by Paula Bowker
Daily Lobo
Dorms aren't just on campus.
The Abbey, located at 1625 Gold Ave., offers off-campus dorm rooms for UNM and TVI students.
Owner Al Moye said they take in any student who wants to live in a dorm setting that is less expensive than on-campus student housing.
A double-occupancy dorm room at UNM costs $1,790 for the semester. At the Abbey, a double occupancy room costs $220 a month, which comes out to $990 per semester.
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Fourteen of the 15 rooms are occupied.
Mohamed Abaza moved from New York to get his doctorate in mechanical engineering from UNM. He said he decided to live at the Abbey, because it is private, close to campus and offers a quiet place to study.
"The dorms on campus have kids who are more young and rowdy," Abaza said.
Moye said the majority of the residents at the Abbey are older students looking for a quiet place to live. He said he just kicked out two residents for being too loud.
The Abbey houses students from all over the world.
"We have people come from Sweden, Puerto Rico, Bombay," Moye said.
The Abbey is a converted church that was built in the 1940s after World War II. Exercise equipment and a bicycle rack have replaced pews and an altar in the building's main room.
Moye bought the 7,500 square-foot building in the early '90s from the man who renovated it. Moye has been in charge of the building for eight years.
"I did more work to the place in the early '90s, but this is my hobby," he said. "I have another job."
Unlike UNM dorms, the Abbey is coed.
Utilities, cleaning supplies, laundry services and detergent are free for tenants. Pets are not allowed and neither is smoking. There is no Internet access.
Tenants also need to follow rules in order to live at the Abbey.
Dirty dishes and personal items, which must be labeled, are subject to confiscation if left out in the kitchen.
All residents share the kitchen. Each resident has a small refrigerator and cabinet in the kitchen.
Overnight guests are allowed only on Fridays and Saturdays. People on the grounds after midnight are considered overnight guests. Tenants must pay $7.50 per night to have an overnight guest on weekend nights.
The owner must clear all overnight guests during weekdays. If not properly cleared, the resident will be charged $20 per night.
