Clovis City Council OKs demolition for old winery

The old Clovis winery is headed for demolition after the Clovis City Council approved the plan Monday night.

Demolition of the massive former La Paloma Winery, which is more than 100 years old and has been out of operation for decades, is expected to begin next month. Last week, the city condemned the complex of buildings to prevent trespassers from entering the facilities.

Several of the buildings’ ceilings and roofs expose indoor areas to the elements. The buildings also have buckling walls, cracked and broken wooden girders and staircases.

The city will keep its recreation facility on the southern edge of the property and the tower building on the north side fronting Clovis Avenue, south of Ashlan Avenue.

Approval of the plan will set demolition in motion. The city is expected to put out specifications for demolition later this week.

City officials believe demolition will cost about $500,000 and that much of the cement and steel from the buildings will be recycled.

Once much of the 16-acre property is cleared, city officials are hoping to build sports fields for large tournaments and affiliated businesses, possibly a hotel, that would serve visitors attending tournaments.

This story was originally published December 7, 2015 at 6:41 PM with the headline "Clovis City Council OKs demolition for old winery."