Students moving into Lobo Village Aug. 17 enjoyed a pool-side barbecue, ice cream trucks and a DJ. Lobo Village’s grand opening week also included a false fire alarm, a power outage, drinking and smoking in unauthorized areas and minor-in-possession charges by the dozens, residents said.
“There were a ton of people drinking on move-in night,” resident Alissa James said. “A lot of people were complaining that it was really loud. There was a DJ and I was trying to fall asleep at two in the morning.”
James said Lobo Village officials had re-posted the alcohol policy on resident’s doors by the next morning.
Parent Terry Templeman, whose daughter is moving in to Lobo Village, said he doesn’t have a problem with the alcohol policy.
“I don’t really have any concerns,” he said. “It’s better they drink in their own apartment then go out somewhere else.”
A short walk around the facility revealed cigarette butts on stairs and landings, which are clearly designated and labeled unauthorized smoking areas.
Alcohol bottles were found on the ground as well, despite an alcohol policy that prohibits drinking outside of apartments.
Paul Aitken, founder of The Party Trolley, a shared ride service for people who have been drinking, said Lobo Village refused to let him into the complex Friday and Saturday to pick up customers who had reserved a safe ride to downtown.
“The security guards came up forcefully yelling and saying ‘Get the f*** off the property,’” he said. “I was trying to tell him I had to turn around in the space up ahead and they were just yelling at me to ‘Get the f*** off.’”
He said the night managers and the security guards told him he wasn’t allowed on the property because they said they didn’t want to promote drinking.
Residents, such as Zach Kavelman, Justin Rider and Robby Madeiros said they heard rumors of police officers handing out MIPs by the dozens.
“I heard s**t went down,” Kavelman said. “They cracked down pretty hard …”
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APD and UNMPD would not confirm any MIP citations, and Lobo Village officials refused to comment.
According to PNM, a thunderstorm caused loss of power to roughly a thousand homes and the Lobo Village complex from about 11:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday night, the day after residents moved in.
Guests of Lobo Village also set off a fire alarm, Langen said.
“Some guests pulled a fire extinguisher,” he said. “It was just some guests of a resident that did it on purpose. Not an actual fire and no-one was hurt.”
Eight cigarette butts and the discharge from the extinguisher were found in a non-smoking section located on the second story of building five, where the incident reportedly occurred.
“The alarms went off and I’m sure the fire department was called,” Langen said. “I think they drove by to see and they saw that it was just a fire extinguisher.”
Resident Carlos Hernandez said he saw smoke.
“We don’t really know if it was an accident,” he said. “We were just up here and then everything was covered in smoke. I don’t think there was a fire, it was just the fire extinguishers and they covered everything.”
Despite the move-in week mishaps, 675 residents moved into the sold-out Lobo Village last week and said they were excited about the resort-style apartments’ amenities.
“I really like the apartment itself, and the other thing is just that I like the community,” resident Marcella Montoya said. “I wanted to live with other roommates; I had never done that before in a place where there are a lot of other college students.”
Hunter Riley contributed to this report.
