Imagine this next time you are hauling ass down the big sand wash:
Passing by on both sides of you will be large pueblo style houses sitting on former ridgelines and wacked off hill tops (think Placitas). Next comes completely leveled areas with paved streets and small lots with single family houses. You won't be able to see much as the arroyo will be lined with substantial concrete retaining walls. Better slow down, low bridge ahead - a multi-lane arterial connector road. Also watch out for hikers and bikers, the arroyo is a designated recreation corridor. Need a beer? There will be a commercial center (read: strip mall) located just across the wash from the little rock crawling play area (where we used to exit the wash to head south).
The photo of Greg's rig - the arroyo will be a concrete-lined channel surrounded by a community center.
Snoopy Rock? Low density residential.
The woopty doo access road off the escarpment? You'll pass a resort and golf course with the remainder: "Natural Area Residential."
Access to the big sand hill, which may remain intact as it is outside the urban area, will be easy as long as there is a nearby exit off the limited access, high speed North West Loop road just to the west. You'll be able to access the whole area from Albuquerque or Rio Rancho in a matter of minutes on this highway - I-40 to the south, 550 to the north. Then again, you can always fly into the twin runway airport. Look, SteveLCetc is pointing at an approaching plane already (the airport will be just north of here.
Mike is looking at the 1000 acre industrial park. Behind Pristine is medium density housing, to the horizon.
The WWII practice bomb arroyo? Clusters of 5,000 square foot custom houses perched on the edge of the canyon. That really cool badland area we found a few years ago? Office buildings.
It's called Rio West. A brand new town, or is it a city? To be built on what I believe is one of Bruce King's ranches. Some talk of a desalinization plant to supply the water. That's about all I know about it.
Damn.
A real magic place with a new enchanted spot to discover around every bend. Full of archaeological sites dating from the Paleo period (12,000 years and more ago), many, many Archaic campsites (5000 years) and of course Pueblo ruins. Lots of paleontology too (remember the fossil clam shells?). The colors and textures... The stunningly diverse geology.... The stolen and burned cars...
I've been discovering this area ever since my first mountain biking trip in the early 80s and would hope to always be able to go back.
Breaks my heart.
On the other hand, the plan is so outrageous that perhaps it will not happen.
juane
Passing by on both sides of you will be large pueblo style houses sitting on former ridgelines and wacked off hill tops (think Placitas). Next comes completely leveled areas with paved streets and small lots with single family houses. You won't be able to see much as the arroyo will be lined with substantial concrete retaining walls. Better slow down, low bridge ahead - a multi-lane arterial connector road. Also watch out for hikers and bikers, the arroyo is a designated recreation corridor. Need a beer? There will be a commercial center (read: strip mall) located just across the wash from the little rock crawling play area (where we used to exit the wash to head south).
The photo of Greg's rig - the arroyo will be a concrete-lined channel surrounded by a community center.
Snoopy Rock? Low density residential.
The woopty doo access road off the escarpment? You'll pass a resort and golf course with the remainder: "Natural Area Residential."
Access to the big sand hill, which may remain intact as it is outside the urban area, will be easy as long as there is a nearby exit off the limited access, high speed North West Loop road just to the west. You'll be able to access the whole area from Albuquerque or Rio Rancho in a matter of minutes on this highway - I-40 to the south, 550 to the north. Then again, you can always fly into the twin runway airport. Look, SteveLCetc is pointing at an approaching plane already (the airport will be just north of here.
Mike is looking at the 1000 acre industrial park. Behind Pristine is medium density housing, to the horizon.
The WWII practice bomb arroyo? Clusters of 5,000 square foot custom houses perched on the edge of the canyon. That really cool badland area we found a few years ago? Office buildings.
It's called Rio West. A brand new town, or is it a city? To be built on what I believe is one of Bruce King's ranches. Some talk of a desalinization plant to supply the water. That's about all I know about it.
Damn.
A real magic place with a new enchanted spot to discover around every bend. Full of archaeological sites dating from the Paleo period (12,000 years and more ago), many, many Archaic campsites (5000 years) and of course Pueblo ruins. Lots of paleontology too (remember the fossil clam shells?). The colors and textures... The stunningly diverse geology.... The stolen and burned cars...
I've been discovering this area ever since my first mountain biking trip in the early 80s and would hope to always be able to go back.
Breaks my heart.
On the other hand, the plan is so outrageous that perhaps it will not happen.
juane
