UNM considering dorms next to The Pit

Posted at: 10/08/2009 10:21 PM | Updated at: 10/09/2009 7:50 AM
By: Eric Kahnert, Eyewitness News 4; Charlie Pabst, KOB.com

Many know The Pit is home to UNM basketball, but few know that the dirt lot next to it may soon be home to students.

Between 800 and1,000 sophomores, juniors and seniors could soon live at the proposed site, which is west of The Pit and east of Interstate 25.

City Councilor Isaac Benton said Thursday, "It's part of their plan to have the students be near their place of learning, which seems kind of odd."

Benton has been talking with UNM officials about the proposed location, which is about a mile away from campus.

Benton says he still hasn't been given a reason why the lot was chosen.

"Well, they seem like they're in a big hurry," he said. 

We called a UNM official who deals with student housing, but our calls were not returned.

Lisa Knudsen is president of the graduate/professional students association.

Knudsen said, "The students are of mixed minds on this."

She applauds UNM's efforts to build new high-tech student housing, but next to The Pit?

"This site in particular is not on campus, it's not actually near the academic campus where we can take classes and go to coffee shops and things like that," Knudsen said.

Knudsen and other student and faculty representatives recently met with UNM's board of regents to discuss the location.

"It seems like this is probably moving forward even though we have concerns, and that's a little disappointing," she said.

Doug Fields is the president of UNM's faculty senate.

Fields said, "We think there would be other areas more suitable for that phase." He thinks areas around Central and Lomas are more appropriate for student housing.

Councilor Benton agrees.

Benton said, "I'd kind of like to see more revitalization there, than out here, I just think it's better for the city."

If the location does become the site, housing would open up by the fall of 2011.

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