New businesses, homes rise in RR
46-lot residential development to be joined by four new businesses at Unser Gateway
Four new business locations and a housing development are building up the Unser Gateway area in Rio Rancho.
Developer Jeanie Springer Knight of Springer 5 Investments said Fish Factory Swimming School, Advantage Assisted Living, La Esperanza Child Development Center and a CBRE medical office building are moving into the Wellspring Triangle, on the west side of Unser Boulevard at Wellspring Avenue.
Plus, Westway Homes has 46 lots for residential development across Unser from Presbyterian Rust Medical Center.
The area is “exploding” with new homes, Springer Knight said, and those rooftops lead to more services.
Fish Factory teaches water safety and beginning swimming to children ages 3 months to about 9 years, said owner Ashley Burns. She hopes to open the Petroglyph location, her second facility, in January.
Burns decided to open the new site because 30 percent to 40 percent of her students come from the West Side or Rio Rancho to the location on Eubank Boulevard in Albuquerque. “We saw a need for more classes to teach more kids,” Burns said.
Advantage Assisted Living will be a 30-bed facility that includes memory care.
Owner Laura Veal said she hopes to have a grand opening Aug. 1, possibly with a soft opening in July, depending on how construction goes. She expects to hire at least 15 to 20 employees.
La Esperanza Child Development Center Director Erika Rascon said she expects about 20 employees to care for 145 children 6 weeks to 6 years old at its second location off Unser. Owner Ruth Porta said the new building should be open in December, if not before.
The day-care center has a site at Unser and McMahon Boulevard in Albuquerque now. Rascon said the after-school program will stay there, while the new, 7,800-square-foot building will house the younger children.
Westway Homes, a new company, has plans to build 46 homes in the $270,000-$350,000 range, said owner Mike Fietz. Fietz said he hopes to take pre-sale contracts starting in mid- to late May and break ground on the model home in mid-June. He said he plans to construct a few spec homes, but most will be built to order, with buyers picking a floor plan and having it customized.
CBRE didn’t return phone calls seeking information about its Unser location.