|
Founded by Andrew Homer
"Alternative Housing Institute" updated 11 Jan 00.
Webmeister - StarHeart Web Page Design
Copyright 1998-9 by Andrew Homer
Next meeting
February 10th - Thursday -
5 PM
BEA's Restaurant, 8603 Zuni Rd SE
Albuquerque
at Wisconsin St, one block south of Central Avenue and one block west of Wyoming Blvd.
NOT the original Bea's on Central (which closes at 3 PM), but the new Bea's where the Sizzler use to be.
Any Progressives Out There?
If I don't mind saying so myself, my idea for the Alternative Housing Institute is one of the most
ambitious, society changing, progressive prospects since the advent of the Roosevelt's Civil Conservation Corps
and the Social Security System.
But aside from a rep from the plumbers union and one sweet idealist from the New Mexico Solar Association,
I can't find any progressives in Albuquerque who are even willing to attend an introductory powwow. (I have the email addresses of the 240 lefty so-called Democrats and so-called Greens in Albuquerque,
but in this conservative state, I guess they aren't that visionary.)
If there are any REAL progressives in cyberville who love this proposal and want to pump
an essential ingredient needed to keep the AHI afloat, please send your checks to:
Alternative Housing Institute
c/o Andrew Homer
PO Box 8244
Albuquerque, NM 87198-8244
USA
505-266-5119
Thunderbird Plaza
The Alternative Housing Institute will conduct research and job training in
alternative construction plus the planning and design of cooperative housing.
There will be two colleges of the Alternative Housing Institute.
Sep 24-26 - Paradox II
College of Alternative Construction
The College of Alternative Construction will research and job train as regarding unconventional
modes of low-cost, high insulation building construction. This college will also specialize in passive heating
and alternative energy sources converted for domestic use.
Courses will be about:
* Recycled construction
* Low cost, high insulation walls
* Straw bale adobe walls
* Prefab wall sections
* Insulating concrete forms
* Tire walls w/ rammed earth
* RASTA block
* Advanced framing techniques
* Structural insulated panels
* Thermal mass design
* TechShield radiant barrier structural panels
* Gunite domes
* Passive solar heating (south facing daylight window shelves & clerestories)
* Solar power
* Wind power
* Master water manifolds
* Solar hot water heating
* Water tower passive cooling
* Hydrology design (graywater system & rainwater harvesting)
* High-performance low-E heat mirror windows
* Solar water distillers
* Skylight daylighting
* Non-voc paints
* Rust prevention of steel I-beams
* Wind brakes
* Xeriscaping
* Storm shelters
College of Cooperative Housing
Cooperative housing fills the valid and useful niche between single homes and duplexes on one end
and apartments and quadplexes at the other end.
The College of Cooperative Housing will research and job train as regarding planning, design, management of cooperative
housing. Also, negotiation skills, family dynamics, and first aid.
Trumesa Construction Cooperative
Besides research and job training, as a resource for Alternative Construction
and Cooperative Housing, our Trumesa Construction Cooperative could provide consultants for projects for anywhere
in New Mexico.
Subsequently, additional income could be provided by tuition paid by students
from outside of New Mexico or even from outside of the United States. Eventually, we could provide consultants
for cooperative housing projects intended for anywhere, should they be in Pennsylvania, Algeria or Siberia.
While we can initially focus on cooperative housing, we'll have to defer on
experimental construction techniques in Albuquerque until the antique building codes are changed.
|
Addenda
Near Heights Metropolitan Redevelopment Area
|
|
The Near Heights Metropolitan Redevelopment Area comprises about 11 precincts
in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 100% of the Trumbull Village is within this MRA. About 60% of the area or about 40%
of the population of the La Mesa Community Improvement Association is within this MRA.
There's the intention of spending $350 million over the next 10 years in the
Near Heights Metropolitan Redevelopment Area.
AHI - Trumesa Projects
The Trumesa Construction Cooperative will develop infill to revitalize the
Near Heights Metropolitan Redevelopment Area. Our proposed Trumesa Cooperative Housing Projects (named after the
Trumbell and La Mesa districts of Albuquerque) will have townhouses, garden parks, swimming pools, play grounds,
arts-crafts rooms, greenhouses, meeting halls with kitchens.
AHI - Light Rail System Administrative Headquarters
A light rail system is on the drawing board that would go from Tijeras, which
is east of Albuquerque, to Black Ranch, which is west of Rio Rancho. $214 million of Federal funds is earmarked
for this light rail project. This light rail will be going through the Near Heights Metropolitan Redevelopment
Area.
The Alternative Housing Institute will bid to build the rail system's administrative
headquarters on Central Avenue (the historic Route 66), between Louisiana Blvd and Wyoming Blvd in the FUTURE when
this light railway becomes realistic.
The only two persons I know who likes the idea of a Tijeras to Black Ranch connection are former Albuquerque City
Councilor Ruth Adams and US Senator Pete Domenici who share property in Black Ranch. Everyone I know likes the
idea of a Santa Fe to Albuquerque route. But any light railway proposal is unrealistic for at least the next 15
years. One - currently, there isn't the population density to
make this economical. In-fill first. Two - the current population
of Albuquerque is taking more water out of the local aquifers, then what water is going back into the aquifers.
So, at this time,
the ONLY smart growth
is NO growth.
Two considerations for a future lightrail: Bus feeder lines intersecting the railway can expedite lightrail practicality.
To reduce injures and deaths, the lightrail could be put underground.
The AHI game plan is to resourcefully in-fill and have CURRENT Albuquerque tenants become future homeowners.
Nada mas. Nada menos.
Alternative Housing Institute
PO Box 8244
Albuquerque, NM 87198-8244
USA
 
Country's Best Log Homes
Country's Best Log Homes focuses exclusively on milled log homes. The magazine helps consumers
fulfill their dreams of living in log homes by providing all the information necessary to design, buy, build, maintain,
and decorate milled log residences. Informative feature articles, helpful columns, and beautiful photos fill each
issue.
 Smart Growth Working Group
Sustainable Sources
Sustainable Communities
Health House
Adobe Magazine
Arcosanti
Civano
Community and Environmental Defense Services
Alternative Building Materials
Solar Power System Components
Solar Design Associates
 
 
|
