Deer Tail Vista

The design for the Mesa Vista (formerly Deer Tail Vista) project has been conceived as a reflection of the traditional name for this section of land. For generations, local deer have traversed this section of hill between the fertile valley and the mountain highlands. The protection of the cedar brush camouflaged the deer as they made their daily trek, leaving only their tails visible as they danced up the hill.

The site plan has been conceived as a way of maintaining these natural paths. No development is planned in or near the arroyos. The houses have been located where minimal disturbance to the cedar trees is anticipated. The meandering road reflects the natural paths the deer have trod over centuries. It bends in and out

of tree croppings and closely follows the natural terrain. The houses are grouped together in an effort to disrupt a minimal amount of the site. The pattern of arrangement not only reduces utilities and road lengths, but it follows the long standing San Ildefonso traditon of building family homes in clusters and groups. Never before the insertion of HUD planned communities did san Ildefonso build homes in a rectilinear pattern. The pueblo leaders are insistent that a return to traditional site planning be a part of this project and all future projects. The Tribal Leaders have been a driving force in the design of this project.