Vision & History of Birds of a Feather Community

“More than a place to live, a way to live”...  a gay & lesbian community designed for people of like minds... those who care about healthy living and forming strong social connections when we need them most... as we are aging!

Birds of a Feather Community began more than seventeen years ago as a vision by its founder and developer, Bonnie McGowan, to create a special and magical community designed for gays and lesbians to have a place to live, play and belong. Her vision included a commitment to create an environment that promoted safety and security and allowed people the freedom to truly be themselves with others that shared or supported their lifestyle. Bonnie also had an equally strong commitment to preserve the land and natural resources of the community. She envisioned sustainably built homes that balanced energy consciousness with the organic harmony of the site!

After years of conducting focus groups and surveys and searching for the perfect location, Bonnie purchased 157 acres of beautiful pine forested property in Pecos, New Mexico in 1999 and thus began the long journey to make her dream a reality!

The subdivision approval process with state and county agencies began in 2000 and Bonnie finally received approval for the first eighteen lots in late 2003! She began infrastructure improvements and lot sales in 2004 and all eighteen lots in the community were quickly sold to people from all over the country! Home building began in 2005 with Bonnie's “EcoNest”, and the seven homes completed since then are now nestled in the midst of our gorgeous pine forests... one more EcoNest, three “casitas”, and three custom designed single family homes! There are currently plans for four more single-family homes to be built in the next few years. The lots were all purchased by gays and lesbians, however we all welcome anyone wishing to live harmoniously in our non-traditional, LGBT community.

Today, in 2013, the community is not only a reality, but is thriving and growing! And, there are still opportunities for you to join our magical community. Bonnie received approval in 2010 for the first four lots in Phase II which she is calling Hawk's Landing at Birds of a Feather. They are the first two-plus acre lots (Phase I lots are all ¼ to one acre in size) in the community and they are fabulous, with many large pine trees, native grasses, wildflowers and magnificent views of the surrounding Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Seven additional lots in Phase II became available in 2012.

 

But... Birds of a Feather's community is more than beautiful property and a good location... it is the people who make the place special... “more than a place to live, a way to live”. Our residents have developed close friendships with their neighbors and lot owners not yet living here... they have all become part of the Birds of a Feather "flock"! There are community gatherings, outings and celebrations for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and just to have fun... game nights, dances, ping-pong, golf outings, hikes with our four-legged friends, sharing homemade ice cream, sipping on wine, and when we get enough snow... snowshoeing & snowball fights! We are in the high desert after all... there are four seasons, but they are not usually extreme and the sun shines an average of 320 days a year!

Birds of a Feather Community is a short 30 minute drive to Santa Fe where there are plenty of opportunities for shopping, eating at world class restaurants and cultural events. There is a great medical center and ambulance service in Pecos and two hospitals in Santa Fe. Albuquerque is 90 minutes away and has an international airport and more specialized healthcare.

Birds of a Feather's LGBT community currently offers an electronic entrance gate for security, custom street signs, landscape lighting and split-rail fencing, high speed internet access through satellite or wireless providers, and in the very near future, DSL service will be available from CenturyLink, our local telephone company.

And, as Birds of a Feather evolves and grows, there are plans for a community center and other possible amenities such as gardens, gazebos in parks for outside gatherings and stables. A one-time community equity membership fee will be due from each lot owner to construct the community center when approval is received from San Miguel County. Of course, the lot owners will all have input into the design and cost of the center, but if Bonnie has any say... it will include a dining room big enough to double as a dance hall!