It might be time for albuquerque to get familiar with Japanese culture. A delegation from Japan, including Toshihiro Nikai, the country's minister of economy,trade and industry, toured Albuquerque on Tues.Aug 15th. One member of the group, Hoshi Hitoshi, has his eyes on developing 500 acres in the Albuquerque metro area into an adult community aimed at Japanese retirees 55 and over. Active adult communities, catering to retirees interested in organized social events and recreational activities are emerging around the Albuquerque area as developers try to attract retirees migrating to warmer climates.

Hitoshi is planning an active adult community that would hold 1,000 families and be "focused on Japanese people. He hasn't chosen an Albuquerque location yet, but the delegation toured 3 sites on Tues: * Rancho Cielo, a development planned in Valencia County between Los Lunas and Belen. * A site in Santa Fe County north of Edgewood. *Mesa del Sol, the master-planned mixed use development south of the International Sunport.

New Mexico might seem a far locale for the Japanese, but the combination of low costs, a moderate climate, and a degree of safety have made the area appealing.

The city of Rio Rancho is a step closer to having a film studio. The city and state inked a deal with Lions Gate Entertainment for land they need for a # 15 million studio. The project is proposed for north of the planned City Centre.
The land deal opens up nearly 53 acres for Lions Gate. Officials are calling the planned studio "world class."

Albuquerque is getting ready for a 276 million dollar construction project that will stretch from the north valley to the southeast heights,to the west side and the northeast heights. The construction is part of Albuquerque's plan to cut depletion of the aquifer, the city's underground water supply.

A diversion dam south of the Alameda bridge will divert water out of the Rio Grande. The water will be pumped to reserviors throughout the city, and from there to homes and businesses. The project makes use of water from the San Juan-Chamaproject, which diverts water from southern Colorado into the Rio Grande basin.

Albuquerque serves about 485,000 people and pumps about 35 billion gallons of water a year. The project is expected to greatly reduce, but not eliminate ground water pumping.

The project will be funded through water rate hikes put in place over the last seven years. The rate hikes have raised the typical bill about 9 dollars a month. River water should be flowing through customers' taps by the end of 2007.