New Twist in Real Estate Land Grant Property Development

In 2007, SunCal developers bought the last of one of New Mexico's largest land grant holdings from Westland Corporation with fanfare and great promise of development. With no direction in which to expand  but west, the acquisition of the vast tract of land west of the city of Albuquerque seemed to offer great promise for development. With this latest announcement, however, the immediate future of the old Atrisco Land Grand property  is in doubt. SunCal, for the moment, appears to be yet another casualty of the real estate and economic downturn.

Westward is the only direction in which the city of Albuquerque can expand. The Sandia Mountains block eastward expansion. Kirtland Air Force Base and the airport restrict expansion southward and the city of Rio Rancho and Native American lands block expansion to the north. The SunCal properties (formerly Westland Corporation and Atrisco Land Grant) is the last large tract of open, undeveloped space near Albuquerque. It is valuable land and without a doubt will one day, sooner or later, be an extension of Albuquerque roof tops or a new city on the west mesa, extending westward into the sunset. 
Eloise Gift,CRS

Pilgrims in Albuquerque NM

Throughout the Christian world, From Lourdes to various holy sites around New Mexico, today is a special day. It  is Good Friday, a day for Pilgrimage. It is the day that marks the culmination of  the observance of Holy Week  commemorating the day of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ some 2,000 year ago.

The young daughter of one of my clients told me yesterday, that she would start her  3-hour walk and 16th pilgrimage at 8:00 AM this morning. As I write, she is almost half  way to El Santuario de Chimayo. In her sixteen years of pilgrimage, she missed one year because, new in her job, she could not get time off. She made up by doing the journey the following day. She told me that in her family, Good Friday is of even greater significance than Easter. The celebratory meal comes on returning home after the visit to the tiny chapel at the back of the Snatuario. 

In Albuquerque, New Mexico, as I write, pilgrims are on their way or are already returning from a sunrise visit to Tome Hill  near Los Lunas, about 25 miles south of Albuquerque.  The pilgrims, some on their knees on the rocky slope,  will be up and down the Hill all day today. To the north of Albuquerque,  Carmelina and thousands of pilgrims from near and far, young and old, are converging on  Chimayo, about 15 miles north of Santa Fe.

New Mexico is a destination for pilgrims. People, not only Christians, come to the state from all parts of the world on all kinds of pilgrimages. Bike riders and runners come to practice in the Sandia Mountains. Artists come to be inspired by and pay homage to places that were the inspiration of Georgia O'Keeffe and others artists. Good Friday draws Christians and other worshippers.

Sacred spaces all around Albuquerque and the rest of the state don't have to be pointed out, natives, residents and tourists alike, will tell you. People say that they feel tand are drawn to them. Albuquerque residents say that living in the city with its views of the Sandia Mountains is spiritual, if not sacred. The Rio Grande river snaking its way through the desert is spiritual and so is the Petroglyph Monument. Less than an day's drive will take you to many other sacred  and spiritual sites that include Acoma, Chaco Canyon and other Native American pueblos
Eloise Gift
Gift Realty NM , Albuquerque New Mexico
http://www.eloisegift.com/