Albuquerque questions (apartments, townhomes, transfer)

[GeorgiaPeachie]

We are considering a transfer for DH. DH would be transferring with Tmobile. I would like to attend University of New Mexico. We have two children. (5 years old and 2 years old)

How far is Tmobile from UNM? Would we be able to utilize public transportation? Could we go down to one vehicle?

I've seen reports of no grocery stores in the downtown area... what grocery store do university area people go to?

I haven't found much on the married student housing? Any thoughts? What would you suggest instead? What public school would my daughter be zoned for?

Coming from Georgia, we have a TON of churches here. Any Southern Baptist churches by chance? Or large baptist churches? A wonderful childrens program would be great. Contemporary services are a plus too.

What private school are recommended. Either not affiliated with a religious denomination, or Baptist or Christian affliliated.

[Zoidberg]

Am making the assumption you're transferring from Atlanta area, which is where Tmobile has many offices. Forgive me if this is a bad assumption.

Tmobile and UNM aren't far, and you can get by with bus service, though it's spotty compared to Atlanta. You need a car here as much as, if not more than, you do in Atlanta. Plus, the way Tmobile works, you'll probably need more flexibility than a limited bus schedule affords you. It's cheap to own cars here.

There are groceries on Carlisle Blvd., at Central & Atrisco, and further east on Central. Recommend you live near Central (but west of San Mateo) until you figure this place out. Google maps, google maps, google maps. Make them your minion.

UNM's student housing kinda leaves a bit to be desired. Plenty of modest homes and apartments in a 3 mile radius from UNM. You can even buy a brand new townhome within walking distance of Tmobile on Menaul starting in the $100's (the billboard told me so).

There are a lot of churches in Albuquerque, but Georgia leads the nation. You can try Calvary or Hoffmantown, which are both kinda megachurches, and both about 15min away from the areas you're considering.

Unlike Georgia, which ranks 50th out of 51 for public school education, the public schools in Albuquerque, for the most part, are quite good for kids. You'll get all sorts of opinions about this school versus that, but it would be far more effective to find housing, find the corresponding school, and then ask the forum. Albuquerque has hundreds of schools, and 80+% I would have no problem sending my kids to. In fact, I'd be very hesitant to send my kids to some religious private schools, where I think the quality of education can be less than that of public.

[rybert]

Zoidberg...

Do you remember any specifics on those townhomes?

[GeorgiaPeachie]

Okay.. so after I found the Tmobile address I realized from a quick mapquest that the new international school is less than a mile away. I think that would be something we would want to look into.

What are the neighborhood names around the TMobile office? What is that part of town like? Maybe it'd be better for me to have the commute to the school (which isn't far at all from my mapquesting.)

Oh and I read that no pets are allowed except certain birds and fish at the married student housing so that is a dealbreaker. We have a cat...

Off to try to use Google maps. Never have used them before...

[Zoidberg]

Specifics on those townhomes:

They are at the corner of Menaul & Edith. Note that Broadway is still a block or so west of Edith at that point and curves to become Edith a 1/2 mi north at Candelaria.

Menaul HS, which used to own a buttload of surrounding land, hasn't been keeping up with the cost of doing business. They've sold off a strip of land N and E of the school, which has now become townhomes. Find Menaul HS @ Menaul & Broadway and you'll find 'em.

That neighborhood is multifaceted. South is all cemetery. Nice and quiet (though during a funeral you really want to throw dirty looks at all the traffic-clogging funeralgoers blocking your path). East is Broadbent Business Park (nice and quiet) and the welfare office up Broadbent, then I-25. No residences, pretty quiet (and not fun to traverse). North is industrial, west kinda industrial. Southwest is industrial, with some old downtrodden neighborhoods.

Would I live there? For proximity, yes. Nice and central. For neighbors.. well, I'm not much for townhomes. For walkability, no. You need a car or to love the bus if you live there.

[rybert]

What about a name?

[Zoidberg]

Not good with names. Sorry, Fred. :-)

[rybert]

Thanks anyway.

[yukon]

I'll look tomorrow and post the name for you - I'm going right by there. I keep thinking it's a Pulte development for some reason.....

BTW, the #8 Menaul route runs in front .... on Menaul Buses are 30 minutes apart on weekdays until around 9:00 pm or so, seems like it's 45 minutes apart Sat & Sun and they stop earlier, around 6:00 pm.

[yukon]

It's called "The Villas" and it's a KB Home development.