Mayor Keller says West Mesa Ridge groundbreaking will add long-term affordable homes, childcare and teacher housing potential

Mayor Keller said at the West Mesa Ridge groundbreaking in Albuquerque that the development will create long-term homes, include early childhood services and help address the city’s housing shortage.

“Right, is we're literally creating a home for someone,” Mayor Keller said, adding that affordable projects typically serve families who cannot otherwise afford to buy and that the units are intended as stable homes rather than short-term rentals. “There's also early childhood here, so they're gonna be able to start a family here and have childcare,” the mayor said.

Keller framed the project as part of a broader effort to increase housing stock in Albuquerque. “We desperately need all types of housing in Albuquerque right now. We're 20,000 short. Now we're probably only about 12,000 short,” the mayor said, characterizing West Mesa Ridge as one of several developments that will “take a chunk out of it.”

The mayor also credited county partners for their role in the project and described the site near West Mesa High School as a longtime vacant lot being converted to housing. “This is also changing an eyesore parking lot that's been vacant for 50 years,” Keller said, adding that housing for teachers would be a beneficial use.

Shamar Valdez, reporting on-site at the groundbreaking, closed the segment by noting that a ribbon cutting is expected this fall.

The announcement did not include project size (units), financing details or a specific construction timeline beyond a ribbon-cutting window; those details were not specified in the on-site remarks.