Old Town Boys and Girls Club to close

NEXT. THE DAYS ARE NUMBERED FOR A LANDMARK IN HISTORIC OLD TOWN ALBUQUERQUE. AND IF YOU WE...  More »

NEXT. THE DAYS ARE NUMBERED FOR A LANDMARK IN HISTORIC OLD TOWN ALBUQUERQUE. AND IF YOU WERE A KID IN THE ALBUQUERQUE AREA ANYTIME DURING THE PAST HALF CENTURY -- CHANCES ARE PRETTY GOOD THAT YOU'VE SET FOOT INSIDE THE PLACE. SHELTON DODSON IS LIVE IN OLD TOWN WITH OUR TOP STORY... SHELTON: GENERATIONS OF ALBUQUERQUE FAMILIES HAVE BEEN INSIDE THE BOY'S AND GIRLS CLUB HERE AT MOUNTAIN AND RIO GRANDE. IT HAS SEEN ITS BETTER DAYS AND NEEDS MILLIONS IN RENOVATIONS. MILLIONS THAT HAVE PROVEN IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND: : WHEN YOU HAVE A GOOD MOVIE, COMFORTABLE COUCH AND A BEST FRIEND TO SHARE IT WITH... WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE IS A CARE IN THE WORLD. THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB HAS GONE HAND-IN-HAND WITH OLD TOWN SINCE 1954. BUT THE DAYS OF A FULL HOUSE HAVE LONG SINCE PASSED. : 'Thirty-five years ago mom and dad were raising kids in that community but now it is pretty much grandma and grandpa and the kids have grown up to do their own careers and their own thing.'COME MAY 1ST... THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB IS CLOSING UP SHOP. 'It's makes me feel sad because I want other kids to see this place and have as much fun as we do.': 'basketballs dribbling' THIS GYM MAY BE THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE IN THE STATE.... TENS OF THOUSANDS HAVE PLAYED HERE. BUT IT... ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE FACILITY IS FALLING APART. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MIKE WALKER SAYS THEY NEED A 150- THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR JUST IN OPERATING COSTS AND ANOTHER 3- POINT-5 MILLION TO RENOVATE THE OLD TOWN CLUB. MONEY HE SPENT THE PAST YEAR TRYING -- IN VAIN -- TO FIND. : 'Trying to fund raise, trying to lobby to for various dollars that are out there in the public and private sector and we're just a little too late and a little too short.' SO NOW THE PROPERTY WILL BE SOLD AND THE PROFIT USED TO FIX UP AND FUND THE REMAINING TWO CLUBS IN THE METRO AREA AND MAYBE AS SEED MONEY FOR A SOUTH VALLEY CLUB SOME DAY. HOPING THAT NEW DOOR WILL OPEN AFTER THE OLDEST ONE IS CLOSED. THE WINTER BASKETBALL LEAGUE HERE IS LEGENDARY... AND MIKE WALKERS STRESSES IT WILL RUN AGAIN THIS YEAR. BUT WHEN THAT LEAGUE IS DONE... SO TOO IS THE CLUB. REPORTING LIVE  « Less