100 Diamond Tail Rd |
 |
|
Uniquely New Mexican Jim Fox and his wife, Meg, both 50 years old, were tired of living in the hustle and bustle of Southern California. A musician and an artist, respectively, they were looking for solitude, a place to call home and something that offered more than suburbia. They found all of that when they purchased a home in a new planned community by the name of Diamond Tail Ranch, just outside the historic and scenic village of Placitas, 25 miles northwest of Albuquerque. "Diamond Tail is beautiful. I can look out at the Jemez in the distance. And when this area is built up, there will still be a feeling of spaciousness," says Jim Fox. Diamond Tail Ranch is the 2005 Homes of Enchantment Parade's "signature community" -- a distinction used for the first time this year by event organizers to highlight entire residential communities versus individual home builders. Perched on 1,800 acres of land on the north slope of the Sandia Mountains, the master-planned residential subdivision boasts home sites that are two acres or more in size; views of the Jemez Mountains, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Cabezon Peak and the Ortiz Mountains; 40 percent open space -- land that will never be developed, underground utilities; paved roads; a community park; and access to high-speed Internet. "Diamond Tail was chosen as our first signature community because it represents so much of what is special about New Mexico," says Jim Folkman, executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of Central New Mexico. "We expect our future signature communities in the Albuquerque area to be just as unique." The residential development is part of a 20,000-acre parcel of land owned since the 1950s by the Matthews family -- a ranching family from West Texas. The land has a rich cultural past, including the existence of countless archaeological sites and once being part of a Mexican land grant. "The philosophy behind the development is to create a light footprint community, with low density and a lot of open space," says Dan Dennison, general manager of Diamond Tail. "The (Matthews) family wants to protect the land. And we want our residents to experience a sense of place." Wide open spaces Phase I includes development of 231 acres of land, 59 home sites, a perimeter fence, gated main entry, design of a trail system for the open space and construction of a community park for stargazing known as "Shooting Star Corral." The majority of the first phase is complete with the exception of the homes. "One thing I credit the developers with is not making this a production neighborhood. They want things to be done correctly and for people to be happy here," says Fox. To date, 31 lots have been sold or are in contract, and 12 homes have broken ground. Homes are build-to-suit, ranging in size from 2,800 square feet to more than 6,000 square feet. Values range from approximately $600,000 to more than $1 million. And land sells for $115,000 for $250,000 per lot. Covenants dictate that houses be constructed in Southwest, Pueblo, Territorial or northern New Mexico style. Street lights aren't allowed and ridgelines, open space and archaeological sites will be protected. Homeowners are encouraged to landscape with low-water-use and native vegetation. Fox says the covenants are key to assuring Diamond Tail's aesthetic appeal. "Somebody can't come along and plop a double-wide next to me or a couch in front of my view," he says, adding, "the value and salability of my home is not likely to go down." Energy-efficient home design is also welcomed at Diamond Tail, including the use of alternative building materials, solar electricity generation, gray-water and the collection of rainwater. In fact, one home is being constructed out of RASTRA; an energy-efficient insulated concrete form made from 85 percent recycled foam. Dennison says Diamond Tail appeals to a fairly specific demographic. Most residents are in their early 50s to mid-60s, though some landowners are in their 40s. They tend to be empty-nesters, highly educated, often looking for a second home, dependent on high-speed Internet and uninterested in living in a high-profile community. He says many are also interested in building smaller homes with high attention to custom finish. |