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Albuquerque launches mural, paint grant program for Central Avenue businesses

City funding aims to boost curb appeal ahead of Route 66 centennial

Tyler Rose walks past a mural at Astro-Zombies comic shop in Albuquerque鈥檚 Nob Hill neighborhood on Wednesday. The city is offering grants to businesses on Central for new exterior paint jobs and large-scale murals.
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Astro-Zombies comic shop on Central and Richmond has a splashy mural of comic book characters on its east-facing wall, which new owner Chris Losack said regularly brings in visitors who stop to take a look.

鈥淚t really stands out, and it鈥檚 a way that people find us,鈥 he said.

During the pandemic, when Losack was an employee at the shop, the mural was vandalized seven times and survived three arson attempts. The stucco on the century-old building 鈥 recently vandalized once again 鈥 is beginning to crack, Losack said, and replacing it will be pricey.

鈥淚t needs help,鈥 Losack said of the mural. 鈥淚t needs attention.鈥

A new city of Albuquerque program announced Tuesday is intended to help businesses like Losack鈥檚 along Central by awarding grants for fresh exterior paint jobs and large-scale murals to brighten up the street ahead of the Route 66 centennial.

鈥淭his is a unique area,鈥 Losack said. 鈥淭hese are small businesses that have a personality, and so getting money from the state or the city to make other places, as well as mine, look better for curb appeal 鈥 I think that鈥檚 a great idea.鈥

The initiative, which the city is calling the 鈥淔resh Coat: Property Improvement Grant,鈥 is offering awards from $3,000 to $10,000 per business, depending on property size and project scope, administered by the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency. Funding is available for murals 400 square feet or larger, which can be painted by individuals, contractors, volunteers or nonprofit organizations, city officials said.

鈥淐entral is a vital route through Albuquerque, and investing in it strengthens the communities that depend on it,鈥 Mayor Tim Keller said in a statement. 鈥淔resh Coat helps create places people want to walk, gather and support local businesses, while honoring the legacy of Route 66.鈥

Priority will be given to small businesses and projects that 鈥渟pur reinvestment,鈥 city officials said.

To be eligible, a business must be located in the following Metropolitan Redevelopment Areas: Barelas, Central/Highland/Upper Nob Hill, Downtown, East Downtown, East Gateway, Historic Central, Near Heights, Soldiers & Sailors Park, Sycamore, University or West Central. 

鈥淚 think it's great that we're getting some grant money over towards Central for the Route 66 celebration,鈥 said Rich Bartel, owner of Clowndog Hot Dog Parlor on Central in Nob Hill.

Applications are open from Feb. 3 until April 3 and can be filed on the MRA鈥檚 , where applicants can confirm eligibility by searching their address on the .

鈥淲ith the Route 66 centennial approaching, these projects are a wonderful way to honor the history and character of this iconic roadway while supporting the neighborhoods along it,鈥 said MRA Director Terry Brunner.

 Natalie Robbins covers education for the Journal. You can reach her at nrobbins@abqjournal.com.