More Local

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
• Former Marine to serve two years in jail for killing Albuquerque robber
• Wilson-Pearce battle for U.S. Senate exemplifies party's disparity

MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
  08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008
• Congressman is indicted
  08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Series of attacks target Green Zone
  08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Iran is defying U.N., agency says
  08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Waterboarding approval probed
  08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008

TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

• Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
• Is Rome Burning?
• Ominous Skies
• The Road to Invalidation
• Albuquerque company participates in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

SHARE THIS STORY [?]

Kurt Laffan spends many days during the week golfing with his friends at the University of New Mexico's North Golf Course.

But the beloved oasis near campus for golfers, runners and dog-walkers might shrink to make room for a retirement community under an idea that has surfaced again before the UNM Board of Regents.

"I don't know what I'd do," said Laffan, president of the 80-member UNM North Golf Club. "I may even leave Albuquerque."

Regents President Jamie Koch confirmed Wednesday that the board is looking into what can be done to develop a retirement community at the North Golf Course.

"We've been talking a lot about this and will continue to move ahead to look at options at North Golf Course," said Koch. "We're going to see how the retirement community would fit into the golf course."

A similar plan floated in February drew petitions and a large protest rally that included prominent local politicians. In April, acting President David Harris said the university had no plans to build on the course.

But the plan is back, with a retirement community taking the majority of the 80-acre course, leaving about 25 acres for golf, said Sara Koplik, president of the North Campus Neighborhood Association.

Koch said the proposed retirement community would serve alumni and faculty and could bring in a lot of money for UNM.

"By doing this, we could bring revenue to the university between $2 (million) to $3 million a year," he said.

But Koplik counters that yearly revenues don't justify development.

"This land (the golf course) is worth up to $50 million," she said.

Koch said the plan was brought up about a month ago when regents were looking at different proposals for vacant land.

"All of them were saying the North Golf Course needed to be developed," he said. "It was a good suggestion."

Koplik doesn't oppose the retirement community, she opposes the location.

She said the retirement community should be put somewhere else because many people in the community use the golf course, including cross country teams at Highland High School and Albuquerque High School, the ROTC at UNM and the general public.

She also said it's a refuge for wildlife, including six pairs of hawks this summer.

"It's the largest green space in the city of Albuquerque," she said.

Koplik argues that there are other places at UNM that could house the retirement community, for example the Q Lot at the northwest side of campus.

"It's an enormous amount of land that is there," she said.

Koch would not comment on that but added that all the talk of preserving the golf course, ignores the water used to keep it green.

But Koplik said having a retirement community wouldn't necessarily get that number down.

"How much water would a retirement community use?" she said. "It would probably consume more than a golf course."

Mel Eaves, chair of the regents Finance and Facilities Committee, said there are no final plans for the retirement community. Everything has to be approved by the committee.

"My committee hasn't been presented with any firm plans," he said.

Right now the Board of Regents is establishing a dialogue with members of the neighborhood association and taking their thoughts into consideration, said Eaves.

However, Eaves said he still believes a retirement community would be beneficial to UNM.

"It's going to produce substantial income for UNM," he said. "The project is envisioned as a community that will attract alumni and faculty who will be encouraged to take part in UNM activities and hopefully contribute to UNM."

As for Laffan, the new retirement community would mean he'd have to find another place to play if he wants to continue golfing at a big course.

"It's the only place I play," he said.