Student organization raises concerns about building demolition>
Plans for the buildings on Coal and Buena Vista need to be looked at carefully, said Vice-President of the Executive Council of Students, Stephen Martos.
If the buildings can be restored, there are many student organizations that could use the space, said Martos. There are also many programs that could use the restoration of the buildings as a class project, such as Applied Technologies, said Martos.
“If there is a historical value to these buildings, it needs to be looked into being saved,” said Martos.
The old buildings across Buena Vista from the administrative buildings are going to be torn down, because they are in poor condition, said Marketing and Communications Officer Brad Moore. The three houses owned by CNM are going to be torn down this summer, said Moore.
“Due to the age of the structures, CNM has determined that it would not be cost-effective to renovate the buildings,” said Moore. The decision was made at the Governing Board meeting in March.
There are benefits to rehabilitating the buildings, said New Mexico Historic Preservation Division Public Relations officer Tom Drake. There are several state and federal laws that act as guidelines for preservation and can help with grant money for the projects, said Drake.
“There are financial incentives for preserving historic buildings,” said Drake.