The TiraTera sustainable development project is entering its next phase, moving from broad planning concepts toward tangible housing models designed specifically for the needs of the Questa community.

Led by environmental entrepreneur Omar Fayed and CTO Baptiste Cunin of ESTEE (Earth Space Technical Ecosystem Enterprises), the initiative aims to help address the region’s housing shortage by combining a year-round indoor agricultural facility with an affordable workforce housing community on land adjacent to the Questa industrial park.

After initially exploring other locations in New Mexico, the project team determined that the Questa area offered a particularly strong opportunity to address the growing need for workforce housing while supporting the region’s long-term economic development.

Rather than following a traditional real estate model focused primarily on maximizing returns, the developers say their goal is to create housing that reflects the needs and purchasing power of local residents.

Following discussions with the Village of Questa, the Taos Housing Partnership, and members of the local community, one message emerged consistently: there is significant demand for affordable three-bedroom, two-bathroom homes for local families.

Instead of immediately launching full-scale construction, TiraTera plans to begin by building four demonstration housing models that residents will be able to visit, experience firsthand, and provide feedback on before the neighborhood is fully developed.

The initial models are expected to include:

• A detached three-bedroom, two-bathroom home.
• A duplex containing two two-bedroom, one-bathroom homes.
• A mixed duplex consisting of one two-bedroom unit and one one-bedroom unit.
• A condominium-style building containing three separate one-bedroom, one-bathroom homes.

Project organizers believe that allowing residents to walk through completed homes provides a much better understanding of the future neighborhood than relying solely on architectural drawings or conceptual renderings. Community feedback gathered during this phase is expected to help refine later stages of the development.

The homes are being designed by New Mexico architect Mark Goldman and will utilize modern construction techniques, including autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), a highly insulated, fire-resistant building material. The design also incorporates high-performance building systems intended to improve energy efficiency, reduce maintenance requirements, and lower long-term operating costs for homeowners.

Meanwhile, environmental due diligence is continuing on the former Chevron property. The development team is completing the environmental studies and technical investigations necessary to confirm that the site is suitable for residential use before construction begins.

As additional project milestones are reached, TiraTera expects to continue engaging with the community through public information meetings, giving residents opportunities to ask questions, provide feedback, and stay informed as planning progresses.

Another important objective of the project is preserving long-term affordability for local residents. The development team is currently evaluating ownership and resale mechanisms intended to discourage speculative purchases while giving priority to people who live and work in the area, including teachers, healthcare workers, first responders, firefighters, and other essential members of the community.

By taking a phased approach—building demonstration homes first, gathering community input, completing environmental and engineering work, and refining the final neighborhood design—the developers hope to create a community that reflects both local needs and long-term sustainability.

For residents interested in following the project’s progress or learning about future public meetings, updates will be posted at TiraTera.com.