NEW MEXICO
Gallup Independent

Published in the Gallup Independent, Gallup, N.M., Sept. 9, 2015

By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Independent correspondent
religion@gallupindependent.com

GALLUP – Past environmental damage may sabotage the sale of one of the Diocese of Gallup’s commercial properties slated for auction later this month.

As part of its bankruptcy case, the Gallup Diocese has agreed to auction off a number of parcels of real property in Arizona Sept. 12, and New Mexico Sept. 19. One of the Gallup properties scheduled to be sold is a vacant lot on the northwest corner of Aztec Avenue and Fourth Street, currently being rented by the city of Gallup as a parking lot for municipal vehicles.

During a recent downtown revitalization workshop, community members raised the idea of the city purchasing the property as a site for a multi-floor library with an underground parking garage.

However, reports recently obtained by the…