With Molina Healthcare settled in and ABQ Health Partners set to move into 63,000 square feet Downtown, CBRE New Mexico reports it appears Downtown is on the verge of a turnaround.

Terri Dettweiler, first vice president with CBRE who does office leasing, said it used to be that office users wanted to leave Downtown. Now, Downtown is back on the table when businesses consider moving.

While Downtown’s amenities have improved, the biggest driver remains an economic one, Dettweiler said. Downtown’s lease rates are cheaper than other prime submarkets, mainly Uptown and the North I-25 corridor.

But there are still some users not returning to the urban core.

“We’ve seen a lot of wealth management move Uptown, because Downtown’s one-way streets and parking can be daunting for their elderly clients,” Dettweiler said.

Dettweiler said services geared toward an older clientele, or any businesses that see a lot of foot traffic, likely won’t move back Downtown. Click here to read more.