Albuquerque City Council votes to condemn 3 properties

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.- The City of Albuquerque is taking steps to knock down problem properties.

The city council voted to condemn three properties during Monday’s meeting.

• 400 Mesilla St SE
• 404 Mesilla St SE
• 5912 Sweetwater Dr NW

People who live near the properties on Mesilla said they have progressively gotten worse over the years.

"There’s drug deals, definitely. There are sex workers doing business across the street. A lot of it is just people looking for a place," a neighbor said.

The city council had a long list of problem properties on the agenda, however, only the three properties were condemned.

City officials say they’ve tried to reach the owner of the now-condemned property in northwest Albuquerque for more than six years.

"They continue to find drug paraphernalia on the property, clothing and other items that indicate trespassing is taking place on the property," Williams said.

The three properties will not immediately be condemned. Property owners have a limited amount of time to appeal the decision.