GREAT NEWS at La Union

We have wonderful news!  We are very happy to announce that we have received funding for PHASE I of revitalizing the La Union Community Center.

New Mexico State University Aggies Without Limits (student organization of  NMSU) received funding to help La Union restore the La Union Community Center.  With guidance from La Union Helping Hands, Townsite of La Union, Sonya Cooper, Jean Fulton, and Kenny Stevens, we are moving forward with improving the community for our residents.  Their extensive experience with restoring old buildings and construction is a great asset to our community. 

PHASE I of the La Union Community Center (Church) additions restoration preparations will include the following:

The contractor will prepare the building and grounds for safe access to begin restoration activities on the historic church. Items include removal of loose debris, attach usable components, weed and pest control, clean surfaces, clean grounds, and haul debris from the site.

The original church has a T-shaped footprint with the nave occupying the east-west rectangular shaped room and transepts at the rear north and south sides. This shape is evident with a high roof outline.  This original footprint is believed to be the original historic footprint and will be protected from any demolition activities. The restoration preparation discussed with the contractor at an October 14, 2024, site visit includes the following:

• completely remove north addition

• remove south addition except south wall and 12 feet (verify) of east and west walls

               at corners of south wall 

• remove low ceiling framing in church to expose original ceiling 

• remove added partitions at rear of church

• remove furring and drywall from interior adobe walls in church

For now, the rock wall will remain the same and not be altered. Civil engineer (Sonya Cooper or Kenny Stevens) and the preservationist (Jean Fulton) will be present at the site during the "preparation for restoration" phase,  because it is extremely important that they guarantee the preservation of the historical elements of the building.

Preparation for the restoration of the building will begin soon once all administrative paperwork is completed.  At that time we will notify you by posting flyers and placing signs near the site prior to the beginning of Phase I.  

On a final note, you may remember, the community center will be revitalized in phases as we get funding.

Phase I. 

1. Demolish the left and right sides of the church, keeping the original structure intact. 

2. The engineer will evaluate and inspect the building after the sides are demolished, and the building has been cleaned and sanitized. 

3. Following the demolition of the sides, we will work to list the building on the State and National Register to have the building recognized as a historical landmark. 

4. Continue to look for funding (private, corporate, state, and federal)

Note:  Future phases will address roof, interior of the building, rockwall, outdoor additional meeting spaces, and parking.

We are so excited and grateful to Aggies Without Limits for their time and effort in helping La Union.

Please express your gratitude to any of the Aggies Without Limits students you see as they help. When you can, provide support to their nonprofit organization, "Aggies Without Limits," to enable them to continue to do great things to improve the lives of others in our region and beyond.  www.aggieswithoutlimits.org 

Our dream of a community center will now become real!  Join us in building an exciting new place for La Union residents to enjoy.