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Los Ranchos authorizes staff to seek funding to develop 8747 4th Street (Miller feed property)
Summary
Trustees voted to direct staff to pursue funding and grants to develop the Village-owned property at 8747 4th Street while requiring that any contract or construction return to the board for approval and that public input be solicited on reuse options.
Trustees authorized the administration to pursue grant and legislative funding to develop the Village-owned parcel at 8747 4th Street, a site sometimes referred to as the old Miller Feed property.
The motion authorizes staff to explore funding opportunities and gather cost estimates and design options, but it does not commit the Village to a specific project or contractor. Administrator Aila presented preliminary options and cost estimates presented to the board for planning purposes: (1) a new metal building (inexpensive baseline), (2) refurbishment of existing adobe/wood structures with added amenities (e.g., restrooms), or (3) partial demolition of house elements to improve site circulation. Administrators emphasized that any final contract or construction would need separate board approval.
Why it matters: The property sits adjacent to existing open space and has been discussed as a potential community amenity (community center, meeting space, gateway to the open space). Trustees voiced competing priorities: some urged moving quickly to secure state funding while others asked for robust public outreach and clearer programming before design decisions are made.
Trustee Keir said staff should pursue available funding opportunities while preserving the board's ability to decide final scope: "We don't want to miss out on funding — it doesn't commit us to anything. Any contract would have to come before you for approval," Administrator Aila clarified.
Board members asked for a public-engagement process to define programming (community center, restrooms, egress improvements, adaptive reuse vs. new construction). Staff indicated antiseptic estimates: demolition of the house portion alone was estimated at roughly $118,000 in a cost example provided to trustees; refurbishing the existing building plus amenities and bringing systems up to code would likely cost more and require septic/sewer connections.
Action and next steps: The board voted unanimously to direct administration to pursue funding and to return with refined cost estimates, public-engagement outcomes and any proposed grant/legislative requests for trustee approval before construction or contract execution.
