Indoor mall in Rio Rancho by 2015-2020? (Albuquerque, Las Cruces: fit in, apartments)

[Andros 1337]

Rio Rancho is a fast growing city. It is currently the third largest in the state, after Albuquerque and Las Cruces. I think by 2015-2020 Rio Rancho will be the second largest city in the state just behind Albuquerque.

So, with the projected growth for Rio Rancho, do you think Rio Rancho will get a new indoor mall by 2015? Currently, Cottonwood Mall is the main mall that Rio Rancho residents go to, however, it isn't located within the Rio Rancho city limits.

I know the current economy isn't very good, but who knows how the economy will be in 2015-2020. I think that it is quite possible we can see a new indoor mall in northern Rio Rancho by 2015-2020. It may even be larger than either Cottonwood or Coronado Mall.

Does anyone have an opinion on this?

[Zoidberg]

Indoor malls are shuttering throughout the country. The trend has moved back to the outdoor mall, a la ABQ Uptown. I suspect even it's not doing so great during the downturn.

Since there is so much retail/commercial on the edge of RR, any new development in RR will have to compete with it.

I'm not going to say never, but I'd say very unlikely before 2015. I'd also say unlikely to be as big as Cottonwood. Big malls are harder to keep full of stores.

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by Andros 1337

Currently, Cottonwood Mall is the main mall that Rio Rancho residents go to, however, it isn't located within the Rio Rancho city limits.

Not really, we live in Rio Rancho, we shop all over and I go to Cottonwood Mall an average of two times per year? I've been twice this year.

I may go to Cottonwood more often just to maybe walk two miles in air conditioning

The land that Cottonwood Mall sits on use to be owned by Rio Rancho. And there use to be an airstrip in the area.


Rich

[ABQRick]

Indoor malls are an outdated trend. Expect to see more development like ABQ Uptown.

[berncohomes]

Malls in general are becoming outdated, people can find what they want online and usually with considerable savings.

[abqdwell]

Large enclosed malls surrounded by acres of asphalt are happily a thing of the past. So maybe Rio Rancho will build one. Perhaps they can convert the Santa Ana Star Arena (sorry, couldn't help it).

[ABQRick]

Originally Posted by abqdwell

Large enclosed malls surrounded by acres of asphalt are happily a thing of the past. So maybe Rio Rancho will build one. Perhaps they can convert the Santa Ana Star Arena (sorry, couldn't help it).

Turning it into a mercado might be a better use for the building! Never will understand Rio Rancho's desire to compete with or upstage Albuquerque. It's like Irving, Tx saying "we'll show Dallas/Fort Worth whose better".

[Zoidberg]

Another thing about malls is they tend to be upscale.

No offense to Rio Rancho dwellers, but I'd be willing to bet you 99% of the people who chose Rio Rancho as a place to live chose lower housing costs as one of their top three determinants of where to live. That equates to less disposable income.

Stuff more along the lines of indoor flea markets, outlet malls, etc. strike me as the better retail fit in RR. Still, it's an awfully hard case to developers to put up new shopping centers when they're sitting on more and more empty ones. Pavilions at San Mateo come to mind.

[MG120]

I would agree that large in-door malls are a dying breed. If you want to see what I think the future looks like, visit High Desert.

Master planned communities that incorporate homes, apartments, retail and regular businesses are the wave of the future. People are looking to recapture that sense of community and neighborliness.

[karmathecat]

" Another thing about malls is they tend to be upscale. "

I don't think of typical mall stores like Penney's, Sears, etc. as exactly "upscale".

"No offense to Rio Rancho dwellers, but I'd be willing to bet you 99% of the people who chose Rio Rancho as a place to live chose lower housing costs as one of their top three determinants of where to live."

Lower housing costs than what? Most of the newer homes that are being constructed in RR are expenisve, large homes. I don't think the people who are buying them are shopping at flea markets for their furnishings.