Los Diamantes in Rio Rancho, NM

Los Diamantes is a master-planned subdivision on the southern edge of Rio Rancho, in the city's Unit 10, west of Unser Boulevard and mostly south of Westside Boulevard. Price Land Development Group entitled the land and released it in phases; D.R. Horton, Pulte Homes and Hakes Brothers built the houses. The plan keeps four acres of parks inside the residential grid and reserves more than 30 acres at the edge for mixed-use and business-park development. Joe Harris Elementary sits across the street, and A Park Above is close by.

The subdivision exists because of a public-private financing deal. Rio Rancho approved a public improvement district and a tax increment development district over the tract, and that framework paid for the streets, utilities and drainage that made 174 acres of raw ground buildable.

Access came first. The developer extended Westside Boulevard west from NM 528 to reach the site, which opened the ground west of Unser to construction. Lots were released in three phases over about four years, and at the peak of that run Los Diamantes led the Albuquerque metro in housing starts.

The Los Diamantes Community Association governs the neighborhood and runs an online portal for residents.