Paa-Ko communities in Sandia Park have been sold to a group of Albuquerque investors.
On July 2, Roger Cox & Associates sold the 2,600-acre master planned community to Steve Chavez and Randy Guzman. Chavez owns the Mesa del Sol community near the Albuquerque Sunport as well as a community located near the Rio Rancho Golf Course Country Club. Guzman owns Guzman Construction Solutions.
The pair purchased all of the acreage, including the community center and surrounding vacant land. The golf course remains separately owned by a Manhattan firm called Alvarez & Marsal.
Chavez said at this time there are no plans to acquire the golf course.
When asked why he and Guzman decided to purchase Paa-Ko, Chavez said, “This project is similar to my other properties at Mesa del Sol and Rio Rancho. They are places in the community that will allow us to do something special that out-of-state developers who come in won’t take the time to do. They come in, buy the property and don’t give anything back to residents of New Mexico.”
Chavez said they are looking at sustainability in building practices for the community and providing different opportunities without sacrificing the natural environment.
As far as future plans for the communities, Chavez said they have the existing master plan, which may be modified. He said there may be an event center and pickleball courts added as well.
“We want to get community input,” he said. “They might want a cell tower, who knows. I’m open to listening to the community and asking them what they need. We want to make it a community that people want to be a part of.”