When we look at our backyard, whether we have a great view or a view of the house next door, we want to feel satisfied. But the truth is, the satisfaction we’re looking for depends a lot on where we are in life. Do we have kiddos chasing the family dog through the yard? Does your idea of the perfect evening involve a glass of wine and the crackle of a fire in the outdoor fireplace? Are you a gardener who loves to tend your plants against a backdrop of clucking chickens?
A natural backdrop of trees and open land is a perk of many properties here in Los Alamos!
Backyard Playgrounds
Kids love swing sets and playhouses. No doubt about it, many parents turn their yard space upside down and inside out trying to make it kid friendly. There are so many options these days for making play spaces in your yard for the kids, that you can run yourself ragged trying to decide how to fit Rocket Park onto your property. But the truth is, you probably need to think really carefully before investing in a lot of expensive equipment and elaborate buildings. Kids grow fast! You need to consider how many children you have, how many you’re expecting, their ages, and their interests before making a decision about backyard play equipment. Otherwise they’re going to outgrow or lose interest in your hard work and you’ll be left with a ghost yard instead of a play yard.
The playhouse kids dream of…The playhouse your kids probably need…This is a happy medium. Modular jungle gym for the kids, plenty of space left to run and play, and a nice high top table for mom and dad to enjoy on the patio!
Hobby Homesteading
If you’re interested in chickens, plants, and a spot of gardening before you kick back and enjoy your evening, don’t worry. With a bit of ingenuity, you can fit all of those things into one backyard. No problem. If you’re looking for some tips on chicken raising in Los Alamos, check out this post from a few months ago. Or maybe your idea of a perfect backyard is garden space. You might want to look back at this blog if you’re looking to garden here in Los Alamos. Gardens, chickens, maybe a few fruit trees, and you could be looking at a great way to turn your yard into a mini hobby farm in no time!
This particular chicken house was created from a playhouse sadly outgrown by the family’s children.A beautiful balance between lounging space on the patio and deck, garden boxes, and a chicken house in the background. Every backyard homesteader’s dream come true!
A Relaxing & Epic Space
Whether your style is simple or elaborate, the thing that really matters is to create a space that is both relaxing and uniquely you. Keep in mind if you want to enjoy a fire pit, it needs to be covered in order to prevent sparks from flying out and starting a fire where it wasn’t intended. A fire pit can be a very relaxing way to wind down on nice evenings. The crackle of flames makes a beautiful addition to any starry mountain night.
Not all of us have the opportunity to watch the sunset on a porch like this one in Pajarito Acres.
No matter what you choose to do with your backyard in Los Alamos, I know it will be epic. After all, half the fun of a new space is making it your own! Please feel free to drop me a picture of your very own perfect backyard in Los Alamos. And don’t forget, if you’re ready to buy or sell in Los Alamos, I’m your hometown broker! Give me a call. I’m always ready to talk Real Estate in Los Alamos.
There is no doubt that our community on the hill has a lot to offer when it comes to resources. We’ve got miles of trails, beautiful parks, a golf course, horse stables, libraries filled with books and activities, community swimming pools, and even a brand new splash pad for the kiddos! However, what you might not realize is that we also have some seriously amazing local organizations dedicated to improving daily life in Los Alamos on a whole other level.
Los Alamos Family Council
Los Alamos Family was officially opened as a community mental health provider in 1963. They’ve been a non-profit community service organization for nearly sixty years and during that time they’ve seen a lot of changes in both mental health treatment and in the community of Los Alamos. LAFC has been located in the building on the corner of 15th Street and Nectar since 1982. They were one of the first organizations funded by United Way and have always tried to grow and change with the needs of Los Alamos by offering individual and group therapy as well as a variety of other services. Over the years they’ve been instrumental in implementing services such as Adult Day Care, the Senior Center, Meals on Wheels, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board. If you’re not familiar with these programs, you’re probably familiar with one of LAFC’s most popular offerings.
The Activity Center
In the mid 2000’s LAFC partnered with the county to open Youth Activity Centers in both Los Alamos and White Rock. This provides a safe environment for kids grades 3-8 to be supervised while enjoying crafts, games, and other fun things at no cost to their parents. While the White Rock AC isn’t open during the summer, the Los Alamos AC is located at the Community Building by Ashley Pond and is currently open. During the summer, field trips to the YMCA Climbing Wall and Bandelier National Monument are often available. Last week the kids got to visit the brand new Splash Pad at Pinon Park! So if your kiddos are tired of being at home after Covid, check out the Activity Center FB page and get them out and about for some much needed fun!
Community Groups
Although Family Council does sponsor several groups focused on substance abuse/relapse and recovery prevention, there are also groups for people just like you. If you’ve never experienced group therapy, you might be surprised at what you could get out of it. This summer, LAFC is partnering with the YMCA to offer a support group for Moms focused on recognizing and dealing with stress. After a year of being isolated, it’s a fun chance to network with other moms in town and just chat about life. Contact the YMCA at 505-662-3100 for more information or to sign up to be a part of this group.
LAFC Executive Director, Jordan Redmond, hopes that there will be more opportunities for the community to benefit from the group experience. There are plans for everything from groups focused on Boundaries and Emotional Regulation to Art Therapy this summer and fall. And in August, LAFC is excited to begin SMART Recovery meetings. SMART is an international organization dedicated to a science based method of dealing with addiction whether you’ve got a secret handbag fetish, substance issues, or just too many cats!
Individual Mental Health
And as always, Los Alamos Family Council offers individual therapy for all ages. The organization was started with the purpose of community mental health and that is their focus. Better understanding of emotions. Better success in personal relationships. Increased satisfaction with life. Give them a call if you need someone to talk to no matter the reason.
So keep checking back to get the latest info on other organizations dedicated to bettering life here in Los Alamos. And in the meantime, if you’re ready to buy or sell your home here in Los Alamos, call me! I would love to talk about Life in Los Alamos with you!
We’ve talked about the way current mortgage rates affect your buying power, but do those historic low rates on new loans benefit a homeowner who purchased their house five, ten, or even fifteen years ago when the rates were a whole lot higher? Maybe not in the same way, but whether or not you’ve been in your home for a few years or a lot of years, it might be time to consider refinancing.
Refinancing. That word tends to pop up frequently for some people and others never even consider it. The simple explanation is that you pay off your current home loan and get a new one. It sounds like a lot of trouble to some people. After all, it was a decent amount of work to get your first mortgage. But there are a few really important things to look at that could make refinancing your home a choice that improves your financial situation a lot!
Some experts suggest that the rule of thumb says you refinance if you’re going to get a 1% drop in interest rate. But this is a blanket statement that doesn’t actually apply to every situation. The rate a lender will offer you when you refinance your home has to do with your credit score and the amount of equity you have in your home.
Equity. Here in Los Alamos, residents who bought their homes in the last decade or more have seen an incredible rise in the value of their house. Some of you might have even gone from being upside down on your home (you owe more than your house is worth) to having 20% equity or even more! This is wonderful news! First of all if you have a good amount of equity in your home, you might not need to carry mortgage insurance anymore. Sometimes you see this on your payment statements as PMI. This could either reduce your monthly payment, or allow you to apply more dollars every month to the actual principal amount on your loan. Either way it’s a win!
Maybe you’d like to shorten the term of your mortgage. With the increased buying power that comes with lower interest rates and higher equity, you could get a fifteen year mortgage instead of a thirty year and potentially see very little change in your current payment. Imagine not feeling stuck in your home here in Los Alamos because there’s nowhere else in town to move. Imagine feeling closer to paying off your home and having the opportunity to make changes in your financial situation and your life in other new and exciting ways!
Perhaps you bought your home when mortgage lenders were offering creative financing options like 80/20 loans where you borrow your down payment. Or you might have cashed out on equity at some point and gotten a second mortgage. This could be the perfect time to consolidate and only have one payment with an improved rate.
No matter which of these situations apply to you and your family, there are a few things you should consider when you think about refinancing your current mortgage.
How long are you planning to stay in your home? If you’re planning to move away from Los Alamos in the next year or two, refinancing your home might not be the right choice. There are closing costs associated with refinance. Credit checks, appraisals, and other necessities cost money. It takes a certain amount of time for any savings you might get on your payment to recoup those closing costs.
How is your credit? It might be that you’ve hit a rough financial patch after 2020. Check with your lender to see what you can do to get your credit score exactly where it needs to be in order to get the full benefit of a refinance. It might be that paying off a few credit cards or personal loans could get you a better rate and a deeper savings each month than you ever thought possible.
Regardless of what your situation is, don’t be afraid to ask for more information. Give me a call if you’d like a recommendation on a reputable mortgage lender who will work with you on your refinancing options. And as always, if you’ve decided to sell or buy a home in Los Alamos, I’d love to hear from you!
If you’ve been paying attention to social media lately, you might have noticed that we’ve had more than a few bear sightings recently. Bears in trash cans in Quemazon. Mama bears and cubs hanging out in Rendija. Potentially another Mama bear and cub crew peeking into backyards along the edge of Bayo Canyon. It’s almost certain you’ve got bears on the mind!
So, how do we live side by side with bears wandering around in our backyards? It’s pretty certain that we can’t just wave them off with a simple, “shoo!”. In my last post I talked about motion sensor sprinklers to keep the deer from snacking on your favorite plants. Since bears aren’t likely to bother your plants, I suppose you could try rigging your trash cans with motion sensor sprinklers, but there are easier ways to make your property unattractive to bears.
According to NM Wildlife authorities, the most common bears seen in Los Alamos are New Mexico Black Bears. These bears can live up to thirty years and the females only mate every two years. They’re also very attached to their home territories, which is why there is less than a 30% chance of a successful relocation. The best way to keep a bear from becoming a nuisance is to never let the nuisance behavior get started.
Bears & Your Trash
The relationship between bears and your trash is a pretty strong one. Strong as in they LOVE nasty things that have a strong smell. That does include pet food by the way. If we’re in spring bear season, it’s not a good idea to leave your dog or cat food out where the bears can get to it.
Bears are repeat customers. They’re creatures of habit. Don’t let them get started on the rounds in your neighborhood. If you spot one or hear that one has been spotted, then the best move you can make is to prevent them from getting addicted to your trash!
Keep your trash cans secured.
If you live in a high bear traffic area such as Quemazon or another area with cliff side access, get in contact with Los Alamos County Environmental Services in order to get yourself equipped with a bear proof trashcan.
Another good thought is to keep your trash cans secured until the morning of trash pickup. Don’t put them out the night before. That’s just asking for a bear to come rummaging for a midnight snack.
Bird & Deer Feeders
Ever think to yourself that certain souet bird foods are stinky? Well, the bears think that too. Even seed feeders can be attractive to a hungry omnivorous NM Black Bear. During bears season, bring in any feeders intended to provide a snack for animals like squirrels, birds, and deer. Don’t let your bird feeder become a pit stop on a local bear’s food route. Remember, these bears spend their entire day going from one snack spot to another. The idea is to make the loop not worth their time.
Feeding the Bears
The last thing that you should EVER be doing is intentionally feeding bears. Think those cubs are adorable? Feeding baby cubs creates nuisance adult bears. Cubs learn to expect handouts. Expecting a handout means a cute baby bear becomes a serious grown bear problem. And, just so you know, it’s illegal to feed bears.
So next time you hear about a bear sighting in Los Alamos, remember that living alongside the wildlife is part of what it means to live here in Los Alamos County. And don’t forget to do everything you can to set some boundaries for our bear population to avoid the collision of urban sprawl and curious hungry bears. And if you have any questions, give me a call!
Gardening in Los Alamos isn’t the easiest of tasks. Our topsoil isn’t terrific. Our growing season is notoriously short. And don’t forget the weather tends to be unpredictable at best. These things never stop me from trying though. I LOVE to garden! I enjoy being outdoors digging in the dirt and begging my little green sprouts to grow. In 2020 our garden managed to produce a massive crop of the strangest looking cucumbers you’ve ever seen! Not only were they more yellow than green, but they tasted awful! However, a friend of mine diced them up and fed them to her chickens. Apparently the chickens LOVED them. Since the taste of the cucumbers didn’t bother the hens or affect the eggs, I call that a win! But one thing we’ve always had pretty good luck with is our jalapenos. Until this year…
Considering the unseasonably cool weather we’ve been having, (can you actually say that when it’s perfectly reasonable to get several inches of snow in May?) I finally got around to planting my garden last week. It felt good to get the plants in. Normally our dogs spend quite a lot of time in the yard, but less than a week after my garden was planted, we spent a day in Albuquerque and left the dogs inside.
Let’s just say Bambi went hog wild while my dogs were helpless to intervene.
This is what was left of my garden…
See the telltale hoof prints? Ugh! Who knew that mule deer would eat jalapeno plants? So, with my recent garden failure in mind, I’ve set out to find more information on how to keep deer out of the garden. Here’s what I’ve discovered:
All Deer Are Not Equal
What I understand from doing a bit of research on the topic is that different deer herds like different plants. This is not limited to breed of deer either, just because we have mule deer in this part of the country and you might have dealt with white tail deer somewhere else, that has nothing to do with successfully keeping them out of your garden.
For example, what the Bayo Canyon deer avoid might be completely different than what works to ward off the deer who live in Urban Park. However, most experts universally agree that if you can populate your garden with fuzzy, spiny, or strong smelling plants, you’ll have a better chance of convincing the four legged snackers to go elsewhere. Deer don’t like leaves that are furry. They also don’t like strong smelling plants. They avoid herbs like sage, thyme, lavender, and even dill. Things that are tough to digest like Elephant Ears are good deer repellants as well.
Even if you don’t want to choose your plants based on what deer dislike, you can sprinkle a few things throughout your garden just to try and get Bambi to browse elsewhere. For example, the next time I plant my jalapenos, I’m going to stick some strong smelling oregano plants right alongside them.
Unfortunately, Bambi Jumps Pretty Well
Fencing for deer can be costly. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when you’re attempting to nudge Bambi to take his case of the munchies elsewhere.
Privacy fence, cinder blocks, and coyote fencing are excellent deer fencing. Deer can jump upwards of 8ft to clear a fence, but they don’t like to jump into an area where they can’t see a landing spot. While it isn’t likely to keep them from hurdling into your yard if they’re fleeing a predator, they aren’t going to come browse your garden if they can’t see what’s on offer.
Double layers of fencing are unattractive. According to some animal researchers, deer have less than perfect depth perception. They don’t like the appearance of layered fencing. So if you have a chain link fence or other see through fence, try fencing individual sections of your garden with some kind of mesh netting on a wood frame. Even the brightly colored orange plastic mesh fence wrapped around some T-posts could do the trick. While not the most attractive way to decorate your yard, it could well save your garden from Bambi and his buddies.
Rock barriers are strikingly effective! Hoofed animals like deer do not like uneven, rocky terrain. If you have a terraced yard or even sections of your yard where you have xeriscaping, you might consider adding some larger porous rocks as a decorative and effective way to suggest to Bambi that he might break his spindly legs if he attempts to eat your plants. The rock barriers have to be a combination of wide and tall in order to truly deter the deer. Think rock walls at Bandelier National Monument. Perhaps not 8ft in height, but at least waist high and too wide for a human to step across without climbing.
Treat Bambi Like a Naughty Kitty!
That’s right! The number one suggested method for convincing deer that your garden is NOT the local farmer’s market is to use a motion sensor sprinkler. Most sources seem to agree that a taller model is better than a shorter one because it doesn’t get triggered by every bit of waving foliage and the spray manages to clear the plants and hit Bambi right in the nose. It is also suggested that the battery operated version is better than the solar option simply because the spray of water is more powerful. Deer aren’t all that easy to scare these days. If you want proof of that you can either check out the deer trotting down Diamond Drive or go take a peek at the Sportsman Club in Rendija Canyon where it isn’t unusual to see the buggers hanging out on the archery field watching rifle and shotgun practice across the dirt road. Their expressions are almost amused instead of afraid. Suburban life has changed them for good. But a nice blast of water is enough to make me want to turn and run. Seems like it should work nicely to tell Bambi NO!
If you’ve got other ways to save your garden from our local deer population, I’d love to hear them! The research I’ve done so far seems to suggest that nothing works forever and sometimes you have to switch it up in order to keep on top of the issue. But that’s part of living in Los Alamos County isn’t it? Wildlife abounds and unfortunately they’re not shy about sharing the amenities! Drop me a line if you’ve got deer repellents to share and don’t forget to give me a call if you’re ready to find your forever home in Los Alamos! I’m your local real estate expert and I love to talk about life in Los Alamos!
If you’ve been bitten by the home garden bug, there are a few things you might want to keep in mind if you’re planning to garden here on the Pajarito Plateau. Home gardens have certainly come back into fashion lately. With the pandemic causing stores to run out of food and forcing us to find things to do in our own backyard, it has been the perfect time to get back to basics. Not that I’m suggesting anyone go full on “farm mode”, but this could be a really fun family project!
Where to Garden?
It’s tempting to look at your yard and tell yourself that you’ve got “the perfect spot” for a garden. Keep in mind that the climate here in Los Alamos County doesn’t necessarily make that a good idea. Sure. You can find a spot out of the way where your kids and pets aren’t likely to trample your plants. But there are some really important factors to keep in mind when you’re choosing a spot to garden.
Soil
Let’s be honest here. High Arid Desert doesn’t necessarily scream fertility. Be real with yourself and be prepared to do some soil prep for your garden. This might even involve raised beds which have the benefit of being easier to cover during that last freak snowstorm we’re likely to experience in May. Whether you’re wanting to grow herbs or vegetables or flowers, you need to research what sort of nutrients those plants need to thrive. Start with one or two varieties. You might get a bumper crop of carrots, but being successful with one thing can lead to success with other items next year. It’s a bit much to ask your starter garden to become a farm to table operation in one season.
Temperature
Once you’ve figured out what you have in your soil and what you need to add, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the potential temperature of the soil. Seeds need a certain amount of warmth in order to germinate properly. If your in ground garden plot gets good sun during the day, there’s a chance it could be ready to support seeds in late April and early May. If your preferred location is in the shade, you might need to create a raised flowerbed situation in order to provide soil that is the correct temperature. Don’t forget that you can germinate seeds and get your garden started indoors too! See this homesteading article for more information on that.
Keep in mind that full sun might be fantastic for germinating seeds in spring, but by July and August our scorching summer sun will have your plants withering away. Being able to provide some kind of temporary shade over your garden is a real bonus. Whether you use a picnic awning or a pergola, your plants will thank you!
Plan Ahead!
It really pays to think about WHEN you’d like your crop to be ready. If you’re trying to get pumpkins in time for your own private pumpkin patch in October, pay attention to the information on the back of your seed packet. Do the pumpkins take 120 days to mature? Then keep that in mind when you plant and start your pumpkin patch in June. It’s not necessary to plant everything at once. Think of your garden in terms of crop rotation and you’ll find yourself with less to do at once.
Wildlife Woes
It goes without saying that we have some serious wildlife population here in Los Alamos County! Where else do you nearly step on a rabbit when walking outside your front door only to spot deer grazing in your yard before locking eyes with a bobcat on your morning jog? Everything from rabbits to bears can ruin your home garden. The visitors most likely to cause you grief are going to be rabbits and deer. If your yard is prime territory for these visitors, you might want to consider adding chicken wire to your garden plot. You might also think about adding a salt block or corn for deer to distract them from your plants. Or, you could go all out and invest in a “Garden in a Box” complete with raised garden beds and a pest fence to protect your plants from all but the most determined of visitors. It depends on your yard situation, who and what sort of pets live in your home, and just how determined you are to have a successful garden.
No matter what you decide, I’d love to hear from you! Post your garden photos and tag Kendra Ruminer Real Estate Los Alamos. I’d love to get a peek at what you’re growing this year. Get outside and enjoy Los Alamos! And don’t forget to give me a call if you’re ready to buy or sell your home. I’m your Los Alamos Local Real Estate Expert!
If you grew up in Los Alamos, there is a pretty strong chance you’ve heard one or two stories about Peggy Sue Bridge. As if our fair city on the hill doesn’t have enough strange origin stories about people, places, and things, we can also lay claim to a bona fide urban legend. An urban legend so typical of urban legends that “the story” has landed on an independent blog site claiming to record “haunted” places all over the United States and made #6 on a Hidden Haunted Places of NM list. Peggy Sue Bridge will also pop up on Pinterest as a haunted hotspot.
screenshot courtesy of hauntedplacesofusa.blogspot
I have to say, I don’t recall feeling any ghostly hands trying to shove me into Acid Canyon during high school. Now. Let’s get some perspective on this old tale of woe as debunked in Craig Martin’s book, Los Alamos Place Names. First? The bridge was never actually meant for foot traffic. Yes. Prior to its removal in 1997, the “bridge” did span Acid Canyon from the townsite to Orange Street. However, it was only there because of a gas line. Zia Company built the bridge as a way to hold the line in place over the canyon. (Uh oh! Did I ruin that for you?)
Another urban myth about the identity of Peggy Sue suggests she was a young girl on a tricycle who was unfortunate enough to fall off the bridge. This story began in the 50’s and has various versions depending on the level of embellishment.
Taking another turn, certain versions of the tale have an unknown Zia company construction worker who – for any number of reasons – decided to paint his daughter’s name on the bridge supports. There’s even a version of the story that suggests this little girl met Buddy Holly and inspired the song, Peggy Sue!
The credit for solving the mystery of Peggy Sue goes to Los Alamos resident, Susan Yankovic. During the creation of a public access television special in 1997 prior to the bridge’s removal, she tracked down the origin of the Peggy Sue Legend.
Evidently in 1951, Jerry Rutledge convinced his friend Lennis Taylor to help him paint a girl’s name on one of the bridge supports to impress her with his teenaged devotion. Along with their buddy, Raymond Trujillo, they climbed the bridge supports and slapped some red paint on the bridge in an effort to convince Peggy Sue Cameron the Jerry was just over the moon about her. In a strange twist of events, Susan Yankovic discovered that there was another name painted on the bridge on that day in 1951. Raymond Trujillo decided this was a perfect time to let “Lorraine” know he thought she was the bee’s knees. Funny how nobody remembers poor Lorraine. One might wonder if the name Peggy Sue is just too catchy to let go of. Goodness knows it worked for Buddy Holly!
In any case, as the story goes, the romance of Jerry and Peggy Sue only lasted a few months. Jerry went into the Navy after he left school. Twenty years later when he returned to Los Alamos to visit his then teenaged son, he was flabbergasted when the lad offered to take him to see “Peggy Sue Bridge”. Jerry hadn’t had a clue that his romantic exploits had spawned an urban legend!
Whether you want to talk urban legends, the best trails, or local lore, I’m your girl! I love life in Los Alamos and I’d love to help you in your search for a place to call home in this unique community. Give me a ring and let’s chat!
If you live in Los Alamos for very long… No. That’s not quite right. If you are IN Los Alamos for very long, you’re likely to notice that navigating the streets here isn’t like navigating anywhere else. Not that Los Alamos has super narrow streets like Boston or steep streets like San Francisco. Nope! Our streets are something else altogether and the story of that begins WAY back at the beginning. Yes. THE beginning. Back when Project Y was a secret and the roads were nothing but muddy tracks between buildings. Back in 1942 when the government decided the Ranch School was the perfect place for the Secret City on the Hill.
Meandering Streets with Buildings Set at an Angle
You know what I’m talking about! A tour around the residential streets of Los Alamos can feel just like a Sunday drive. There was no doubt in the beginning that Los Alamos was a “company town”. But there was a big push from the Atomic Energy Commission to make Los Alamos look like something else. This is why developers were asked to preserve as many of the trees as they could. Houses were set at various angles to the street to keep them from looking like orderly rows of Army tents in a military camp. Each dwelling included a yard and residents were urged to keep them green. Sure. It’s impossible today, but back then residents of the government owned housing weren’t charged for water to encourage them to water their grass.
The Myth of 37th Street
The southern end of 37th Street is a short street that connects Trinity Drive to Gold Street. Then it stops and picks up again on the other side of Acid Canyon in the Denver Steels area before hopping across Pueblo Canyon and continuing through North Community. Now. The myth comes in when or if you’ve ever been told that the reason 37th Street is in three distinct pieces is because some poor engineer sat in his office back in Washington D.C. and laid out the streets of Los Alamos without actually seeing the terrain. This myth is just that. A myth!
The truth was that the neighborhoods of Los Alamos were laid out in sections. The grid pattern was laid out in a manner that avoided the canyons, but the neighborhoods weren’t built at the same time. The three sections of 37th Street were part of three different periods of residential growth. And with military precision, the numbered streets were continued regardless of the canyons that might be “in the way”.
Names and Numbers that Aren’t Actually Random
The layout of Los Alamos was actually inspired by William Penn’s layout of Philadelphia. The north/south streets are numbered and east/west streets are lettered. This concept of uniformity was continued into the privatized neighborhoods of Barranca Mesa subdivisions #1, #2, #3 in the 1950’s without the numbers, but following a strict alphabetic pattern. Andanada, Barranca, Chamisa, Dos Brazos, El Viento, etc.
You might find it interesting to note that in the Group 12 neighborhood of modern day Alabama, Arizona, and Arkansas, the military deliberately used state names that began with A, but omitted Alaska because Alaska wasn’t a state in the early 1950’s when the streets were named.
In a good number of the privately developed neighborhoods in and around Los Alamos and White Rock the streets have names that follow a theme. Indian tribes, local animals and vegetation top the list. But in White Rock many of the streets were named for relatives and friends of the developers. Of course, there were certain interesting quirks attached to those as well. For example. Civil engineer and early developer of White Rock, John Mendius, named Catherine and Louise Avenues and Richard Court for three of his four children. Not that he intentionally left out his daughter Karen. But the land where the original Karen Avenue should have been, was purchased by a church and the street never happened. Mendius corrected his oversight in the 80’s when he developed Karen Circle on the other side of White Rock. Better late than never, right?
So the next time you cruise down the residential streets of Los Alamos, appreciate the unique flavor of this very special city. The navigational weirdness is actually an important part of our history. And if you’re ready to find your dream home in Los Alamos, give me a call. I’d love to show you around!
It isn’t difficult to imagine that a wildland forest fire could have a deep and lasting impact on a town or an area. Anytime natural disaster strikes an area, residents feel displaced. There is a sense of vulnerability, of being out of control. And there is no doubt that the Cerro Grande fire had a huge impact on Los Alamos.
Friday, May 5, 2000 – It started with a small, prescribed fire by crews at Bandelier National Monument. By Sunday, the fire had jumped multiple fire lines and Los Alamos was filled with smoke. The spring winds whipped the blaze into a firestorm. If you’ve ever experienced some of the windy spring days here in Los Alamos, you might be able to understand why a fire could go from a few acres to thousands upon thousands of acres in such a short period of time.
When the fire was only two miles away from the outskirts of Los Alamos, Western Area and what is now the Elk Ridge Mobile Home Park, were evacuated. The wind seemed to calm and firefighters became hopeful that they could stop the blaze at Camp May Road above Los Alamos Canyon.
At 1:15 PM on Wednesday, May 10, 75 mph wind gusts made that an impossibility. Los Alamos was evacuated in four hours. By the time the residents managed to get down the hill, Western Area was already in flames.
“The fire blew around the western perimeter of town, into Pueblo Canyon and finally into the streets and houses of North Community… In less than 12 hours, fire destroyed Western Originals, Modified Westerns, units from Groups 11, 12, 13, 14A, 14B, 15, and 18B, and modern structures. Entire neighborhoods were leveled.” Craig Martin
Photo courtesy of SantaFeNewMexican
There were 400 families displaced by the fire. They lost their homes and everything they couldn’t pile into the car to take when them when they evacuated. It was a catastrophic number in a town where housing was already an issue and had BEEN an issue since the beginning.
After Cerro Grande, it wasn’t uncommon for locals to grumble that they wish the fire had gotten rid of ALL of the old government housing. You could really argue that from an aesthetics perspective, that MIGHT have been the best option. No more quads, duplexes, or fifties era flat roof dwellings. It was a chance to start over. Build modern structures with modern floorplans using the latest innovations in materials and methods. But there are distinct issues with trading old for new.
Affordability
Cerro Grande didn’t just decimate old housing. It took the most affordable housing. Dense residential sections of town that had been initially built to house multiple families in the least amount of space possible. The fact that these homes were some of the earliest available here in Los Alamos is a secondary point to affordability. Many families started out in the sort of homes that were lost in the fire. It was a way to get out of an apartment and into a house. Sure. You might be looking to get into something else later, but we all have to start somewhere. Right? So, what happens when a huge chunk of the starter homes are just GONE? Think the brand new replacements are going to be in the same affordable price range?
Photo courtesy of SantaFeNewMexican
Sheer # of Units
400 families lost their homes. According to Craig Martin’s detailed list of residential structures lost in the Cerro Grande fire, we’re talking approximately 203 buildings. Yes. Wrap your mind around what that means. 203 structures that housed 400 families. The Group 12 homes were hit hardest. 33 Quads and 40 Duplexes were burned to the gound. All of a sudden, homeowners who had once held a deed to one unit in a quad or a duplex had to agree on a floor plan, a builder, and a style. Let’s just say that it wasn’t unusual for some of those families to cash out, sell their portion to their former neighbors, and move out of Los Alamos altogether.
That means 203 structures were burned to the ground and only a fraction of that were rebuilt. The new homes were and still are beautiful. But they sit on land that used to provide shelter for twice as many families as it does now. In other places, that might not matter. In Los Alamos, we feel the pinch even twenty plus years later.
Our Connection to the Past
Yes. The old government housing wasn’t going to win a beauty contest. But in some ways, these homes were actually historic. As strange as it might be to look at a Group 11 Quadraplex and think historic building, they kind of are. They’re part of our town’s identity. As time goes on, we’re losing that connection to our past. To the Atomic Energy Commission and the early days of Los Alamos and the housing board. We no longer remember that it’s ALWAYS been tricky to find housing in Los Alamos. We start expecting our unique town to be like everywhere else. Anytown, USA.
And let’s not forget that the continuity of the structures in town has become even more hodgepodge than it used to be. Perhaps that’s one of the things that Cerro Grande only made MORE true than ever before. It’s possible to take a walk down a residential street here in Los Alamos and see custom homes, former government built homes, a modern duplex, a 1950’s quadraplex, and even modular homes placed lovingly on a firm foundation of concrete. Since the fire, stucco has become the number one choice for exteriors, and there’s no end to the creativity of what you can cover in a Southwestern palette of stucco.
In the end, we persevere. We survive. We thrive. And of course, we hunt for the home of our dreams. When you’re ready to make a move, give me a call. I love to talk Los Alamos, past, present, and future.
There is no doubt that the process of selling a house has changed here in Los Alamos. The number of days a house spends on the market has decreased drastically and in some price ranges it is almost nonexistent! But a “seller’s market” doesn’t necessarily mean “as is”.
Curb Appeal
These two words can mean so very much when it comes to selling your home. If your house has far more “curb” than “appeal”, you might look back to this post from last year to get ideas for making your home stand out. If you’re getting ready to sell and just want to put your best foot forward, this post is for you!
If you’re selling a home here is Los Alamos, it’s very likely that your house is going to sell. That means the devil is in the details. As a seller, you want to make your home as inviting as possible to every person who gets out of the car to come look at it. We all know Los Alamos is a unique place. The homes here can be as varied and unusual as it gets. While that’s really a part of the charm, it can also be jarring to those moving to our area from out of town. That means we need to welcome them as much as possible.
I’d start with these three things:
The Yard
Take a long, hard look at your yard and be honest with yourself. Are there bits and pieces of your home improvement projects hanging around? Car parts? A zoo like assortment of yard ornaments? Remember that you’re selling your home. Pack those things and put them out of sight. You’re moving. Might as well go ahead and get started on the process. Neat. Welcoming. Spacious. Those are the three words that need to describe your yard no matter what it normally looks like. If you have a lack of grass (because we live in a desert), then make sure there are no leaves gathered beside your bushes or littering your rock beds. And let’s talk about the bushes. Please trim them. Allowing the juniper to eat the future buyers on their way to the door is a bad idea!
The Front Door
Let’s be honest. How often do we actually look at our front door? Is it dirty, faded, paint chipping or door knob or knocker falling off? Does the knob work? If there is a “trick” to getting your door to unlock, get that fixed. A fresh coat of paint, (Metzger’s has tons of options) a new knocker, or a knob or latch and you’re set. Let’s face it. There is no doubt that a stranger will walk through your home and make a mental list of things that need some changing. Do not let that list start at the front door.
The Doorbell
Which brings me to the last item on every Realtor’s list. The doorbell. If it has multiple settings, then choose the most doorbell sounding option please. Don’t let your doorbell serenade future buyers with Brahm’s Lullaby. It’s just not in your best interest. And if it doesn’t work? That’s a big problem! And please don’t think the doorbell won’t get used. Any Realtor who walks up to your front door with their clients is going to push the doorbell, because they need to make sure you’re not in the house when they enter. I never want to walk-in on a homeowner by accident! The same goes for cracked or broken doorbell buttons. There are plenty of options these days to fix that issue that don’t even require electrical intervention. Bring your doorbell and your home into the modern age and welcome future buyers in the best way possible.
Now, this will help you put your best foot forward. If you have additional ideas for making a home as welcoming as possible, I’d love to hear them. Just add them in the comments below or feel free to drop a line on my Facebook Wall. And don’t forget. If you’re buying or selling in Los Alamos, give me a ring!
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