Thank you for providing the Department of Arts & Culture the opportunity to share our ideas about changes Triangle Park during the recent Neighborhood Association meeting.

We understand the passion and pride you feel for your neighborhood — a historic, vibrant, and essential part of Albuquerque. That’s exactly why we are working to be fully transparent and engage community stakeholders regarding the Department of Arts & Culture's proposal to relocate the Little Diner (a historic Valentine Diner) from Triangle Park to the Route 66 Visitors Center.

We hear your concern: that something beloved might be taken away from Nob Hill. But we ask you to see this move not as a loss, but as an opportunity — for cultural preservation, for honoring a long-overdue promise, and for lifting up Nob Hill’s unique place in the story of Route 66.

A Commitment That Was Never Fulfilled

The Little Diner was originally donated to the City’s Albuquerque Museum in 1993 by the Hernandez family, who operated it for nearly 50 years along Route 66 in Downtown. Their intent — and the City’s stated commitment — was that this historic structure would become part of the Albuquerque Museum’s Sculpture Garden and be open to the public as a celebration of Route 66 and small business heritage.

But that vision was never realized.

Instead, during the late 1990s, the diner was moved from museum storage and re-purposed as a police substation in Nob Hill. As a result, it has never fulfilled its original purpose and the intent of the original donation: to tell the story of our city’s entrepreneurial spirit and its role in the legendary Route 66 journey.

A Time for Restoration and Recognition

Now, with the 2026 Route 66 Centennial approaching, we have an opportunity — and a responsibility — to do right by the original donors, the Hernandez family, and by Albuquerque’s collective memory. By relocating the Little Diner to the Route 66 Visitors Center, we can:

Nob Hill is Not Being Left Behind

We want to be clear: this relocation is not about removing value from Nob Hill — it's about adding value citywide while continuing to invest significantly right here in your neighborhood.

As part of the Route 66 Centennial celebration, we’re launching an 18-stop, art-fueled road trip along Central Avenue. Of those 18 stops, three (3) will be right in Nob Hill — including Triangle Park (proposed), M'tucci’s Courtyard (confirmed), and The Guild Theatre (confirmed). This means more visitors, more walking traffic, and more opportunities for local businesses to thrive.

Our proposal to move the Little Diner, also includes thoughtful proposals about physical changes to Triangle Park (if the Diner is moved) and programmatic enhancements/activations for Triangle Park in partnership with Nob Hill Mainstreet.

The City of Albuquerque is also making broader infrastructure and arts investments across the Route 66 corridor — including historic signage restoration, lighting, housing developments, a new park in the International District, and more.

Preserving the Past, Inspiring the Future

Cultural preservation is about context. The Little Diner belongs not only to Nob Hill and to Downtown — it belongs to the story of Route 66 and Albuquerque’s entrepreneurial heart. Placing it at the Route 66 Visitors Center allows the Department of Arts & Culture to restore this rare architectural and cultural artifact — while also continuing to make investments that celebrate and elevate Nob Hill as one of the crown jewels of that same legacy.

We thank you for your passion, your voice, and your continued partnership as we move toward a Centennial that celebrates all of Albuquerque. We look forward to more discussions with Nob Hill business owners and residents of Nob Hill neighborhoods as we continue to prepare for the Route 66 Centennial celebration and the next 100 years of Central Ave.

In addition to discussions with additional stakeholders, we will be presenting the Little Diner proposal for discussion in an upcoming public meeting. Please join us if you would like to share your input:

Route 66 Visitors Center Commission Meeting

July 22, 3pm, Route 66 Visitors Center

From: meyster1@me.com <meyster1@me.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 3, 2025 11:38 AM
To: Sanchez, Shelle <svansanchez@cabq.gov>; Rogers, Nichole L. <nrogers@cabq.gov>; Kirksey, Ziarra <zkirksey@cabq.gov>; Archuleta Romero, Angelica <angelicaromero@cabq.gov>
Cc: Lucero, Diego L. <dllucero@cabq.gov>; Ortiz, Karl A. <KOrtiz@cabq.gov>; Lucero, Denice R. <dlucero@cabq.gov>; Ortiz, Karl A. <KOrtiz@cabq.gov>; chjasmith@gmail.com <chjasmith@gmail.com>; TheBoard NobHill-NM <theboard@nobhill-nm.com>; NobHill Neighbors <neighbors@nobhill-nm.com>
Subject: Re: Arts & Culture Department City of ABQ; Triangle Park

Dear Dr. Sanchez,

Thank you for the update from Deputy Director Lucero at our board meeting Tuesday.

This was the first we had heard of a plan to possibly move the Valentine diner and demolish or repurpose the building at the triangle. We are surprised and disappointed by this top-down decision-making process and its outcomes. Neighborhood associations and community voices are not popular at the moment but we know from long experience that decisions that come from many voices, that benefit from many creative viewpoints, are the best decisions. We urge a more comprehensive plan for the park.

· The plan should address the park’s camping issue.
· The diner has become part of the fabric of the community. It didn’t start in Nob Hill but it’s been there 30 years and the community feels a sense of ownership. It is highly compatible with the mid-century character of Nob Hill.
· Although we now have the University substation, the diner could still function as a remote location for APD so they can have a base in the community they serve.
· The Marriott Tribute hotel is coming a block away with 112 rooms. UNM is adjacent to the park. The diner could fill a valuable cultural/tourism role by activating it as a minimally-staffed visitor information facility like the one in Old Town. It could point people to other attractions in the city including the Rt. 66 Museum.
· The park is hot and stark. It is treed by Ash trees that are not healthy and will never make it a shady oasis. It needs better-adapted trees.

Your plans need to address these concerns to transition the park into a safe place we can use. The Centennial is important but so is the next 30 years.

This statement of position was approved by unanimous vote of our board of directors.

Kind regards,

Gary Eyster, President

From: Sanchez, Shelle <svansanchez@cabq.gov>
Sent: Friday, June 20, 2025 2:43 PM
To: meyster1@me.com <meyster1@me.com>; Chris Smith <nmrealestatenow@gmail.com>
Cc: Lucero, Diego L. <dllucero@cabq.gov>; Ortiz, Karl A. <KOrtiz@cabq.gov>; Lucero, Denice R. <dlucero@cabq.gov>; Ortiz, Karl A. <KOrtiz@cabq.gov>
Subject: Re: Arts & Culture Department City of ABQ; Introductions and NHNA Meeting Attendance

Gary,

Thank you so much! We only need a few minutes to update you on the Arts & Cutlure Department's Route 66 Centennial engagement efforts and our proposed changes to the triangle park. Deputy Director Diego Lucero is managing these efforts and so he will attend your meeting and provide a brief update about our projects.

sincerely,

shelle sanchez, phd

director, arts & culture

city of albuquerque

m 505.321.9639

From: meyster1@me.com <meyster1@me.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2025 9:28 AM
To: Chris Smith <nmrealestatenow@gmail.com>
Cc: Sanchez, Shelle <svansanchez@cabq.gov>; Lucero, Diego L. <dllucero@cabq.gov>; Ortiz, Karl A. <KOrtiz@cabq.gov>; Melodie Eyster <meyster1@me.com>
Subject: Re: Arts & Culture Department City of ABQ; Introductions and NHNA Meeting Attendance

Shelle, We could offer 6-8 minutes to present and a few minutes for Q and A if you like.

Please firm up by about June 24.

Kind regards, G

From: meyster1@me.com <meyster1@me.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 3:04 PM
To: Chris Smith <nmrealestatenow@gmail.com>
Cc: Shelle Sanchez <svansanchez@cabq.gov>; Lucero, Diego L. <dllucero@cabq.gov>; Ortiz, Karl A. <kortiz@cabq.gov>; Melodie Eyster <meyster1@me.com>
Subject: Re: Arts & Culture Department City of ABQ; Introductions and NHNA Meeting Attendance

Yes, Chris. July 1, 6:30 pm.

Mayor may be coming.

Kind regards, Gary

From: Chris Smith <nmrealestatenow@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 10:06 AM
To: Melodie and Gary Eyster <meyster1@me.com>
Cc: Shelle Sanchez <svansanchez@cabq.gov>; Lucero, Diego L. <dllucero@cabq.gov>; Ortiz, Karl A. <kortiz@cabq.gov>
Subject: Arts & Culture Department City of ABQ; Introductions and NHNA Meeting Attendance

Gary - good morning.

Copying Dr. Shelle Sanchez, Director of Arts and Culture Department on this email. She would like to connect and present some upcoming activities, etc related to Route 66 Centennial. Part of her team is copied on this email as well.

Shelle and I met this morning and wanted to make a connection. Your next meeting is July 1st at 630 pm, correct?

Thank you, Chris

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