According to a report on Albuquerque TV station KOB's Web site Austin-based company Inland Public Properties Development Inc. is showing interest in purchasing the College of Santa Fe.

According to Inland's Web site the real estate company "intends to acquire existing special use facilities, which are then leased to the government, or to a private company engaged by the government to operate the property." After starting up in 2005 as primarily a shopping mall developer Inland began to purchase land to build prisons that it would lease to the government.

The sale to Inland, of course, still requires legislative approval and, according to a report in the Santa Fe New Mexican, Highlands University President Jim Fries is concerned that the deal would cost the state more in the long run.

SFR has not yet heard back from representatives from Inland or the College of Santa Fe but will update the story as soon as more information becomes available.