More parking spaces are on the way as a plan to purchase the former Bob Turner Ford lot was approved by the UNM Board of Regents Finance and Facilities Committee at its meeting Monday, Aug. 5.
The plan to purchase the Sandia Foundation-owned property, at 1600 Lomas Blvd. NE, has been in the works for many years, said Kim Murphy, director of UNM Real Estate.
“At long last we’re ready to carry this acquisition forward,” Murphy said.
Murphy added that the property will cost the University about $2.8 million and will be funded from the sale proceeds of UNM-owned real property and the Regents Endowment Fund.
The 7.2-acre property includes three buildings, which Murphy said would be used for UNM storage, though they are not in “the greatest shape.”
He said the property’s primary use will be for parking, an issue for the UNM community that has led to other plans to obtain additional parking, including building a new parking structure on main campus.
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Murphy said that the main obstacle in obtaining the property was an on-going environmental investigation associated with the adjoining former Quality Pontiac property at 1300 Lomas Blvd. He added that the investigation is being conducted by the New Mexico Environment Department.
He said three potential contamination sources were found at or near the former Bob Turner lot: shallow groundwater contamination from a underground gasoline storage tank, oil/water separators connected to the city sewer system and a waste oil tank that was removed in 1990 that had eroded, causing some leakage.
Murphy added that after the tank was removed a clean soil pot was put back in its place.
“This property has been used as an auto dealership for the past 40 years,” he said. “It’s not unusual for problems to occur.”
Murphy said that despite the potential contamination found, no unusual or significant contamination is likely and would not expose the University to “great liability.”
He added that the latest round of drilling found very low levels of relic vapors, which has little chance of becoming hazardous, but the property will soon be ready for the University to purchase.
Murphy said that the property is currently being leased by the University for parking and transportation purposes and the buildings are being used for storage and a remote kitchen while the Student Union Building is still under construction.
He added that despite the on-going investigations, the groundwater is not contaminated, making it safe to have the kitchen on the grounds.
Murphy will present a report at Tuesday’s regents meeting.
