Residents of the Student Family Housing complex met with department heads Thursday to discuss rumors that the complex will be shut down.
Robert Schulte, director of business services for UNM Housing and Food Services, began the meeting by saying he wanted to clarify things addressed at an April 15 meeting regarding the future of SFH.
Schulte said at the April 15 meeting that the University was reluctant to put money toward repairs on a property it has owned for 30 years.
"We were looking at it as having a finite time period," Schulte said.
He said residents wanted an avenue to express their concerns and suggestions, so he invited Dupuy Bateman, associate vice president of Auxiliary Enterprises, for a second meeting.
"I came out to sit down and talk about issues of the past, present and future," Bateman said. "I want to open it up to people to tell what's on their minds."
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Joe Sanchez, an education student who lives in the SFH complex, said Bateman and Schulte gave politically correct responses.
"They are not willing to put any money into investments, which suggests they are letting it deteriorate until it shuts down," Sanchez said.
Sanchez, who has lived in the SFH apartments for about six months, said he enjoys living there, but the property is lacking.
"It's not energy efficient," Sanchez said. "There's problems with the grounds, and the ceiling leaks."
Residents at the meeting began with questions about the property's condition. Because necessary repairs have not been made, they said they were concerned the University was neglecting the property and might be thinking of getting rid of it.
"There are no plans to shut the facility down," Bateman said. "The idea would be catastrophic. But the University weighs in mind the right to make a capital investment."
Bateman said Auxiliary Enterprises, which runs student housing at UNM, is a stand-alone business that does not receive money from the state or the University. He said a portion of its revenue pays the administration at UNM.
Bateman said operating funds come from rent, which will increase by 5 percent July 1 - the first increase in three years - to fund raises and increase benefits for employees.
Residents were concerned they would be paying more rent, while repairs would still not be made.
Bateman said there was deferred maintenance across the University, not just at SFH.
The meeting ended with Batman and Schulte encouraging residents to get support from the student body and its government. They said they wanted to continue an open dialogue with residents.
Monica Valdez, coordinator of SFH, said there are always repairs that need to be made due to daily wear and tear of the apartments.
"The apartments are as clean and as functional as can be," Valdez said.
Valdez said rent runs from $456 for a one-bedroom flat to $616 for a three-bedroom townhouse, including utilities. Those rates will rise to $478 and $646.
"The rent's inexpensive," junior Andrew Hamilton said. "I wouldn't have a problem paying more if they fixed things."
Bateman said he would work with the residents to meet their needs.
