The Albuquerque Journal posted a report (pay-only subscription) about an application from Mayor Martin Chavez to designate El Vado Motel a city historical landmark. In short, much was discussed, but nothing will be decided until at least next month.
The designation would offer some protection to the old roadside lodging site. Development guidelines would be written, and alterations to significant features, new construction or demolition would require a “certificate of appropriateness” from the commission.
Some juicy quotes came from the meeting. First off, from new El Vado owner Richard L. Gonzales:
“If you take away the white paint, the stencil and the sign, it’s very similar to all the other motels the city has been demolishing as problem properties. El Vado currently caters to the very same transient population. It has small rooms with significant health and safety code issues. It’s lacked maintenance, and it’s in disrepair.”
For one thing, the city has demolished relatively few motel properties, and only those that are condemned. One in particular was razed because it flunked health codes and suffered a huge fire. According to many people I know who’ve examined El Vado and have stayed there, it is nowhere near in that bad of condition — at least nothing that a little TLC can cure.
Another one from Gonzales:
“Believe me, I know of no one traveling from Chicago, New York, France or Germany that will spend the night in the El Vado Motel. Trust me.”
He uses the loaded quote of “I know of no one” that will stay a night in the El Vado. That translates to: “I don’t know anyone in the Route 66 community whatsoever.” As for me, I do know of people who’ve stayed in the El Vado, and they love it.
More from the report:
Ed Boles, city historic preservation planner, said, “We recognize that in order to be viable in the longterm, historic properties have to accommodate some change. This landmarking action would not freeze this property in time, as some people put it on occasion.”
El Vado was listed on the state Register of Cultural Properties and the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.
“The El Vado Motel is one of the best examples of a largely unaltered pre-World War II tourist court remaining along Route 66 in New Mexico,” reads the national register registration form prepared by historian David J. Kammer.
The Spanish-Pueblo Revival-style building was constructed in 1937 in anticipation of the realignment of Route 66 and is “the oldest tourist court along the West Central Avenue commercial strip,” Kammer wrote.
Michael Romero Taylor, Route 66 Corridor Preservation program manager for the National Park Service, asked the commission to approve the designation. He called El Vado Motel an icon known “across America and abroad.”
“It is truly regarded as an authentic symbol of America’s 20th century heritage,” he wrote. “Each year, thousands of heritage tourism travelers traverse Route 66 in search of ‘the real thing.’ El Vado Motel is the real
thing.”Gonzales’ application for a zoning change is to be heard by the Environmental Planning Commission next month. The case was deferred from an October hearing date to explore preservation possibilities.
Gonzales last week brought forward the idea of preserving the front
portion of El Vado, but to do so with a deed restriction rather than through a landmark designation.
I think the city of Albuquerque won’t let El Vado get knocked down without a fight. I base this conclusion on my previous reports here, here, here and here.
Also, based on what I’ve read here, I think El Vado’s supporters made a much more compelling argument than Gonzales’. Still, things can change quickly, and it’s worth monitoring the situation.