County weighs its interest in historic Plaza Pub against finances, insurance costs [Alamogordo Daily News, N.M.]

Jan. 27--The Otero County Commission took an interest in the Plaza Pub building during its regular meeting Thursday, with one commissioner broaching the possibility of the county taking over the building.

During commissioners' discussion at the last part of the meeting, Commissioner Tommie Herrell invited Elizabeth Padilla, president of the Tularosa Basin Historical Society, to speak.

Padilla showed the commission an artist's rendition of a renovated Plaza Pub building, as well as floor plans drawn by Charles Nolan.

The city of Alamogordo received a grant from the state Legislature in 2006 for about $300,000 to purchase the Plaza Pub for the purpose of housing the Alamogordo Museum of History; the city then leased the building to TBHS for that purpose. The museum currently shares a building with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce, and that space is not adequate.

Plans were to start renovating the Plaza Pub building when the businesses leasing space there moved out, which they had by early 2008. However, by 2009 plans were waylaid.

Padilla told the Alamogordo City Commission during its regular meeting June 23, 2009, that TBHS had to discontinue the lease because they couldn't afford to insure a building they weren't using. She said bids for the renovation came in higher than what was available in the TBHS budget, and asbestos was found in the roof -- which would drive up renovation costs even further.

Padilla told the Otero County Commission on Thursday she wrote to the mayor of Alamogordo in December about the Plaza Pub but has not received a response from the city at all so far. She said the letter states the TBHS is looking at other options for the building; however, the building is owned by the city, not TBHS.

Herrell noted the city of Alamogordo is refinancing some of its bonds, which will lower interest rates and provide the city about $6 million for quality of life projects. He thought $600,000 of that was dedicated to the Tularosa Basin Historical Society, although he said the city hasn't "nailed down" that money specifically.

Herrell said if the county took over the property, the county commission would put a general obligation bond on the ballot for county residents to decide whether to support refurbishing of the historic building.

Herrell said his wife has taken an interest in the Plaza Pub, and she met with people in Santa Fe when the Herrells were there last week -- including staff at the state Department of Cultural Affairs.

"I think the one thing we need to find out from the city -- if they will commit that $600,000 to y'all for the plaza location," Herrell said, "then I would suggest we leave it with the city and have that money."

Herrell said a guaranteed $600,000 would be better than taking chances on a G.O. bond election, which could go either way.

Padilla said the TBHS has also pursued the avenue of getting the Plaza Pub declared a historical building. She said TBHS wrote a letter to city manager Mark Roath stating the building was built in 1937, it's historical to the area and should be saved.

"I do want to thank the commissioners here for being so supportive of trying to save this building, too," Padilla said.

Herrell said staff at the Department of Cultural Affairs assured him and his wife last week that if the building is listed in the historical register, it cannot be torn down legally.

"You can't change the integrity of the building," Herrell said. "They won't even let you fill in the basement."

Commission Chairman Ronny Rardin said he talked to some city commissioners, who told him that the Plaza Pub was costing the city money sitting empty because the city had to keep insurance on it. Rardin said he had county staff checking on the cost to put the building on the county's insurance.

Rardin said he told the city commissioners the county could float a bond question next November -- if the question is not approved by voters, the pub would revert back to the city and they could sell it. He said the two city commissioners he visited with did not have a problem with that plan.

Commissioner Susan Flores noted the city bought the Plaza Pub with capital outlay money specifically for that purpose, and said she didn't think the city could sell the building unless they were going to give the state its money back.

Contact Laura London at llondon@alamogordonews.com.

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