WEBVTT 1 00:00:15.760 --> 00:00:21.080 David Cargo: I would, first of all, like to say that of course this is the land of sunshine 2 00:00:21.080 --> 00:00:27.080 and this is also quite obvious because all that you have to do is simply look around. 3 00:00:27.340 --> 00:00:33.040 But it's also the land of mañana. And by mañana I do not mean the land of 4 00:00:33.040 --> 00:00:39.080 sleep or the land of yesterday, I mean the land of tomorrow. The land of the future. 5 00:00:39.080 --> 00:00:43.440 A place where I'm sure that many people would like to locate and would 6 00:00:43.460 --> 00:00:48.100 also like to live, and develop industry, and to move forward. 7 00:00:48.800 --> 00:00:54.500 G.Y. Fails: Since World War II, Albuquerque has enjoyed and experienced one of the most remarkable growth 8 00:00:54.500 --> 00:00:59.859 rates of any city in the history of the United States. This tremendous expansion has 9 00:00:59.859 --> 00:01:04.479 been measured in the creation of new industry, the building of high-rises, 10 00:01:04.479 --> 00:01:08.649 new airports, new freeways, sport and recreational complex, and the rapid 11 00:01:08.649 --> 00:01:12.729 expansion of our schools and university. One of the most dramatic things going on 12 00:01:12.729 --> 00:01:17.200 in our city today is the expansion and growth of Albuquerque's beautiful 13 00:01:17.200 --> 00:01:18.640 West Side. 14 00:01:24.140 --> 00:01:30.260 [Music] 15 00:01:38.360 --> 00:01:44.990 Narrator: This is Albuquerque's West Side story. A story of great natural beauty, growth, 16 00:01:44.990 --> 00:01:50.970 opportunity, industry, and recreation. It is a story of tomorrow, even more than 17 00:01:50.970 --> 00:01:56.760 today and yesterday. You see, the West Side holds the key to Albuquerque's future. 18 00:01:57.160 --> 00:02:01.100 Blocked by mountains to the East, reserved lands to the North and South, 19 00:02:01.100 --> 00:02:05.520 Albuquerque has already started its expansion to the west, where it has great 20 00:02:05.520 --> 00:02:10.050 opportunities for industrial development. Beginning at West 4th Street with its 21 00:02:10.050 --> 00:02:14.900 new high-rise apartments, it's sparkling motels, its newest skyscrapers, 22 00:02:14.900 --> 00:02:20.080 Albuquerque's Western skyline already reflects this powerful outward growth. 23 00:02:20.440 --> 00:02:27.300 A magnificent new university, new industry, and lovely suburban communities also 24 00:02:27.300 --> 00:02:32.250 show the rapid pace of development. From historic Old Town Plaza, to the rich 25 00:02:32.250 --> 00:02:37.050 farmlands and orchards along the Rio Grande. A metropolitan traffic survey 26 00:02:37.050 --> 00:02:43.700 predicts population of the West Side will total 300,000 people or more by 1985. 27 00:02:44.180 --> 00:02:48.040 That means an influx of nearly a quarter million people on the West Side, 28 00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:53.540 almost equal to the present total population within the city. And where will they go? 29 00:02:54.340 --> 00:02:58.760 Into spacious new subdivisions with paved streets, schools, professional 30 00:02:58.769 --> 00:03:03.390 landscaping, and a championship golf course. At least five of these 31 00:03:03.390 --> 00:03:08.010 subdivisions on the West Mesa have been master planned in terms equal to modern 32 00:03:08.010 --> 00:03:12.870 planned communities in California and Florida. These five born with the forward 33 00:03:12.870 --> 00:03:19.050 look in mind are Paradise Hills, Rio Rancho Estates, West Gate Heights, 34 00:03:19.050 --> 00:03:23.970 Volcano Cliffs, and College Heights, deserving attention is one of the largest and most 35 00:03:23.970 --> 00:03:28.980 imaginative communities in the southwest. Recently, Rio Rancho Estates brought in 36 00:03:28.980 --> 00:03:32.580 real estate and business editors from throughout the nation to study the 37 00:03:32.580 --> 00:03:37.160 area's booming real estate market. Typical of the reaction were these headlines: 38 00:03:37.160 --> 00:03:42.020 "Dynamic Albuquerque rides a rocket," said the Christian Science Monitor. 39 00:03:42.020 --> 00:03:46.800 "Coronado was right: gold in Albuquerque," from the Chicago Tribune, 40 00:03:46.800 --> 00:03:51.640 "Albuquerque: a city orbiting in space," the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner. 41 00:03:51.640 --> 00:03:57.500 "Rio Rancho - Tomorrow an entire city," said the Cincinnati Enquirer. 42 00:03:57.500 --> 00:04:01.880 What impressed these newspaper critics? The newsmen noted millions of dollars in 43 00:04:01.889 --> 00:04:06.389 improvements invested in Rio Rancho. They were shown a model city development 44 00:04:06.389 --> 00:04:11.700 beginning with roads, streets, underground water facilities, and residential 45 00:04:11.700 --> 00:04:16.109 recreational areas. They saw a master-planned projection of related 46 00:04:16.109 --> 00:04:22.440 neighborhoods together forming a city-- not the age-old attachment to another city. 47 00:04:22.440 --> 00:04:26.060 Here John Somerhalder reports from Rio Rancho Estates. 48 00:04:26.070 --> 00:04:32.520 Somerhalde: Just a few years ago cattle peacefully grazed here. Today, Rio Rancho Estates is 49 00:04:32.520 --> 00:04:36.780 one of the fastest growing suburban communities in the entire southwest. 50 00:04:36.780 --> 00:04:41.940 The reasons are obvious: a magnificent country club, swimming pools, park and 51 00:04:41.940 --> 00:04:46.200 recreation facilities, are available to the residents with no dues or membership 52 00:04:46.200 --> 00:04:50.970 fees of any kind. Rio Rancho has a municipal water system already capable 53 00:04:50.970 --> 00:04:55.760 of serving its first 4,000 families. Also, other city utilities, 54 00:04:55.760 --> 00:05:01.710 police and fire protection, a post office, a school, and city bus services; shopping, 55 00:05:01.710 --> 00:05:06.080 and other service facilities are now under construction. A youth activity 56 00:05:06.080 --> 00:05:07.760 center is nearing completion. 57 00:05:07.760 --> 00:05:10.400 Just four and a half miles from the city limits. 58 00:05:10.560 --> 00:05:14.370 Only 15 minutes from downtown Albuquerque at its entrance, 59 00:05:14.370 --> 00:05:18.570 Rio Rancho Estates is making available 50 acres to Albuquerque industrial 60 00:05:18.570 --> 00:05:22.590 development service for an industrial park. Many types of jobs are now 61 00:05:22.590 --> 00:05:27.380 available just minutes away thanks to new West Side planned capacity. 62 00:05:27.380 --> 00:05:31.940 Property owners are always happy to see this type of development take place-and it's taking place 63 00:05:31.980 --> 00:05:34.240 right here, right now. 64 00:05:35.660 --> 00:05:38.600 Narrator: To the south lies the well known Paradise Hills, 65 00:05:38.600 --> 00:05:42.800 a completely self-contained suburb which started development in 1960. 66 00:05:43.160 --> 00:05:48.840 Today it boasts more than 650 homes. Paradise Hills is another good example of a 67 00:05:48.840 --> 00:05:53.700 master-planned community at work. Perhaps Paradise Hills is best known as 68 00:05:53.700 --> 00:05:59.730 the home of a 7185 yard Championship golf course. Paradise Hills put 69 00:05:59.730 --> 00:06:05.310 Albuquerque on the national golf map. In 1963 and 1964 it hosted the pro-am 70 00:06:05.310 --> 00:06:11.120 tournaments, featuring the ladies PGA. To the south of Paradise Hills, 71 00:06:11.300 --> 00:06:15.620 located on the site of a historic Indian petroglyphs, is another new West Side 72 00:06:15.630 --> 00:06:21.630 development: Volcano Cliffs, a 3,600 Acres subdivision master plan by the firm of 73 00:06:21.630 --> 00:06:26.310 Plateau, Moore, Brian, and Fairburn. The development calls for construction of 74 00:06:26.310 --> 00:06:31.120 apartment buildings, schools, churches, hospitals, and an industrial park. 75 00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:37.220 Developer DW Falls says his investment will represent more than $90 million when complete. 76 00:06:37.960 --> 00:06:41.760 Falls: Volcano Cliffs is adjacent to the University of Albuquerque. 77 00:06:42.340 --> 00:06:46.340 It is in the city limits, only 10 minutes from downtown. 78 00:06:46.600 --> 00:06:53.280 It is a complete master plan community featuring underground utilities, in fact, it is the 79 00:06:53.280 --> 00:06:57.100 largest subdivision in the state offering these facilities. 80 00:06:57.440 --> 00:07:02.600 One of our greatest natural assets is a hundred foot blue, which extends through the property. 81 00:07:02.600 --> 00:07:07.700 Our planners have designed our streets so that virtually ever home site 82 00:07:07.710 --> 00:07:14.070 has a superb view. Another feature of Volcano Cliffs is a 1500 acre city park 83 00:07:14.070 --> 00:07:18.380 upon which construction has already begun, but to me, the most exciting 84 00:07:18.380 --> 00:07:24.060 development is the completion of our new model homes, the beginning of our 85 00:07:24.060 --> 00:07:29.860 projected 10,000 home development including schools, churches, 86 00:07:29.860 --> 00:07:36.760 shopping centers, and high-rise apartments. Volcano Cliffs is an important part of the West Side Story. 87 00:07:37.300 --> 00:07:41.120 Narrator: Joining the University of Albuquerque is an 1,100 acres 88 00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:45.680 subdivision known as College Heights at the intersection of Coors Boulevard and 89 00:07:45.690 --> 00:07:50.460 the Montano interchange. College Heights is taking the initiative in planning a 90 00:07:50.460 --> 00:07:54.480 regional commercial district. The subdivision is already included in the 91 00:07:54.480 --> 00:07:58.340 city's Planning Department's long-range view of Albuquerque's growth. 92 00:07:58.900 --> 00:08:03.400 South and west of the university is the area known as West Gate Heights, 93 00:08:03.400 --> 00:08:10.480 with nearly 640 homes in a 3500 acre complex, showing what a developer may accomplish 94 00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:15.160 through master planning. West Gate Heights was approved for annexation in 95 00:08:15.160 --> 00:08:17.840 1960 by Albuquerque city commissioners. 96 00:08:18.880 --> 00:08:20.580 Morton: West Gate Heights is a master plan 97 00:08:20.620 --> 00:08:24.790 development in the city limits of Albuquerque. It's located on the west 98 00:08:24.790 --> 00:08:29.280 slope of the Community, overlooking the Rio Grande Valley and the mountain ranges to the east. 99 00:08:29.860 --> 00:08:32.880 There are well over 500 homes in the area now and this has made it 100 00:08:32.880 --> 00:08:36.300 necessary to go into Phase two of our shopping center development. 101 00:08:36.700 --> 00:08:41.080 This includes a supermarket as well as other small shops for the convenience of the residents. 102 00:08:41.480 --> 00:08:44.380 One of the really great things about living in West Gate Heights is the 103 00:08:44.380 --> 00:08:49.060 West Gate Heights Association. This association is made up of a large group 104 00:08:49.060 --> 00:08:53.350 of the residents who actively work on projects in the area to make a better 105 00:08:53.350 --> 00:08:54.720 way of life for everyone. 106 00:08:55.200 --> 00:08:58.420 Narrator: To provide for orderly development, the major 107 00:08:58.420 --> 00:09:03.080 subdivisions on the West Side have coordinated their planning with the city itself. 108 00:09:03.720 --> 00:09:07.540 Dick Vaughan: A test of many well-planned communities lies in their ability to be 109 00:09:07.620 --> 00:09:11.800 integrated into a master plan of the entire area. In fostering the development 110 00:09:11.800 --> 00:09:16.600 of the West Side community, these major subdivision developers have adhered to 111 00:09:16.600 --> 00:09:21.240 good master planning and coordinated their efforts with the City Planning Department. 112 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:26.800 I am pleased to tell you that the city has master plans for the entire area, 113 00:09:27.060 --> 00:09:30.360 including major street and thoroughfare master plans, water and 114 00:09:30.370 --> 00:09:34.780 sewer master plans, and storm drainage plans. These are continually being 115 00:09:34.780 --> 00:09:39.610 updated as the area continues to grow. Since the city maintains planning 116 00:09:39.610 --> 00:09:44.460 jurisdiction over an area within five miles of the city limits, 117 00:09:44.460 --> 00:09:49.840 in which incidentally these subdivisions lie, the city in its future residents may be 118 00:09:49.840 --> 00:09:54.070 assured of the best in community planning as the area continues to grow. 119 00:09:54.070 --> 00:09:59.050 As a city planning Commissioner and resident of the West Side I'm optimistic 120 00:09:59.050 --> 00:10:03.600 about Albuquerque's growth and I feel very strongly that the key to 121 00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:07.140 Albuquerque's future lies in the development of the West Side. 122 00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:12.380 Narrator: To meet the needs of an expanding population, the West Side already has 123 00:10:12.380 --> 00:10:16.970 39 schools. Equally important to the development of the West Side is its 124 00:10:16.970 --> 00:10:21.080 business and industrial growth. In his address to the recent industrial 125 00:10:21.080 --> 00:10:25.340 conference held at Rio Rancho Estates, United States Senator Joseph Montoya 126 00:10:25.340 --> 00:10:27.640 noted the importance of business expansion. 127 00:10:28.700 --> 00:10:29.920 Montoya: We are ready here in New 128 00:10:29.920 --> 00:10:33.900 Mexico for all the business expansion that we can attract our way. 129 00:10:34.180 --> 00:10:39.760 We have a highly skilled labor force, we have ample manufacturing facilities for all 130 00:10:39.760 --> 00:10:44.560 foreseeable demand, and we have an extensive service industry, 131 00:10:44.680 --> 00:10:49.780 and we have the kind of place where people like to live. Our markets are expanding steadily. 132 00:10:50.220 --> 00:10:53.200 There were only six hundred and eighty-one thousand people in our state 133 00:10:53.200 --> 00:10:57.880 in 1950, and that total was nearly doubled in the following 10 years. 134 00:10:58.440 --> 00:11:03.440 The market for homes, the market for goods, the market for services, 135 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:10.140 is expanding steadily and surely. This is a state with a great present and a great future. 136 00:11:11.400 --> 00:11:15.800 Narrator: The industrial growth of such established West Side firms as Spartan Southwest, 137 00:11:15.800 --> 00:11:19.670 Gaddis Machine Works, Akima Corporation, and Sun Country 138 00:11:19.670 --> 00:11:24.980 industries, as well as the opening of a new EG&G plant, are all indicative of a 139 00:11:24.980 --> 00:11:30.820 dynamic economic development now taking place west of the Rio Grande. 140 00:11:30.820 --> 00:11:36.840 The West Side now has two private airports, three major shipping terminals, 13 banks, 141 00:11:37.200 --> 00:11:41.720 85 houses of worship, a new doctor's hospital and medical complex to be 142 00:11:41.720 --> 00:11:48.500 completed next year, plus, neighborhood shopping centers. And of course, Downtown Albuquerque. 143 00:11:48.940 --> 00:11:53.140 Also, the fabulous Panorama Inn at Rio Rancho Estates with motel, 144 00:11:53.150 --> 00:11:57.050 restaurant, cocktail lounge, store, and projected neighborhood shopping center, 145 00:11:57.050 --> 00:12:02.300 as well as this flourishing new shopping center at Coors and Central. 146 00:12:03.240 --> 00:12:09.140 Till now, West Side development has been largely delayed by a lack of bridges across the Rio Grande, 147 00:12:09.140 --> 00:12:12.820 which caused problems of access. Recognizing the need for 148 00:12:12.830 --> 00:12:17.180 additional access to the West Side, the City of Albuquerque is projecting 149 00:12:17.180 --> 00:12:19.560 several new bridges between East and West. 150 00:12:19.900 --> 00:12:22.120 George: Because of the growth potential of 151 00:12:22.280 --> 00:12:26.080 the West Side of Albuquerque, it is important part of our continuing 152 00:12:26.089 --> 00:12:29.329 comprehensive and cooperative transportation planning program that we 153 00:12:29.329 --> 00:12:34.850 now have underway. The new east-west interstate highway bridge across the Rio 154 00:12:34.850 --> 00:12:38.120 Grande River has just recently been opened up to traffic. 155 00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:44.020 This six lane facility is designed to carry 85 thousand vehicles a day to and through 156 00:12:44.029 --> 00:12:50.140 the West Side. Long-range plans recommended also include six additional 157 00:12:50.140 --> 00:12:53.240 river crossings as shown on this map. 158 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:56.780 Narrator: One additional bridge has been completed 159 00:12:56.920 --> 00:13:01.720 to ease the pressure of ever-increasing east-west traffic. Called the Gateway to 160 00:13:01.730 --> 00:13:06.220 the West Side, this latest bridge is an extension of the new Coronado freeway. 161 00:13:06.220 --> 00:13:10.399 Residents in these new communities can now reach downtown from the West Side 162 00:13:10.399 --> 00:13:16.279 within 15 minutes. Yes, Albuquerque's West Side Story is the 163 00:13:16.279 --> 00:13:21.170 perpetual history of land. This type of growth is what always happens when it's 164 00:13:21.170 --> 00:13:26.089 made accessible. Whether it be New York's Verrazano-Narrows bridge that exploded 165 00:13:26.089 --> 00:13:30.559 land values in Staten Island or the new bridges over the Rio Grande that are 166 00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:35.059 triggering in a new growth now taking place on the West Side, for the West Side 167 00:13:35.059 --> 00:13:40.279 has been like a great force modeled in by a single valve, and the bridges are 168 00:13:40.280 --> 00:13:45.900 the gradual opening of this valve, allowing that great force to surge through. 169 00:13:46.740 --> 00:13:53.120 Now Albuquerque's West Side Story is unfolding as the city, you, I, 170 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:56.720 and all of us, prepare for the future.