On November 4, Pangea Design Build revealed that its off‑grid Pangea Community is now selling homesites on the 322‑acre former Tarleton Ranch along NM 150, directly across from Taos Pueblo. The development, led by sustainable‑home builder Jonah Reynolds, will eventually contain 108 parcels ranging from one to two acres, a density roughly one‑third that of the earlier, rejected Tarleton Ranch Eco‑Village proposal.
Housing options and affordability
Buyers can choose from Earthship, Craftsman or traditional Taos adobe designs, with units ranging from studio‑size to larger family homes. All dwellings will be equipped with solar electricity and systems to capture rain and snow melt, while community wells will serve as a backup water source.
In addition to market‑rate homes, the plan includes deed‑restricted workforce housing and affordable senior rentals. Reynolds emphasized the need for mixed‑income neighborhoods, saying, “You can’t just do a mono‑community with only affordables.”
Workforce‑housing initiative
Pangea has submitted a state‑funding request for a workforce‑housing cluster of about 18 units. Reynolds expects a decision by early December. The proposal maintains the $500‑per‑month rental rate outlined in 2025, targeting roughly 100 small units for the most vulnerable residents.
About 100 acres of the site will be set aside as a commons featuring greenhouses. Residents will be able to offset up to half of their community‑association dues through participation in the food program. Pangea also plans to donate roughly 20 % of the food it produces, primarily to Taos Pueblo, and to contribute between 1 % and 1.5 % of net revenue to a county affordable‑housing fund.
Construction progress
Reynolds reported that Pangea currently employs about 30 workers and is actively hiring construction crews, heavy‑equipment operators and apprentices. The company is raising its first two buildings and has begun interior work on the seven Chamisa Verde homes it is building for the Town of Taos.
All seven Chamisa Verde homes, located behind the Taos Youth and Family Center, now have their structural walls in place—two with 3‑D‑printed panels and five built with insulated concrete forms. Vigas have been installed on nearly every home, roof decking is underway, and electrical, plumbing and interior framing are progressing. Reynolds expects the phase to be completed by the end of March.
Earlier coverage noted delays caused by “administrative and logistic issues,” which Reynolds described as largely outside the developer’s control. Town project manager Brian Cribbin acknowledged the challenges but praised the collaborative effort, stating that Pangea and town staff remain united as part of the Chamisa Verde Phase 1 team.
Other local affordable‑housing projects
Nearby, ECOHAB’s first affordable home in the Lower Las Colonias neighborhood of El Prado is nearing completion. Founder Phil Basehart said the two‑bedroom, passive‑solar, on‑grid home is priced at $355,750 for families earning up to 150 % of the area median income. The project is funded by a $350,000 revolving state construction loan and a $100,000 utility‑and‑well hookup subsidy from Housing New Mexico, with the Taos Housing Partnership screening prospective buyers.
State‑backed zero‑interest loans of up to $75,000 are available for new starter homes in Taos County, though they apply only to lots no larger than 5,000 sq ft—significantly smaller than ECOHAB’s 1.25‑acre parcels. THP executive director Lisa O’Brien called the lot‑size restriction “one of the new barriers we are facing in Taos” and indicated it will be a topic of discussion in the upcoming legislative session.
THP also celebrated a fundraising milestone: guest‑gift contributions of $2 per room per night at The Blake, matched by Taos Ski Valley Inc., have exceeded $100,000 over three years, supporting local housing initiatives. The resort will now redirect the program toward transportation for local youth.
Looking ahead
Reynolds remains optimistic about demand, noting that Pangea is “being slammed with requests to build.” With construction crews expanding and multiple housing models in development, the Pangea Community aims to provide sustainable, mixed‑income living options while supporting the broader Taos region’s workforce and senior residents.
Original reporting: Taos News — read the source article.
