Barelas — Home of the Bareleños
Welcome to Barelas
Barelas is the historic neighborhood just immediately south of downtown. Situated on 4th Street, the road is both Route 66 (Pre-1937) and the "Camino Real", or Royal Road that connected New Mexico to the outside world for over two centuries. The community began in 1825 when Antonio Sanoval extended the Greigos/Candelaria ditch to bring water south to the field below the Villa of Albuquerque. Today you can see the original section of Barelas along Eighth Street south of Tingley Park.
This community is linked in many ways to downtown. Being neighbors, the spread of jobs and housing futher away from downtown impacted Barelas. The waning of the railroads had an even bigger impact on the jobs in Barelas. Just as downtown as started to reinvent itself, Barelas has made a similar transformation in recent years.
Example of a 19th century home in Barelas
As a residential neighborhood, Barelas has always had a solid core of people who had a stake in the success of their homes. Too often, when neighborhoods lose that sense of place, residents don't feel any loyalty to their surroundings. They are passing through and don't take pride where they live.
Quirky architecture gives a sense of place
Unlike many communties, Barelas evolved over time. The Santa Fe rail shops created many jobs here but the layout of Barelas was never planned in a strict sense. The original narrow streets wind through the neighborhood and the houses have unique designs, all a product of the environment. The east side of Barelas has the familiar grid pattern platted with the arrival of the railroad. It is this unique mixture of old and new that gives the urban space its character. It also provides a sense of belonging to a community.
Neighborhoods define the fabric of cities
Recently Barelas has seen some new development. The National Hispanic Cultural Center has located itself in Barelas because of what the neighborhood stands for. It is the same thing that makes Barelas a favorite place for politicians to speak. The place is authentic. The recently built center contains gallery space, three theaters and large open plazas that have played host to many outdoor events. In addition the Hispano Chamber of Commerce has built its offices right along such Barelas landmarks as the Barelas Coffee House and Wimpy Burger. If the nearby digital media center becomes a reality, Barelas will have evolved from an industrial neighborhood to a cultural neighborhood. Instead of building machines it will be building ideas.