Austin To Santa Fe (Albuquerque: transplants, sales, rental)

[GreatSantaFe]

I agree with Vinegaroon's last post. It's hard to imagine any way of Santa Fe becoming some booming metropolis like Austin, or even Albuquerque. That being said, it doesn't mean that li'l ol' SF won't experience more growth. I wish we could stop it, close the gate behind us and pass a no-net-growth policy - but that's not going to happen. We can only hope that future growth is done responsibly - with respect for the land, the limited water supply and the carbon footprint.

One such project now just starting that I'm keeping an eye on (as it's in my neighborhood) will be a new community southeast of town that will have approximately 900 new homes when completed - however, the total housing envelope will consist of about 300 acres of the 12,800 acre development, leaving 12,000+ acres as public use land for horseback riding, biking and hiking. With green building concepts, water conservation and clustered housing this could become the model for future development in our outlying rural areas.

[loborick]

Originally Posted by Vinegaroon

You are way off base. Santa Fe is not going to reach any "critical mass", and then leap from a population of about 62,000 to almost 750,000 that Austin has in the City, and more than 1.6 million if you consider the surrounding suburbs. We don't have the land or water for that sort of expansion. We don't have a major university, and never will in Santa Fe. We don't have high tech businesses or much business at all for that matter, and I doubt we are moving towards that. Santa Fe is going to remain a small, historical little town, and the major employer will probably always be the state government.

Santa Fe has very strict building regs, especially downtown. I don't see it getting anywhere near as big as Austin. Building heights are regulated, square footage, etc.

Santa Fe has grown steadily, but it will never have a burst like Austin.

[southernjedi]

I was reading a past article about the hotel that's 5 stories high that was built near downtown Santa Fe. I thought that was interesting. But you're right, it will never be like Austin. What's happened here is rampant development that native Austinites have given up on. It's pretty awful. Word on the street is that they are now looking (or have been now for some time) at the lower/middle class neighborhoods in the east side of Austin. Scooping up homes that are appraised from 60-80k and flipping them for 400-600K. Now that's pretty cold blooded and very sad. Do you really think that people that don't sell their houses and stay are going to be able to afford the hike in taxes when the developers are done "beautifying the neighborhood?"

Santa Fe is starting to sound better and better to us. We don't have any kids and are in dire need of some mental respite. In other words, we want to ditch the car, walk to work and everywhere else or use mass transportation and live a nice life. Is that possible?

[santafescribe]

Originally Posted by southernjedi

In other words, we want to ditch the car, walk to work and everywhere else or use mass transportation and live a nice life. Is that possible?

I would say it is, if you site yourself properly! I would suggest looking at the South Capitol area - interesting homes, walk to downtown, good selection of life's essentials - Walgreens, Trader Joe's, La Chosa Restaurant (!), and a short walk to the revitalized Railyard with its Farmers Market and great park.

[southernjedi]

Santafescribe, that's starting to sound better and better to me. La Chosa, huh? I'll add it to the last of place we want to visit in December.

[Vinegaroon]

Originally Posted by southernjedi

I was reading a past article about the hotel that's 5 stories high that was built near downtown Santa Fe. I thought that was interesting. But you're right, it will never be like Austin. What's happened here is rampant development that native Austinites have given up on. It's pretty awful. Word on the street is that they are now looking (or have been now for some time) at the lower/middle class neighborhoods in the east side of Austin. Scooping up homes that are appraised from 60-80k and flipping them for 400-600K. Now that's pretty cold blooded and very sad. Do you really think that people that don't sell their houses and stay are going to be able to afford the hike in taxes when the developers are done "beautifying the neighborhood?"

Santa Fe is starting to sound better and better to us. We don't have any kids and are in dire need of some mental respite. In other words, we want to ditch the car, walk to work and everywhere else or use mass transportation and live a nice life. Is that possible?

It's possible, but I'm wondering what line of work are you looking to get into?

[southernjedi]

Vinegaroon -- we're looking for jobs in the tourism industry (me) and government (hubby). Our relocation is going to take a while anyway. We'll visit in December and see if Santa Fe is a good fit for us. You know, I just talked to a couple of people this morning on the bus during my daily commute (takes over an hour and a half and 2 buses to get to work within the city limits - about 20 miles) and they were mentioning that they're thinking of moving to Santa Fe. What are the odds?

[Vinegaroon]

Originally Posted by southernjedi

Vinegaroon -- we're looking for jobs in the tourism industry (me) and government (hubby). Our relocation is going to take a while anyway. We'll visit in December and see if Santa Fe is a good fit for us. You know, I just talked to a couple of people this morning on the bus during my daily commute (takes over an hour and 2 buses to get to work within the city limits) and they were mentioning that they're thinking of moving to Santa Fe. What are the odds?

There are plenty of jobs in the tourism industry. Your husband might want to start looking on the NM Personnel jobsite, and even perhaps start submitting applications ahead of time. There are many government jobs, and the one thing about NM is that the government retirement system is excellent.

[santafescribe]

Originally Posted by southernjedi

Santafescribe, that's starting to sound better and better to me. La Chosa, huh? I'll add it to the last of place we want to visit in December.

Oh, and while we're on the subject of eating, check out the Chocolate Maven on San Mateo for great pastries and other goodies.... For bread, go to the Farmers Market and pick up Cloud Cliff Bakery's Nativo.

[santafescribe]

Originally Posted by southernjedi

Vinegaroon -- we're looking for jobs in the tourism industry (me) and government (hubby). Our relocation is going to take a while anyway. We'll visit in December and see if Santa Fe is a good fit for us. You know, I just talked to a couple of people this morning on the bus during my daily commute (takes over an hour and a half and 2 buses to get to work within the city limits - about 20 miles) and they were mentioning that they're thinking of moving to Santa Fe. What are the odds?

Well they're the right industries for Santa Fe! ok, they're the ONLY industries in Santa Fe ;-}

About your bus conversations, I have relatively suddenly seen a big increase in enquiries from Austin people about living in Santa Fe. Austin/Santa Fe/Boulder/San Francisco - towns on the same kind of access, with interesting people moving between them all!