Kendra Ruminer's Two Cents of Real Estate

Take A Peek At Los Alamos, New Mexico

Tag: Los Alamos Real Estate Market (Page 9 of 12)

Plumbers, Plutonium, & D-Site

August 3, 2021 /

There’s been a lot going on down DP Road lately. Not only has the new roundabout construction brought this out of the way area to our attention. But the addition of dozens upon dozens of promising new residential dwellings has also livened up the conversation. Whether you’re a long time resident of Los Alamos or a newcomer, it’s possible the name of that road causes a bit of head scratching. Sometimes, if you’ve always heard something, it becomes the norm and you stop thinking about the strangeness of a name. If you’re new to the area, you might have looked at the road signs, scratched your head, and attributed it to the general oddness that is attached to Los Alamos in general.

When it comes to DP Road, that’s pretty much right on the money. Just for fun, let’s look at some of the possible origins of the letters D-P as researched by Craig Martin for his book, Los Alamos Place Names.

DP Site

It is a fact that in 1945 the production of plutonium took place in the Chemistry building which was referred to as D-Building. At the time it was located near Ashley Pond and pretty much right in the middle of everything else too.

Three things happened fairly close together to spur on a location change. First, the full health concerns in the handling of plutonium began to be recognized. Secondly, the amount of plutonium being handled at D-Building increased rather drastically. Thirdly, there was a fairly large fire in C-Shop not far from D-Building.

In order to prevent a large scale plutonium disaster that would not only be a health and safety hazard, but could also shut down activities at the Technical Area, TA-1, management determined it was time to move operations at D-Building to a new location at D-Site. Somewhere a little more remote and therefore safer.

With the barracks and Technical Areas clumped together, the potential for disaster seemed high.

Damn Plumbers

This particular name suggestion came from the number of contractors working at the site who belonged to the plumbing profession. Realistically however, plumbers certainly didn’t make up the entire workforce at the new site.

Displaced Persons

There’s a good chance that anyone who has been in Los Alamos for a period of time, whether by choice or by necessity, has felt somewhat displaced. Part of this phenomenon can be attributed to the fact that the Secret City on the Hill was always intended to be somewhat remote. Most of the workforce in the early days were brought in from somewhere else. They were displaced. Not only that, but the personnel sent away to the new D-Site from the main Technical Area near Ashley Pond were being displaced quite a large distance from the original D-Building. The new Chemistry building on DP Road was supposed to be far away from everything else. Sure, it was a practical decision, but many of those people certainly felt like “displaced persons”.

D-Plutonium

A good number of the original workforce at the new Chemistry building assumed DP stood for D-Plutonium because of the nature of the work they were doing there and the materials used. Although another construction worker at the time the facility was built thought that P stood for Polonium, which is an element in the uranium-radium series of radioactive decay. How many elements on the periodic table start with P? We will never know which one it was really meant to be!

D-Plant

This likely candidate was suggested because in the original building documents at the time refer to the “Plant” Committee overseeing the building of the “plant”. If you believe this bit of rational history, DP stands for D-Plant where plutonium was manufactured. It’s a rather unromantic origin story, but sometimes those are the most accurate.

D-Prime

This one is probably the most widely accepted meaning behind the DP in DP Road. There is a practicality to this given the scientific jargon and the fact that D-Prime eventually replaced D-Site. There was also another building called P-Prime nearby. Eventually, this was shortened to D-P and then years later the road going down to the facility was referred to as DP Road.

D-Production

Something that isn’t always made clear is that D-Site (on DP Road) was a new Chemistry building to replace D Building (back over by Ashley Pond). However, D-Building was still a thing. Calling D-Site by that name emphasized the relationship between operations at D-Site that used to take place in D-Building. This relationship created some pretty hefty confusion in the mail service here in Los Alamos. A lot of the mail addressed to D-Site would be delivered to D-Building by mistake.

A man named R. H. Dunlap was in head of administrative and personnel issues, which included the mail service. Urban Legend and some historical documents suggest that he solved this confusion of mail delivery by calling the new building DP, short for D-Production. The idea was that all of the production activities formerly taking place at D-Building had been transferred to D-Site and therefore mail pertaining to production needed to be sent to the new facility.

Who Knows?

The truth is that we don’t have any actual written records. There are historical documents and anecdotal information provided by those who were part of the community “back in the day”. But we will really never know. Whether you want to think DP Road is Displaced Persons, D-Prime, or was named for D.P. Macmillan (a LASL scientist at the time), that is YOUR decision to make. In the meantime, DP Road is just one more strand of the charming and unique fabric of Los Alamos History.

If you’re ready to weave yourself into the fabric of our community here in Los Alamos, give me a call. I would love to get to know you and your family and introduce you to life in Los Alamos!

Trampolines, Playhouses, & Forts…

July 12, 2021 /

In my last blog post we talked a little bit about what makes a backyard epic. Whether it be a patio, a conversation space, a deck, or a backyard that manages to be everything at once, the needs of your family determine the definition of epic. But if you decide that it’s time to make a play area for the kids, here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re improving your backyard here in Los Alamos.

The Trampoline

There’s no doubt that kids can get some serious fun out of a trampoline. As a parent myself, I’m certain I don’t have to remind all of you to get a safety net for your bouncing toy. Another thing to keep in mind here in Los Alamos, is the placement of your trampoline. Thanks to space issues, many trampolines in our area are tucked into tiny corners of the resident’s yard. Please make certain the tension on your safety net enclosure keeps your kiddos from accidentally coming into contact with any surrounding fencing. A stucco or concrete wall can create an incredible road rash risk if a trampoline user gets too close mid-flight.

Another important consideration is storage and maintenance. If you’ve been outside in the last few days, you’ve felt the extreme UV rays. These rays are devastating to your trampoline. Between the UV and the dry climate, the dry rot rate of the average trampoline is fairly accelerated here in Los Alamos. So, when you’re not using that trampoline, you might want to fold it up, store it in the garage or shed, or cover it somehow. And if you don’t? Please make sure you inspect it regularly to avoid any major incidents that could end badly for your kiddos.

The PlayHouse

Whether you want to purchase a playhouse from a manufacturer or build one from a kit or your own imagination, those pesky UV rays are going to affect this project as much as they would that trampoline. Whether you’re ordering your kit or cutting the wood parts yourself, consider using a protective exterior paint to put a layer of stoppage on those sun rays. Metzger’s has several options in dozens of colors guaranteed to either match your home or your child’s wildest desires.

Playhouses don’t have to be dead center in the yard by the way. If you’re building your own playhouse, try planning it in a way to utilize an otherwise non useable part of your yard. Tucked up against the side of the house? Tucked into the trees or bushes in an awkward corner of the yard? Goodness knows that the properties in and around Los Alamos boast more than a few awkward spaces. Perhaps in a spot like that, you can utilize some shade. Or, you could even create some shade for both the playhouse and the wilting kiddos by adding a small awning or suspending a sunshade between trees or even the house and the fence. Get creative and you’ll be surprised by what you can accomplish!

The TreeHouse

You’re not likely to find a lot of treehouse worthy trees in and around Los Alamos. Either you’ve got an eighty plus foot Ponderosa in your yard, or you’ve been graced with a tangle of juniper and scrub oak that couldn’t support a treehouse for your ant population.

However, don’t be discouraged. It’s quite possible to give the impression of a tree house by building your playhouse up on stilts. Not only does this make for a super fun playhouse option, it also gives you an opportunity to put a sandbox in the shade beneath the “treehouse”. You might even put a trapdoor in the floor of that treehouse to allow someone to drop right into the sandbox. It could also allow you to really utilize some of that awkward yard space by eliminating the need for a square foundation on the ground. You can build your treehouse above rocks, that pesky scrub oak, or even on a hill or other uneven terrain of the sort we find all over the county.

The Fort

The truth about a fort is that is can be made of anything, anywhere, anyhow, and in any dimension. That means if you have a series of strangely shaped juniper trees on your property, you can build a fort.

Oh yes, that’s right! With a set of hedge clippers and some scrap lumber, you could possibly enclose a little space that would be perfect for your little adventurer to use as home base for his excursions. You could even put a little “garage” against the side of the fort designed for a bicycle or a scooter.

There is no doubt that a trampoline, a playhouse, or a fort could be excellent fun for your children! It can also be a fantastic way to exercise the creativity that kids seem to have in spades. Or, you might be able to use any or all of these incentives to keep your kids outside instead of parked behind a screen enjoying their video games or watching shows on the tablet. I hope that you take these suggestions and put your own personal touch on them. I’d love to see what you come up with. Post your photos on Facebook and tag me at Kendra Ruminer Real Estate Los Alamos!

If you’re already a part of our unique community on the hill, I’m so glad! If you’re ready to move into or out of Los Alamos, give me a call. I’d love to talk about finding the perfect home here in Los Alamos!

Your Epic Backyard in Los Alamos

July 3, 2021 /

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.

When to Refinance Your Home in Los Alamos

June 9, 2021 /

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!

Bear In Mind…

May 31, 2021 /

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!

No-No-Bambi!

May 18, 2021 /

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!

What’s the Deal with Group Housing?

May 12, 2021 /

There are a lot of imaginative things about Los Alamos. The names applied to housing developments in the 1950’s didn’t reflect this at all. If you’ve ever heard your neighbors or friends talking about their Group 11 or their Group 12 or anything all the way to Group 18, you might have scratched your head and thought that they were talking about housing somehow related to a research or other employment group at the Laboratory. As if perhaps the homes in Group 11 were originally designated as the living quarters for some mysterious Grp 11 at LASL back in the day.

Surprise! That’s not the case at all! Groups of homes designated by numbers 11-18b are actually named that way because they were planned and constructed in groups. And just so we’re clear, it doesn’t matter that half of some are located in one part of the community and the other half or third or two thirds are located in another. The point was that they were planned and the building was executed at a certain time in our Los Alamos Housing History.

As for the numbering system. There is no concrete answer to that. However, at the time the Group 11 buildings were proposed in 1948, there had been ten previous housing styles available over the years. With military precision, the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and the recently formed Housing Policy Board (HPD) determined that Group 11 was a functional name for the next phase of homes. 351 buildings were constructed, which increased the housing availability in Los Alamos by 584 units. Let’s just say that the residents of Los Alamos in the 1950’s were no less excited by the addition of nearly six hundred new dwellings than the current Los Alamos County residents are about every single housing development coming along in the modern era. Housing has always been an issue in Los Alamos!

Floorplan courtesy of Craig Martin

For the first time in Los Alamos Housing history, families with only one child could apply for and even be granted a home with three bedrooms. Sometimes its hard to imagine what it was like for people living here in the early fifties, but having an extra bedroom for an office or just to house guests was a luxury most families wouldn’t have dreamed of expecting in their home.

The most unusual feature became one of the most attractive though. In the two-bedroom duplex model, the main living area sat below the grade level of the rest of the dwelling in order to create a “sunken living room”. These homes looked a lot like their other Group 11 brethren, but this feature set them totally apart. These homes can still be found in and around some of the oldest sections of North Community in and around Urban Park on 41st, 45th, 46th, and 47th Streets as well as on Sycamore Street and west of Aspen School on 35th & 36th Streets. The key to spotting a “sunken living room” home is the recessed front door nearly hidden in the front wall of the home.

Floorplan courtesy of Craig Martin – Unit on the Right includes “Sunken Living Room” feature.

The oak flooring was super popular in the Group 11 homes. Less amazing features included metal cabinetry that tended to keep the contents a bit on the soggy and cold side. The porcelain sinks in the kitchen were less than easy to maintain and the exterior shingles were a mix of wood and asbestos. All in all though, most of the locals thought these homes were a giant upgrade from what they’d been living in before.

Floorplan courtesy of Craig Martin

The Cerro Grande fire took 30 of the original Group 11 buildings. These were not nearly as hard hit as some of the others such as the Group 12 units, of which we lost 72 buildings. Still, it is important to realize that as much as we might scratch our heads and feel as though these aren’t the most attractive option for a home here in Los Alamos, the Group homes are serving just as vital a part in our community life now as they did when they were built over fifty years ago.

If you’re even a little bit interested in the history of Los Alamos Housing, you can find Craig Martin’s wonderful book, Quads, Shoeboxes and Sunken Living Rooms on sale at the Los Alamos History Museum’s website. The book actually contains a field guide to Los Alamos Housing that can be just as useful for identifying the various group homes as an Audubon Society book can be at identifying birds. After all, the process is pretty much the same!

And if you’re ready to get out and identify YOUR next home in Los Alamos, give me a call! I love to talk Los Alamos Housing and Real Estate!

A Little Bit Country

May 1, 2021 /

Los Alamos County is so very unique in the available housing options, but never is this more obvious than when you make a left turn off State Road 4 onto Piedra Loop in the White Rock Subdivision of Pajarito Acres. 3-5 acre lots populate the hilly terrain. Homes come in all shapes and sizes and small barns and enclosures house everything from horses to goats and anything in between. The trailhead of the Red Dot trail sits on the canyon side of the winding black top road. It is as it was meant to be: country living in Los Alamos.

Photo Courtesy of Fusion Aerial

It all began in 1962 when a group of Los Alamos residents began chatting about the possibility of owning larger lots on the Southern side of White Rock. Unfortunately, the Atomic Energy Commission had a contract with building E.I. Noxon that prevented other parties from developing White Rock for a period of three years. This meant that the country loving residents had to wait until that expired in 1963 before petitioning the AEC to release land for a “acreage-type development”.

As with all housing developments in White Rock, there were difficulties in building because of the basalt that lies beneath this entire area of the county. In fact, the original Pajarito Acreage Development Association had a bit of a kerfluffle with the FHA regarding septic tanks. Thanks to the basalt, the FHA refused to insure mortgages on homes in Pajarito Acres. The future residents tightened their belts, accepted the additional cost of $2000 for a sewage system, and built a sewage lagoon not far from where the Red Dot Trailhead currently sits. By March of 1965 there were two families living in the development and by summer there were 18 more. In the beginning, they didn’t even have a water system. It was finished by August of 1965 and residents have never looked back.

The current Pajarito Acres Homeowner’s Association is made up of residents from only Pajarito Acres. La Senda is another development entirely. In fact, it might interest you to know that the land where La Senda sits was once fated to become a an area of dense residential condos and even apartments. The second “acreage type development” hadn’t been selling quite as quickly as Jemez View Development had hoped. Only two five acres lots had been sold and the company applied to the planning and zoning committee to have the valuable tract of land between White Rock and Pajarito Acres rezoned.

In a complete reversal of a more than forty year trend, there wasn’t a dire need for housing in Los Alamos County. The residents pushed back, finally making their opinions into a ruling from the planning and zoning committee and preserving the mixed residential/agricultural use for the remaining 134 acres of La Senda.

These days there is no doubting the wonderful country style living available in Pajarito Acres and La Senda. The Pajarito Riding Club operates a small equestrian facility located at the corner of Piedra Drive and Piedra Loop. The club website is a great resource for trail maps for not only Pajarito Acres and La Senda, but also has links to LANL trail maps that you might find interesting.

Photo Courtesy of Brian George

Trails in both subdivisions are open to whomever would like to walk, ride, run, or hike them. If you prefer pavement, the streets are wide and smooth blacktop with plenty of hills and curves to make it an enjoyable trek. You can reach Piedra Loop about a quarter of the way around by heading down Sherwood Blvd until it dead ends in Pajarito Acres and don’t forget that you can find the Red Dot Trailhead about halfway around Piedra Loop. The trail offers some really spectacular views of the Rio Grande Valley.

And if you’re interested in taking a look at a home in Pajarito Acres, give me a call! I might just have something you’d like. After all, when it comes to living in Los Alamos County, I’m your local real estate expert!

Manners on the Trail

April 23, 2021 /

It occurred to me last weekend, as I was nearly run off the trail by a cyclist, that it’s always good to review a few bits and pieces about trail etiquette. Here in Los Alamos we have miles and miles of trails to enjoy. If you’re wondering just how many miles, you can check out this link to the country trail map HERE. Our trails have been around for a long time. Not only that, but they are used by everyone from hikers and cyclists to coyotes and deer. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you walk out your front door and head for your favorite trailhead.

Stay Alert!

I think there are plenty of us who enjoy running, hiking, or biking with music playing in our ears. Nowadays you’re not having to lug around a CD player or a Walkman the size of a cereal box (am I dating myself here?). Earbuds don’t even require wires anymore! But insulating yourself in a musical cocoon while you run through one of our canyons or down the Canyon Rim Trail can have some really serious consequences.

What if you miss the sound of a rattlesnake warning you to get out of his space? Rattlesnake, coyote, bobcat, even bears. We have tons of wildlife here in Los Alamos County and they aren’t necessarily shy about sharing our trails. What if you can’t hear a cyclist or an equestrian coming up behind you? I even recall a memorable incident when I witnessed a cyclist run headlong into a tree in Bayo Canyon and he couldn’t hear me shouting to him to see if he was all right because his music was so loud. He happened to be just fine, but I nearly scared the pants off him trying to find out whether or not he was in need of an ambulance or something. Situational awareness is critical when you’re out on the trail. If someone says “on your left!” you aren’t helping matters by not being able to hear anything but your playlist.

The Rules of Yielding

There are no real ironclad rules to this one. There are certain accepted truths. You should always yield to uphill traffic because it’s more difficult to get moving going uphill. However, if someone is hauling booty down a hill on a mountain bike it might be really difficult to just hit the brakes and pull over. On a flat trail please take the time to specify when you’re passing. A simple “on your left” or “on your right” can be a real help. And generally, you pass on the LEFT on a trail just as you would in a car.

Keep in mind the sort of trail you’re traveling. If you’ve spent much time on Kwage Mesa (out past the horse stables) you might notice that a lot of the trail is like a trench. It isn’t exactly easy to pull off the trail on a bicycle. If you’re running or walking out there, you might take a moment to step out of the way instead of asking a cyclist to lug their bike up out of a ditch.

Historically speaking, anywhere on North Mesa, equestrians have the right of way. But there a good number of equestrians who will, if they are able, happily move their horses off the trail to avoid runners, hikers, and cyclists alike. Not just on North Mesa, but anywhere in the county. At the end of the day, yielding is about COMMUNICATION. Don’t be in a hurry! If you see another trail user, take a moment and be courteous. Generally speaking, it just takes a moment in time to see what the other person is doing, speak up, and then continue on with a smile and a wave.

Equestrians

It can be rather intimidating to come face to nose with an equestrian when you come around a blind corner on a trail. Horses are large and rather unpredictable animals. For the most part, the absolute WORST thing you can do is to hide. Mostly, because you CAN’T hide. Their field of vision is nearly three hundred and sixty degrees and they can smell humans like any other prey animal. If you’re not in sight or you’re a cyclist and you ride up behind them, they can’t process what you are fast enough to do anything but react in a primal flight fashion. Not all of those encounters end badly. Most trail horses are pretty used to everything from cyclists to wildlife. But if an equestrian asks you to please step out from behind a tree, to stand still, or to back off and give them space, it’s probably for a reason. They don’t have a desire to hit the dirt and in some cases they’re trying to suggest you stay out of harm’s way too.

My daughter’s horse was rushed by the middle school girls’ cross country team. The girls were just running. They had absolutely no idea that they were scaring him until I called it out. He was leaping in the air and acting as if he were ready to race them back up the road (which he was). Pay attention to what’s going on around you when you pass an animal. Does the behavior look normal or is it like a rodeo? If you happen to startle a horse and you get a reaction, just stop moving. Continuing on could make the issue worse. The equivalent of running from a bear only backwards where the animal is trying to flee from you! For the most part, equestrians are good trail users in spite of the road apples. After all, horse poop is literally compostable. It disintegrates in our climate in only a day or so as though it was never there.

A Few Words About Dogs

There are few things as cool as traveling the trail with your canine companion. Just keep in mind that while Chapter 6 of the Los Alamos County Code says you can have your dog off leash in designated areas, you MUST keep them in sight and have voice control at all times. And you can only have voice control of two dogs at a time. So if you have more, rotate them and don’t let them travel in an independent pack. Dogs are like kiddos, they love to dare each other to do wild and crazy things!

Keep in mind that it’s easy to think you’ve got control of your favorite canine. But if the trail turns and you happen to meet a horse, are you SURE you can convince Fido not to investigate? The time to test your dog’s obedience is not when he’s faced with a real world situation. Sure. He could scare the horse. But part of that particular fear situation could involve that horse striking at your dog. Nobody wants a situation like that to occur. And what if it wasn’t a horse? What if your dog met up with a pack of coyotes? They’re bold as brass in some of our local canyons and they wouldn’t be afraid of your domestic dog. Even if the coyotes ran away, could you keep your dog from trying to give chase? How about a bobcat? We’ve even had mountain lions in our area in the last few years. So really be sure of your dog before you offer him a chance to stretch his legs outside the dog park. It might be better to keep him on a leash and take a breather while you let him sniff the most amazing tree he’s ever seen.

Smile!

Don’t forget to smile at those you meet! We’re all a part of this wonderful community. Be friendly to those enjoying other activities than yours. Be glad that they are. The more trail users we have, the more resources our county will dedicate to trail maintenance and expansion. And when you’re ready to become a Los Alamos County resident and trail user, give me a call! I’d love to help you find a home here in Los Alamos.

Who Was Peggy Sue?

March 31, 2021 /

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!

« Older posts Newer posts »

© 2024 Kendra Ruminer's Two Cents of Real Estate

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑