Decision on jail demolition delayed

Value of Downtown site not determined

Bernalillo County commissioners aren’t quite ready to say goodbye to the old Downtown jail.

They narrowly agreed late Tuesday to postpone a decision on whether to authorize $3.5million to fund demolition of the structure.

County Commissioner Art De La Cruz said the county administration hadn’t adequately studied other options. He wanted a formal appraisal of the property and national marketing to potential buyers.

“This is absolutely premature,” De La Cruz said. “We need to take a step back. … It may, in fact, be more valuable than we realize.”

The commission voted 3-2 to postpone a decision for five months while more analysis is done. In favor of waiting were De La Cruz, a Democrat, and Republicans Lonnie Talbert and Wayne Johnson.

Democrats Debbie O’Malley and Maggie Hart Stebbins opposed deferral.

O’Malley said it would be “disingenuous to market a property” unless the county is really willing to sell it, not just floating the idea to get information. Leaving the property standing is a liability, she said, so demolition of the building makes sense.

But the county should hold onto the land for now, O’Malley said.

“This is a very important site,” she said.

The two-tower structure is on the north side of Roma, between Fourth and Fifth streets. It’s across the street from the police and sheriff’s headquarters.

The county administration said renovating the property to use as a jail again would cost $26 million. Renovation for another use would cost $27 million.

A market analysis estimated the land was worth roughly $1 million, though that wasn’t a formal appraisal.

The county did, at one point, notify local business leaders that the property was available, county officials said.