Beautifying and Bringing Pride to Grants
GRANTS, N.M. – A drive on Santa Fe Avenue in Grants is a trip through history. Yet, for some buildings, time has not been kind. The old motels on East Santa Fe sit abandoned and in ruins. They have become a haven for transients seeking shelter from the elements, and vandals looking to further damage the properties, and some of these buildings have been severely damaged by fire.
The City of Grants Code Enforcement Officer Robert Windhorst said he is concerned for the safety of those entering these properties. Deteriorated buildings are hazards, with old ceilings that can collapse on individuals, debris on the floor, and fires started inside these old buildings to try and keep warm in cold weather. As we enter the colder months, homeless people will seek shelter from the cold, and abandoned buildings are prime targets for shelter.
Windhorst stated the city contacts the owners of unoccupied properties by sending three letters. The first letter is to clean the property. The second letter is a no-compliance letter warning of citations. The third letter contains a $300 fine and up to 30 days in jail. Most compliance is met with the first letter, Windhorst said.
Dilapidated buildings can be razed by the city through land use codes. Once the city demolishes a building, a lien is placed on the property.
The old Red Lion Inn was used as an example of a property resistant to break-ins and vandalism. Preventive measures are used to keep the building secure and trespassers out of the building while upgrades are slowly made to the property. More proactivity is needed to keep these unused buildings from becoming a danger.
An example of utilizing these types of properties is the old Grants Police Station that sat on the hill behind Grants High School. The cost to demolish the old building was $75,000 but selling the old steel girders bought by the contracting company dropped the price of demolition and filling in the swimming pool. The plan is to build a memorial park for all citizens to enjoy. $325,000 have been appropriated by State Representative Harry Garcia to use in establishing the park. The vacant properties on East Santa Fe Ave offer the same potential as the proposed park on the hill. This section of town is our first impression to travelers coming off I-40.
Mr. Windhorst also pointed out that every six months, large containers are strategically placed for community clean-up efforts. Residents can bring unwanted trash and junk piling up around their properties to these containers for disposal. He stated these projects are successful with lots of participation. More trash cans during festivities such as parades have helped keep the volume of trash left behind, and volunteers walk Santa Fe to pick up trash that has been left behind.
After the Christmas Parade this past Saturday night, Windhorst said he was impressed how little garbage was left behind by attendees. There were average citizens who would see trash and dispose of it upon leaving City Hall Park. Ridding the city of rubbish, unwanted junk, and trash enhances a positive mindset of the community, according to Windhorst. It also helps promote pride in our city in which people will help keep things clean. The Code Enforcement Office has been a driving force in keeping the city clean.