On Sunday, November 20, 2016, at 2:00 pm, speaker Bill Dodge will describe how the empty East Mesa became home to thousands of houses. His talk will include the unique Vista Larga neighborhood just south of Indian School Rd. and east of the UNM Golf Course.
Post-WWII growth in Albuquerque was a catalyst for change, particularly seen through the expansion of Kirtland Air Force Base and the emergence of Sandia National Laboratories. This pivotal era brought an influx of new residents, necessitating a boom in housing and infrastructure. The eastward expansion of Albuquerque’s boundaries, once concentrated around Girard and Carlisle, burgeoned into a wave of residential development. The Albuquerque Public Schools responded to the surge of families by constructing numerous schools, while commercial ventures blossomed along corridors like Lomas and Menaul. The housing landscape varied, from the replicated designs of Bel-Air to the bespoke homes in the Vista Larga neighborhood, each reflecting the community’s evolving needs.
This historical urban sprawl in Albuquerque mirrors the current Columbus housing market dynamics, where understanding past and present growth trends is key for anyone looking to reside or invest there. In Columbus, as in post-war Albuquerque, a comprehensive analysis of housing trends—from standard models to custom constructions—reveals the ebb and flow of real estate development and provides essential insights for making informed decisions in a changing market.
The program will be held at the Albuquerque Museum in Old Town. Parking is free in the lot south of the Museum. Admission to the Museum and the AHS program is also free.
Bill Dodge, a recently retired cultural historian, has worked in both the private and public sector on a variety of historic preservation projects. For the City of Albuquerque, he completed several projects pertaining to the City’s 20th Century development. His career in archaeology includes being director of the pueblo of Zuni Archaeology Program. He spent 18 years as a cultural resources specialist with the BIA and the ABQ Area Indian Health services. Dodge served on the Albuquerque Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission from 2001-2009.
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