Longtime residents of the Palisades RV Park in northwest Albuquerque are contesting 30-day notices from the property owner that say units must be vacated for renovations, while the city says its recent inspection uncovered more than 10 code violations.
Residents say they were blindsided
Several tenants who have lived in the park for years said they were given notices without prior discussion and worry about where they will go if evicted. One resident who has lived at the park more than two decades described the notice as suddenly appearing on her trailer. Another tenant estimated the move could displace up to 50 to 60 people.
“He just came in and put that notice on our trailer without saying anything,”
Other residents questioned the owner’s stated plans. “We’re not even sure that’s the case, that he’s going to renovate. We’re not sure what he’s doing. We have nothing from the city. We have nothing,” a tenant said, noting concerns about health and safety for neighbors facing imminent surgery during the summer heat.
City inspection found numerous violations
The city of Albuquerque confirmed that code enforcement recently inspected the park and documented more than 10 violations. The department listed issues ranging from licensing and occupancy to site maintenance and utility systems.
- Operating without a certificate of occupancy or valid business license
- Unpermitted construction and installation of walls and fences
- Property maintenance problems, including weeds, litter and needed landscaping
- Parking and vehicle issues, including inoperable or illegally parked vehicles and illegal outdoor storage
- Needed sewer, mechanical and electrical system maintenance
| Violation | City noted |
|---|---|
| Certificate of occupancy / business license | Found |
| Unpermitted construction / fences | Found |
| Site maintenance (weeds, litter, signs) | Found |
| Parking lot, driveway, vehicle issues | Found |
| Plumbing, mechanical, electrical systems | Found |
The city said property owners were not fined for prior violations, some of which were minor and later brought into compliance.
Legal questions and housing implications
Legal experts note that landlord-tenant relations in New Mexico are governed by the Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act, which creates potential remedies for tenants but requires that any action fall within statutory limits. It remains unclear on what legal basis the owner issued 30-day notices and whether the stated renovations will proceed.
The park is zoned for short-term use, yet residents say many have lived there for years. That gap between zoning and long-term occupancy complicates enforcement and raises questions about protections for vulnerable residents in seasonal or nontraditional housing.
For Albuquerque, the dispute highlights broader pressures on low-cost housing and the role of code enforcement when public health and safety intersect with potential displacement. City officials and tenants will be watching whether the owner follows through on renovations, whether further municipal action is taken, and what support—if any—will be available to residents who may be forced to leave.
