Mesa del Sol
Mesa del Sol is a large-scale, mixed-use master planned community, which comprises about 12 percent of the City of Albuquerque. The land is held in trust, primarily for the University of New Mexico and the state’s public schools.
Forest City Covington was selected as the planning and development company in a public bid process. The developer has created 2,500 new base jobs for the Albuquerque region, consistent with Commissioner Powell’s emphasis ten years ago on a “Jobs First” strategy. The first residential community is underway and homes will be available in 2014.
Mesa del Sol is also home to:
• The Bernalillo County Regional Recreation Complex, with 44 sports fields to be built on an acre of land to serve Albuquerque and central New Mexico
• The Hard Rock Pavilion Amphitheater, which opened in 2000 and has hosted scores of first-class performances.
Plans for Mesa del Sol include a regional shopping center; a town center with civic and retail uses; eight residential villages; and extensive recreational facilities, open space and trails.
During his first tenure at the Land Office, Commissioner Powell created a large-scale nature preserve that offers environmental researchers and decision-makers essential information on the effects of urban development on the natural ecosystem. La Semilla, which provides a large open space for Mesa del Sol workers and residents, is the largest nature preserve inside a city in the world.
La Semilla
Mesa del Sol will also feature La Semilla. This urban nature preserve will give enrivonmental decision-makers essential information on the effects of urban activities on the ecological surroundings. It will also preserve the environment by maintaining open space and natural vegetation. This is the largest nature preserve inside a city limits in the world.