by Jeremy Hunt
Daily Lobo
UNM President David Schmidly got booed at a meeting Sunday when he showed an artist's rendition of a retirement community that could be built on the North Golf Course.
About 200 people attended the meeting at the law school to discuss possible development of the course with Schmidly and other UNM administrators.
Prior to the meeting, about 500 people rallied outside the law school for preservation of the course.
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"There were 27 holes at one time," city councilor-elect Ray Garduno said. "Little by little, they're trying to take it away from us."
The University issued requests for information in February for development opportunities on UNM property, including the North Golf Course.
Schmidly said there will be plenty of room for the golf course if a retirement community is built. The course will be smaller, but it will still have nine holes, he said.
But the University is only exploring development options, and nothing has been decided, Regent Mel Eaves said.
"It's part of the regents' attempt to study commercial property," he said. "Let's not assume the regents have done anything."
Schmidly said it's possible the course won't be developed.
He said UNM will form an advisory committee with members of the community to discuss the course's future.
There will also be more public meetings, so the University and the community can figure out what's best for everyone, he said.
"I see a definite need for more dialog," Schmidly said.
The course opened in 1942. It was originally 27 holes, but nine holes remain.
Schmidly said the University needs to generate more money to support research and education.
The retirement community could generate about $2 million a year, said Andrew Cullen, associate vice president for institutional development.
Cullen said a retirement community would be good for UNM.
"There are a number of universities that have done this as a way to reconnect with alumni and the friends of the university," he said.
UNM should build the community somewhere else because the golf course is too important to the city, said Sara Koplik, president of North Campus Neighborhood Association.
Koplik said the UNM administration should preserve the land for future generations.
"We are wanting you to do the right thing," she said. "You would turn from administrators to heroes in a single bound."
Mayor Martin Chavez said the city does not support development of the course, and UNM would need cooperation from the city to construct buildings.
The University owns the course, but all New Mexicans own UNM, Chavez said.
"The University belongs to everybody," he said. "This is not going to be taken away from the people of Albuquerque."
The city will talk to UNM about buying the course or maintaining it if the University does not want to do it anymore, Chavez said.
Lt. Gov. Diane Denish said the University needs to think long and hard before developing the course.
All development possibilities and consequences needs to be investigated before any decisions are made, Denish said.
"There are legitimate questions to be raised," she said.
Regent Jamie Koch said the board has not made any decisions to develop the course.
"As I've said from the very start, I have no commitment," he said. "The board hasn't done anything."
Student Mike Osborn said he has lived in the UNM area for more than 20 years and doesn't want the course to be developed.
Osborn said a retirement community isn't a bad idea, but it should be built somewhere else.
"I don't think here is the best place for it," he said. "I just think it's a poor choice of location."
