A 400-acre development in Albuquerque's South Valley and Southwest Mesa area was put on hold in 2008 when the recession hit.

But in an improving economy with demand for more housing in the area, the owners of the housing development, called Ceja Vista, are dusting off the plans and refining the project for today's market.

Developer Bill Allen, along with business partner Mike Adams and other partners under Ceja Vista LLC, went in front of Albuquerque's Environmental Planning Commission in September to get the project going again.

The developers came back to the drawing board and requested 26 acres of the project be changed to a higher density residential zone. The plan is to build 540 apartments units and townhouses, 120 of which would be earmarked for senior housing. The 26 acres are roughly located southeast of Dennis Chavez Boulevard and 118th Street.

"The overall market has been slow but steadily improving," Allen said. "It's time for all of us in the real estate business to look afresh at our land and what we can do with it and what the market is looking for."

Allen said demand in the area has increased due to several new schools, including the George I. Sánchez Collaborative Community School, which opened last fall. There's also the ongoing 80-acre commercial development Las Estancias two miles east, which would provide amenities to residents.

The planning commission recommended the changes to the project. Because the vacant land is so large, final approval is required by the City Council. A date hasn't been decided yet.

Allen said he and his business partners are going through the necessary early steps for the development, but a groundbreaking wouldn't take place for another nine months to a year.

As far as the larger 400-acre project, that would take another five to seven years to complete.

"It just all depends on the pace and demand for homes in Albuquerque, which has been fairly stable. We think that is going to increase and improve," Allen said. Click here to read the full article.