No, that isn't River's Edge IV you've seen getting bladed by huge graders as you drive on NM 528.

In fact, it isn't even a part of Rio Rancho, which is a blessing of sorts for Rio Rancho Public Schools, already expecting an increase of some 1,000 students when the 2005-06 school year starts.

The new 168-acre Santiago Community formally broke ground Friday morning. Project manager Steve Hernandez said he expects the first model homes to be completed this summer, and the eventual 780-home buildout to be complete in about three years.

There's more, starting with the gorgeous views of the bosque and Sandias, with homes being built to afford their owners views of the landscape to the east, rather than the traffic and new courthouse to the west.

Jim Rogers, project manager of Intrepid Development, said a 90-acre site just north of the new community, located within the town limits of Bernalillo, could someday have an indoor mall, an open-air mall, and maybe an anchor store or two - "Wal-Mart is one of the possibilities," Rogers said, as are Target and Kohl's. All that is committed to being located on the commercial plot is a substation for the Bernalillo Police Department, which will be close to the Sandoval County Detention Center.

Santiago Community will have three villages within its boundaries. Rogers said he envisions a walking bridge over the Rio Grande, leading into Bernalillo - which once was home to thousands of dairy cows at Price's Dairy. Price's was in operation from 1930-98, closing when owner Dudley Price realized the rapidly approaching residential development wasn't compatible with a dairy operation. Price has worked closely with Rogers on Santiago Community.

"We haven't spared any expense on the landscaping," Hernandez said. "This will be more of a landmark, with plenty of bosque access via trails."

There will be three subdivisions within Santiago Community, with four acres of open space: Two small fenced-off sections on opposite ends of the southern boundary are the sites of Santiago Pueblo, inhabited sometimes in the 1300s to the 1600s.

'Alegria' will be a 375-home (all single story) 'active adult' gated community on the eastern portion of the development with a clubhouse, pool and fitness center. "Alegria will be the area's first true active adult community for people 55 and over; Bernalillo is such a quaint, historic town with great location between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, (with) fabulous views and a relaxed lifestyle that we know people will find the development attractive," said Ashley Cook, vice president of marketing for Centex Homes, which is building Alegria.

Stillbrooke Homes is planning to build 154 single-family homes in Southwester, Spanish and 'Cottage' styles from 1,500 to 3,000 square feet. These homes, on the southwestern area and along NM 528 of Santiago Community, will have 'carriageway access,' meaning from an alleyway of sorts at the homes' rears. The front of the homes will be a long fenceless greenbelt.

Builders Investment Co. will develop about 250 homes on the remaining third of the development, with Wallen Builders, Tiffany Homes and other area builders constructing starter to mid-level homes on 45-, 50- and 60-foot lots.

Rogers said a new traffic signal, paid for by Bernalillo and maintained by Rio Rancho, will be erected at the intersection of Santiago Boulevard and NM 528.

"Bernalillo has been terrific to deal with," Rogers said. "We want it to be upscale, comparable to the Oxbow (subdivision north of I-40 and east of St. Pius X High School)."