Barelas MainStreet: Community Economic Assessment

The history of Barelas is closely tied to the history of transportation in the area. Originally settled as the private estancia of Pedro Varela, the community was established as an official settlement by the Spanish government in 1662. The original settlement boundaries included an essential river crossing along the Camino Real – where now stands the bridge across the Rio Grande on Bridge Boulevard. Growth of the community was slow, with just 350 residents according to the 1880 census and the economy of the community was primarily agricultural until the coming of the railroad in the 1880’s. At the time, Albuquerque was a mile and a half from the train station, whereas Barelas was quite close. Barelas’ location just south of New Town and just west of the rail yard lead to Barelas’s boom years, as the Barelas’ economy pivoted from agriculture to railroad related industries and Barelas’ boom years began. By 1900 Barelas’ population was up to 1200. In 1891, Barelas was incorporated into Albuquerque, ending its era as a self-standing village. Until 1937 Route 66 ran along 4th Street, Bridge Boulevard and Isleta – providing an important local and tourist base for commercial development along 4th Street – where local residents could find services including grocery stores, drug stores, etc. The re-routing of Route 66 along Central Avenue in 1937, the supplanting of US 85 with I-25 as the major north-south route through Albuquerque in the 1950’s further decreased outside traffic through the area, and was a blow to the businesses along the corridor. The final blow to the 4th Street businesses was the converting of 4th Street into the Civic plaza in 1974, resulting in the total loss of 4th Street as even a secondary artery through the city. It was also in the early 1970’s that the Santa Fe Railway shops closed, eliminating 1500 jobs from Barelas and negatively affecting the ability of the Barelas community to support 4th Street businesses . As the Barelas business community along 4th street struggled and closed in the ‘70’s, Barelas’ residents looked to the South Valley Bridge corridor for their needs – until this business district too hit hard times with the widening of Bridge from two lanes to four – the construction process, razing of buildings, and resulting speeding up of traffic had deleterious effects on business in the area.