The Las Cruces area offers a diverse level of “where to live” opportunities. Like most communities, the housing opportunities are driven by specific needs and Las Cruces has been growing over the past 15 years with new neighborhoods sprouting up around the city. Several elements directly influence the mix of housing opportunities. New Mexico State University boasts a student base approaching 20,000 students with approximately 8,000 students seeking independent off-campus housing. As might be expected, the community immediately adjacent to the campus has numerous apartments. Most off-campus students opt to live near campus to provide for walking or biking to class. White Sands Missile Range and neighboring Johnson Space Center, located at the base of the Organ Mountains, add another dynamic to the housing market on the east side. Both civilians and military personnel living off base look for homes along the Highway 70 corridor on the east side of Las Cruces. Within Las Cruces city limits and in immediately adjacent Doña Ana County neighborhoods, one can find a diverse mixture of quality “where to live” options. Las Cruces and Doña Ana County are broken into distinct communities.
Communities in West Las Cruces
West of the City of Las Cruces is Mesilla and Mesilla Park. Mesilla is a historic community comprised of neighborhoods near its historic plaza and the larger acreage homes nestled in the surrounding pecan groves. Moving further west after crossing over the Rio Grande, you will find the Rasaff Hills and Picacho Hills neighborhoods which sit on the West Mesa and offer stunning views of the Mesilla Valley and Organ Mountains by day and the city lights by night. Rasaff Hills is a little less formal in structure and has a rural feel. Picacho Peak is the predominant landmark for the Picacho Hills area. Picacho Hills has several neighborhoods surrounding Picacho Hills Country Club and its championship golf course. Barcelona Ridge, Butterfield Ridge, and Coronado Ridge are established custom home communities with single-family residences, comfortable lot sizes, and patio homes. The newest community, Picacho Mountain, retains the natural beauty of the gentle hills and is a mixture of single-family and patio homes. Picacho Mountain has been designated a “green build” community. The West Mesa areas are served by Doña Ana County safety departments. The developments are part of the Las Cruces Public School District with elementary and middle schools and Mayfield High School near by. Shopping is about ten to fifteen minutes east of the West Mesa communities. The west side is near all necessities but is distanced from city center, providing a bit of a rural atmosphere.
Communities in East Las Cruces
East of the City of Las Cruces is the rolling high mesa running up to and along the Organ Mountains. This is the area directly east of Telshor Blvd. and is home to Sonoma Ranch, High Range, The Pueblos, Soledad Canyon, Organ Mesa Ranch, University Park, Las Alturas, and La Tierra Escondido communities. This area is home to two championship golf courses: University Golf Course and Sonoma Ranch Golf Course. It has a mixture of single-family homes, patio homes, condominiums and apartments. The east side has a mix of smaller and larger lot sizes for custom homes. Spectacular views of he Organ Mountains are common on this side of town. It is served by Las Cruces Public School District with elementary and middle schools. Depending on the location of neighborhood, the east side is served by Las Cruces and Oñate High Schools. A fourth Las Cruces Public School District high school, Centennial High School, opened in 2012. The east side is also home to the medical community with MountainView Regional Medical Center, Memorial Medical Center, and clusters of clinics and both regular and specialty physician’s offices positioned along Telshor Blvd. and East Lohman Ave. Shopping is close to all east side neighborhoods. The east side is served by the City of Las Cruces Public Safety Departments.
Communities in North & Northeast Las Cruces
North and northeast of the City of Las Cruces is the high mesa running up to and along the Doña Ana Mountains and the upper end of the Organ Mountains. The area northeast of the city center is defined by Highway 70, which runs east over the Organ Mountains to White Sands Missile Range, Alamogordo, and Ruidoso. Neighborhoods along the north and south sides of Highway 70 are a mixture of custom homes and manufactured housing, with many new developments in the Metro Verde area surrounding Red Hawk Golf Course. There is a mixture of defined neighborhoods and rural setting areas. Spectacular views of the Organ and Doña Ana Mountains are a key to this high desert mesa living. The area is just ten to fifteen minutes away from shopping and healthcare facilities. Northeast Las Cruces is served by the Las Cruces Public School District with elementary and middle schools and Oñate High School. Doña Ana Community College also has a campus in the area. Directly north of Las Cruces, a mixture of both residential neighborhoods and sweeping farmlands runs through Doña Ana County along the Rio Grande River up to the community of Hatch.
Communities in South Las Cruces
On the south side of the City of Las Cruces is the campus of New Mexico State University, running east and west along University Avenue. There are several residential communities neighboring the campus. Further south, smaller rural communities dot the area under county jurisdiction. This area is mostly sweeping pecan groves and mixed farming. Most homes and communities are well established and run north to south along the Rio Grande River.
Read more about Las Cruces Neighborhoods:
Walking Tour | Mesquite Historic District
Walking Tour | Alameda Historic District
Affordable Housing in Las Cruces
The Las Cruces area offers a wide variety of affordable housing neighborhoods.
The City of Las Cruces recognizes the need for affordable housing and has an Affordable Housing Office to make sure the mix of housing in the city provides an opportunity for first-time home buyers and those who are retiring and downsizing. Several major home building companies specialize in providing homes in this price range, which are typically below $ 200,000. Affordable housing has to meet the same stringent building codes as higher-priced custom homes. The cost is kept in check by containing the lot size and the square footage of the home. Many of the communities that specialize in affordable homes have built into their master plan open park spaces and walking trails.
Housing Authority of the City of Las Cruces
926 S San Pedro St.
Las Cruces, NM 88001
Phone: 575-528-2005 x301
Fax: 575-526-8452
Services Offered:
Rental Housing / Section 8
www.nm-nahro.org
Posted by LasCruces.com
