Council weighs cost, art, cell towers and demolition for decommissioned water tank near Taos post office

Town staff brought the question of what to do with an abandoned elevated water storage tank behind the Taos post office to Monday's workshop, offering options that ranged from demolition and scrap to artwork or leasing the site for a cellular antenna.

Manager Martinez said the site sits on about 0.25 acre owned by the town and is enclosed by a six-foot chain-link security fence topped with barbed wire. Public Works staff reported the storage structure is a cinder-block well house described in staff materials as "14 feet by 20 feet by 20 in 20 feet tall," and that the tank was decommissioned years ago. Public Works Director Vasquez reviewed a 2007 system evaluation that recommended removal, describing the structure as an "attractive nuisance" in that study.

Council discussion considered costs and neighborhood impacts. Vasquez said he found an older demolition estimate of roughly $300,000 (15+ years old) to remove the structure but said contractors that reclaim metal—Coronado Wrecking was cited as an example—might offset demolition costs by selling scrap metal. Council members suggested a range of alternatives: painting a mural, converting the structure into a viewing deck, retrofitting it for telecom use, or scrapping it if demolition is cost-effective.

Town staff noted commercial interest from wireless providers: an Xfinity representative had approached management about installing equipment; council members also discussed T-Mobile and other carriers. Manager Martinez and staff explained that attaching antennas to the existing structure is an option that some carriers prefer to outright removal and replacement. Any installation would require a lease agreement and possibly special permits; staff told the council a mural or other public art may require a permit from the Planning and Zoning Commission and that the tank's proximity to an existing mural could affect permitting.

Council members asked staff to obtain cost estimates, potential lease revenues, and the views of neighbors. Staff recommended soliciting proposals and public feedback via a community survey and scheduled further consideration at the next community workshop on June 9. Staff also said other locations in town were being evaluated for towers and that the small parcel size (0.25 acre) limits other forms of development. Public Works said the active well on the parcel requires the site to remain fenced and that the structure's base and nearby trees (a Chinese elm identified in the discussion) complicate removal and aesthetic choices.

No decision to demolish, lease or paint the tank was made at the workshop; council directed staff to gather demolition proposals and lease options, solicit community input, and return with findings for discussion at a future meeting.