Councilman objects to loss of city park

By Jim Maniaci
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — In a rare split decision, the Grants City Council voted 3-1 Monday night to continue with a moderate-income senior citizens housing project which will wipe out Rouse Park and its memorial trees.

Councilor Robert Ulibarri voted in the majority on the condition that the memorial represented by the trees be preserved, most likely at another location to be determined with the trees being transplanted. His position was supported by Councilors Fred Rodarte and Walter Jaramillo.

Councilor Modey Hicks voted against the resolution. He initiated a long discussion about the city condemning, then tearing down boarded-up apartment buildings along the Grants Flood Control Channel of the Rio San Jose as a location for the affordable housing.

During the call for citizens comments at the start of the meeting Lois Ann Pritchard told the council Rouse Park, the grassy area in front of the old senior citizens center on Elm Street, had only two trees until her daughter Kathleen earned an award for her arbor work of obtaining 16 more donated trees, which she and others planted and nurtured.

Pritchard held up a blue notebook full of letters of commendation for the project, launched in 1998.

"We have a very nice park in that area," she reminded the council and pointed out that all it has is benches, some grills and a half-dozen trees still living. It would be used more if the city installed more facilities, she noted. Even so, she said, this past weekend she saw a family Easter egg hunt and other families having picnics.

The council-approved resolution helps turn almost two acres over to the Region One Housing Authority, which covers Cibola, McKinley and San Juan counties. A dozen duplexes will house two dozen moderate income senior citizen homes with either one or two bedrooms, utility rooms and garages surrounding a common area.

Pritchard pointed out the common area would not be available for general public access, thus canceling out earlier comments that perhaps the trees and memorial plaque could be placed within the common area.

City Manager Bob Horacek noted three public hearings had been conducted about the project.

Carmen Morin of the housing authority said the $2 million project, based on $85 per sq.-ft. for building, would rent for $450-$550 a month. The authority would issue revenue bonds to finance the work. The project is the first of its kind in any of the three counties.

She also said the authority may end up selling the units, rather than renting them, because most of the inquiries, from as far away as California, have been about buying them. The units will be energy efficient with features such as heavy insulation and double-pane windows. Based on comparative sales in the area, the units would sell for approximately $90,000 for the 2-bedroom home and about $70,000 for the 1-bedroom dwelling. They would be for people age 55 or older.

Cibola County's median family income is $35,900 a year, she said, and people would need an income of at least 60 percent of that, which would be more than $21,000.

Modey's objection to surrendering a perfectly good park led into a long discussion about all that is required to condemn property so that blighted buildings can be eliminated. He brought out that an unnamed owner, who is now overseas, obtained a federal tax exemption based on the abandoned apartments being the property of a church.

City Attorney W. Ken Martinez explained a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision which upheld an eastern city condemning homes so the land could be turned over to a developer. He noted there has been a widespread backlash with some 30 states considering laws to prevent the government from being an agent of a developer in this manner. New Mexico's Constitution contains an anti-donation clause.

At the recent session of the 47th New Mexico Legislature, Martinez, who is a leadership member of the House of Representatives, said Gov. Bill Richardson vetoed a bill that would have allowed cities to continue the practice if it was for more than economic development. The New Mexico Municipal League fought hard against the original bill to outlaw the practice.

Martinez also pointed out that any new law would not affect the current situation. The U.S. Constitution forbids such ex post facto or after-the-fact laws.

To contact reporter Jim Maniaci in Grants, telephone 285-6184 or (505) 870-7775 (cellular).