New Life for St. Catherine?

The Santa Fe Historic Design Review Board postponed discussion tonight on a plan to move three small homes across the former St. Catherine’s Indian School campus after an attorney for the property said he’d received a last-minute proposition from a third party.

John Polk, who represents New Mexico Consolidated Construction, the campus’ owner, said he was approached late Tuesday afternoon by the interested party and asked to put off the H-Board appearance so it could present him with a proposal for the property.

Polk declined to provide further details, but did say the proposal could involve several particpants, including the New Mexico School for the Arts, which has expressed interest in using some of the old school buildings. He also said the proposition could take into consideration the wishes of the federal government, currently in talks to buy some of the campus for expansion of the adjacent Santa Fe National Cemetery.

The mystery proposition could resolve most, if not all, of the property’s ongoing issues, Polk said.

“We said, ‘Fine, we’ll kick the can down the road one more time.’ At least this time it’s an affirmative thing,” Polk said.

Tuesday’s postponement also had the approval of several members of the Old Santa Fe Association who attended the meeting. They, too, however, were vague about details.

New Mexico Consolidated Construction asked the city for permission to move the three homes in September after the Santa Fe City Council rejected a request to demolish the homes and another old school building. The company does have permits to demolish six non-landmark buildings at the site.

New Mexico Consolidated Construction wants to clear a large chunk of the property to sell to the federal government for expansion of the adjacent Santa Fe National Cemetery.