian shopping district. As such businesses are supposed to have their storefronts up against the sidewalk with parking lots in the back. Arby's is a car central design with the parking lot and drive through entrance on the front, breaking up the storefronts and producing a scarring effect on the feel of the neighborhood.

In the current Nob Hill Sector Development plan Arby's would never be allowed to be built in its current form. Unfortunately it was created prior to this plan going into effect.
Black is the new Black Comment by Black is the new Black on October 10, 2008 at 3:46pm
I should also mention that the shopping center with Gecko's and Scalo's gets away with successfully having a parking lot in the front due to being architecturally interesting, but more critically continuing the sidewalk/storefront theme by having the sidewalk re-route into the parking lot so that you can walk down the sidewalk uninterrupted. To get to Arby's you must walk through their parking lot.
Imagination Included Photography Comment by Imagination Included Photography on October 10, 2008 at 3:51pm
I think that Nob Hill will benefit from this! The whole area has felt like it was on the edge of the funky "new age" trend for a while. I hope more places like this go up. With lofts, stores, AND PARKING, who can bad mouth it?

This was, like it was said, an empty dirt lot (with exception to one building). Now I know that some peoples "views" are going to be blocked, but you dont OWN your views. you own your land. so stop bitching and look at the bright side, there will be more places to buy your Starbucks and faded jeans!
Doug R Comment by Doug R on October 10, 2008 at 3:52pm
Black - I was only joking. It is an eye sore. And I do like the idea of a shopping districts like the one you described. Since that area will be my new haunt, when I arrive in January, I am with you all the way. My wife and I plan on spending some evenings wandering up and down the other side of the street - stopping to snack along the way (ha ha).
Doug R Comment by Doug R on October 10, 2008 at 3:56pm
I can't believe anyone would pay $400 to 600k to live in that complex. Oh wait a minute (smacking my head with one hand)....duh! I know friends who are paying $800k out here for a 900 sq foot box in California. Personally, I will enjoy living up in Ridgecrest and visiting Nob Hill rather than living right on the street but hey I'm not an urban hipster either. And that is probably good for the world when you think about it........
Dianne P. Comment by Dianne P. on October 10, 2008 at 4:22pm
*prays*

crateandbarrel...crateandbarrel...crateandbarrel...crateandbarrel...
Matie Comment by Matie on October 10, 2008 at 4:35pm
I'm generally excited to see anything going into the neighborhood--
especially boba--because I'm addicted..
but-I'm just not a fan of American Apparel--I especially dislike that they bill themselves as socially conscious while pretty much ignoring the multiple lawsuits for sexual harassment...
AND I'm too fat for their girl clothes--like most women I just eat too much to be considered "normal"....and it makes me cranky--
and even if you're not over a slim size 12--they'll make you look terrible--

http://jezebel.com/341625/american-apparel-will-make-you-look-like-a-fat-hooker

now i'm gonna go eat a cupcake....
mombat Comment by mombat on October 10, 2008 at 4:47pm
You tell 'em Matie, according to the link above, most stuff is sized 8- which I am clearly not either.
I would love a Crate and Barrel though.

Add a Comment

You need to be a member of Duke City Fix to add comments!

Join this community

Groups

© 2009   Created by chantal

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Privacy  |  Terms of Service