UNM, City of Albuquerque Celebrate Opening of Fire Station on UNM South Campus

Albu­querque Mayor R.J. Berry, City Coun­cil­lor Rox­anna Mey­ers, Albu­querque Fire Chief James Breen, Jason Rior­dan, UNM Board of Regents Mem­ber Car­olyn Abeita and UNM Exec­u­tive Vice Pres­i­dent for Admin­is­tra­tion David Har­ris cut the rib­bon to open Albu­querque City Fire Sta­tion #2

Rep­re­sen­ta­tives from UNM and the City of Albu­querque cel­e­brated the open­ing and rechris­ten­ing of Albu­querque Fire Sta­tion #2 on Gib­son on UNM’s South Campus. The new fire sta­tion replaces the older Fire Sta­tion #2 in the Hun­ing High­land neigh­bor­hood of the city, which will be closed. UNM Exec­u­tive Vice Pres­i­dent David Har­ris and mem­ber of the Board of Regents Car­olyn Abeita rep­re­sented the uni­ver­sity at the rib­bon cutting.

In a speech cel­e­brat­ing the open­ing Mayor R.J. Berry said the sta­tion will serve the Albu­querque Sun­port, UNM and nearby neigh­bor­hoods more effi­ciently because of the bet­ter loca­tion.  The uni­ver­sity traded land on the South Cam­pus for land owned by the City of Albu­querque on North Fourth Street.  The North Fourth Street prop­erty will even­tu­ally be used for a health clinic site.

Har­ris noted that the land swap was com­plex for many rea­sons, but that it was an out­stand­ing exam­ple of coop­er­a­tion between the uni­ver­sity and the City of Albu­querque.  He added that he hoped to con­tinue work­ing with the city on behalf of the uni­ver­sity on other projects for the gen­eral good of the community.

UNM and Lobo Devel­op­ment have plans to develop the south cam­pus area by locat­ing retail, liv­ing and busi­ness activ­i­ties along Cae­sar Chavez Blvd. and even­tu­ally in the area near Gib­son Blvd. and the new fire sta­tion.  The sta­tion is located near Uni­ver­sity Sta­dium, Uni­ver­sity Arena and the Iso­topes Base­ball Park.

As part of the open­ing activ­i­ties, and in keep­ing with local tra­di­tion the sta­tion was sprayed with water by a new fire appa­ra­tus that will be based at the sta­tion.  The new sta­tion was built and fur­nished with Gen­eral Oblig­a­tion Bond funds approved by city taxpayers.