Mesa del Sol to start building homes

ALBUQUERQUE, NM (KRQE) - Planners and developers started the first phase of home construction in the Mesa del Sol community south of Albuquerque on Monday morning.

Builders estimate by early 2012, homes will be available for residents to move into. This will finally fulfill the vision of what developers had in mind since the early 1990's.

Dignitaries including Albuquerque Mayor R.J. Berry and Congressman Martin Heinrich (D) were on hand to break ground on Monday.

The four major construction companies that will help change the landscape include Paul Allen Homes, Pulte Homes, Rachel Matthew Homes and Raylee Homes.

The homes will ramge from 1,200 to 2,700 square feet in size and will cost between $100,000 to $300,000.

The last time developers tried to start residential construction at Mesa Del Sol was in 2008, but then the economy and housing boom tanked.  Developers feel the economy is now strong enough to sustain home building.

With all the infrastructure needed, developers estimate this will bring about 200 jobs to the project.  Mesa del Sol anticipates building nearly 38,000 homes over the next 40 years.