About 22 years ago when I served as Commssioner of Public Lands my administration envisioned a Master Planned Community on state trust land south of the Albuquerque International Airport. The Land Office owned close to 13,000 acres up there. It was less than five miles from downtown. It is a beautiful piece of ground. We named the project Mesa del Sol. The project has finally given birth.
We started a Master Planning process for the property which was held in trust for mainly the University of New Mexico. My assistant Commissioner Pleas Glenn deserves a lot of the credit for the early heavy lifting on the planning of this effort. The University loved the project but then killed it because in their greed they decided they wanted the land in title instead of the profits going into the state permanent land fund. They have partially succeeded in that movida, but frankly I don't care anymore. This is a project whose time has come.
Forest City, an internationally acclaimed developer will lead the project. Today they held a ground breaking with numerous political and community leaders. Mayor Chavez even said nice words about my involvement. (I hate it when that happens because sometimes I don't reciprocate. See yesterday's blog)
The festivities on Friday were to break ground for the extension of University Boulevard across Tijeras Arroyo and up onto the mesa. Governor Richardson and the Legislature anted up some money along with the federal government and city to get this done. It is a great cooperative effort.
I think this project will be a quick winner. As long as the economy retains some strength it is quite possible this will slow the development on the far-far westside because it is so close in to the city core.
That is good. I just wish I had recieved one of those plated shovels. They are small enough to carry in your car trunk for emergencies.
We have to deal with where we are. We have to create cooperatives, we have to create intentional communities, we have to work for local cooperation where we are.
Jerry Brown
Jerry Brown
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