ACC plans to demolish old dorms

The Board of Regents approved a housing plan in December that calls for the demolition of a dorm building, two Student Residence Center apartment buildings, a parking lot, two tennis courts and part of lower Johnson Field.

Lobo Development’s approved “strategic housing plan” allows for building materials to be developed, Real Estate Director Kim Murphy said, and used by American Campus Communities, a private company charged with the campus construction.

“ACC has prepared what’s called the preliminary materials, which is really the development proposal for the first phase,” he said. “We received that (Jan. 3), and it’s still under review.”

The first phase involves the removal of Santa Ana Hall, the parking lot north of it and two buildings from the SRC, as well as redefining the boundaries of lower Johnson Field, according to the housing plan. The tennis courts would be removed and could be relocated, the plan says.
Phase I would add nearly 1,000 beds to main campus and is projected to be completed by August 2012.

Phase II includes the demolition of Coronado Hall, which will be replaced by a “residential community” consisting of another 1,000 beds, a large community center and new dining hall.

Phase III “requires Alvarado and Onate Halls and La Posada Dining Hall be demolished. In their place would be a new residential community with 1,100 beds,” according to the report.

The plan assumes a fall 2013 delivery for both phase II and III, but says Phase III may be delayed.

Murphy said Lobo Development and ACC will work on the plans this week and will present them in a forum in late January. He said Lobo Development will also hold a special regents meeting in February to discuss the plans.

Lobo Development presented its first financial audit to the regents Jan. 11, which showed its operating expenses increased more than $700,000 this year. Regent Gene Gallegos questioned the expense. Murphy said UNM finances Lobo Development, but that most of the expenses will be reimbursed by ACC.

Steven Beffort, Lobo Developent’s treasurer, said most of the cost was associated with Lobo Village.

“The bulk of that was spent for (south campus Housing), but there were other costs in relation to other projects that we’re working on,” he said. “South campus, as well as other parts of the campus, that are upfront costs prior to receiving any income.”