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Found some info on Mes del Sol while searching various ABQ home websites. Any info on this? Seems to be "on hold" at present. Can't tell if this is going to be another version of RR ie urban sprawl. Thanks in advance.
ForestCity Covington has a large set of built-out (at least more built-out than MDS) developments under their belt that you can use as a metric of how Rio Rancho-like they are. (Visit the old Stapleton airport in Denver or Saddle Rock in Aurora CO for the closest examples).
MDS is on hold until housing recovers. I think it will in the next 5 years and you'll see the first homes going in there. This is par for the course nationwide with their other developments.
I like the developer's other stuff, and find it an attractive alternative to the other choices out there right now for new housing.
The Stapleton development looked pretty promising when we were debating moving back to ABQ or trying out Denver. What really caught our attention was the plan to extend the light rail system out that way.
I don't know how Suncal was brought into this conversation - Suncal = big mess, screwing over lots of communities, sketchy funding tactics, sketchy political involvement etc. They are likely going bankrupt.
Mesa del sol, as someone else mentioned, is run by Forest City Covington - a quality company based in Ohio. Stapleton is nice in Denver, and Mesa del sol is going to be ABQ's first foray into new urbanism (i.e. more walkable/generally more attractive suburbia). I would say the five year timeline for completed houses is probably correct. I would also venture to guess that given FCC's past examples, Mesa del sol will not follow the mold of Rio Rancho. I guess it remains to be seen. However, there are already a number of established businesses out that way, and the main building (a very cool Predock-designed mixed use structure) to anchor the "town square" in Mesa del sol has been completed.
Bradly, that land on the west side owned by suncal will likely be foreclosed and sold, likely to another developer. I would hope that all that land is parceled out to multiple uses/conservation easements etc if sold - having one sole owner is a recipe for disaster (as we've already seen).
Having sat in on a Mesa Del Sol focus group and having spent much time on their site and visiting the completed structures (the superb Predock building and ABQ Studios) I would describe Mesa Del Sol as almost totally anti-Rio Rancho. I say almost, because instead of infill, it is being being built on undeveloped land. However, the site is fairly close to the Airport, downtown and UNM. Plans call for it to connect to the Rail Runner stop at Rio Bravo via bus service. I am impressed with the focus on sustainability and walkability (hopefully, this is more than words). Here's a rendering (http://mesadelsolnm.com/mds/media/images/First%20Neighborhood%20Aerial%20View.jpg - broken link) of the first neighborhood (note garages in the back of homes) and here's a video (http://mesadelsolnm.com/Take_a_Tour.aspx - broken link) of the development.
I believe they have started a charter school. I also believe that housing has been put on hold until economic conditions improve.
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