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Westside Vision 2100: Economic Development and Urban Growth Study
Moises Gonzales
Project Vision Statement: Our vision is to create a community where residents and visitors alike experience a harmonious blend of modernity and tradition, where innovation meets cultural richness. The Albuquerque Westside 2100 vision revolves around the symbiotic relationship between a thriving Urban Center and flourishing Neighborhood Centers. It is a testament to our dedication to creating a future where innovation, culture, and sustainability coalesce to form a community that stands the test of time. Together, we embark on a journey towards a prosperous and harmonious Albuquerque Westside.
This project is presented by RCRP in poster format.
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Piedra Lumbre Visitors Center Master Plan, New Mexico Land Grant Council
Moises Gonzales and Geoffery Adams
The Purpose of the Piedra Lumbre Visitors Center Master Plan is to provide findings regarding the existing site conditions of the center as well as inventory the physical structures located on the site. The Resource Center for Raza Planning located in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of New Mexico was contracted by the New Mexico Land Grant Council to provide technical planning and design services in the area of land use planning, economic development, and architectural design. The Scope of work for the Piedra Lumbre Visitors Center was to develop a master plan for the former Piedra de Lumbre Wildlife Center located on U.S. Forest Service land encompassing 40 acres of land and included the following tasks:
Economic Development analysis for adaptive re-use for economic development by local community land grants,
Analyze the structural integrity of the existing buildings within the study site and their potential uses,
Develop a Master Plan for the site based on economic analysis
Hold a two public meetings with community land grant and forest service staff to provide input into the Master Plan,
Facilitate Community Land Grant Stakeholders such as the Coyote Ranger District of the US Forest Service and Land Grant
Communities made up of the Abiquiu, San Juaquin del Rio Chama, Juan Bauptista Valdez, Tierra Amarrilla, as well as heirs of the Piedra Lumbre Land Grant,
and Provide recommendations for withdrawal of the Piedra Lumbre Visitor from the forest service for a community development public purpose.
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Mutalismo: A Community Based Approach Preservation of the Pueblo de Abiquiu
James M. Aranda, Moises Gonzales, and Jose Rivera
The Merced del Pueblo de Abiquiu is one of New Mexico’s historic genizaro land grant settlements. “Genizaro was the designation given to North American Indians of mixed tribal derivation living among the Hispanic population” (Gonzales 2014). The “historical connection to the Hopi Genizaro Pueblo Indians of Tewa descent” (Gonzales 2014) is what gives Abiquiu its Pueblo designation. The original settlers were Tewa peoples who settled the area during the early 1600s, followed by the Hopi who left Arizona and settled in the Merced del Pueblo de Abiquiu. “From the 1740s to the 1790s, towns such as Abiquiu were established as genizaro buffer settlement” (Gonzales 2014). In 1909 the community received a Federal Patent for 16,425 acres of land. However, a tax default in the 1930s put the grant in jeopardy. Members of the community organized to pay the tax. The members who were able to contribute to the taxes subsequently reorganized and became members of the Abiquiu Land Grant Livestock Association. In 2005, the Livestock Association reestablished as a land grant under state statutes and the modern incarnation of the Merced del Pueblo de Abiquiu was created. Today, only heirs of the original members of the Livestock Association are recognized as members of the Merced del Pueblo de Abiquiu Land Grant. The objective of the Community and Regional Planning Program’s 2015 Summer Studio was to provide the Merced del Pueblo de Abiquiu with a plan for economic development and preservation` of the Abiquiu Plaza. The students of the studio examined the history, land use and cultural organization of the Merced del Pueblo de Abiquiu. Over the course of two months students met with Merced del Pueblo de Abiquiu residents on multiple occasions with the goal of engaging the community to share their perspectives on various topics and solutions for issues within the Pueblo. This paper presents the students’ analysis and recommendations for the community. These recommendations address a number of issues raised by the community during the meetings as well as supplement the recommendations of the Merced del Pueblo de Abiquiu comprehensive plan. The focus of these recommendations is to strengthen community capacity in the Merced del Pueblo de Abiquiu ensuring that community goals of economic development and preservation of the Abiquiu Plaza are accomplished.
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Carnuel & West Tijeras Trail Plan Proposal
James Aranda, Tim Imeokparia, and Moises Gonzales
Bernalillo County Parks and Recreation collaborated with the University of New Mexico, Resource Center for RAZA Planning (RCRP), and the School of Architecture and Planning. The County owns and manages several open space properties in and around Tijeras Canyon. In previous history, the County has acquired land in a reactionary way to protect natural resources or preserve recreational areas. They have also worked with UNM and other entities to purchase properties for co-management, like the UNM golf course. The County is interested in being more proactive and create a true link from the City of Albuquerque to the East Mountains as well as linking open space in a way that creates a unique trail and recreational opportunity.
As mentioned previously, members and residents of the Canon de Carnue Land Grant (also known as La Merced del Canon de Carnue) are important stakeholders. This historic community established in 1763, occupies a significant amount of land in Tijeras Canyon, and also includes portions of the communities of Tijeras and Cedar Crest. On the North side of the Canyon, a large portion of the land is owned and managed by Federal entities. Along Route 44, responsibility falls on the Department of Transportation for ownership and management. The varied ownership of this study area creates many opportunities as well as struggles.
