A report by the Albuquerque Tribune about the Landmarks Commission recommending that El Vado Motel be designated as a landmark was published this afternoon. I won’t repeat it here, since most of the basic facts were reported on this site earlier today. But there’s this interesting snippet:
While public comment was made for and against the designation, commissioners ultimately based their decision on their private tours of the building last month.
“I was amazed at the good condition of El Vado,” Commissioner Barbara Maddox said. “I have seen properties in far worse condition be restored.”
New owner Richard Gonzales keeps harping about the alleged poor condition of El Vado. Yet his statements don’t stand up to scrutiny — especially by people who’ve actually inspected the property.
Anybody who says El Vado can’t be saved obviously hasn’t seen before-and-after photographs of Shamrock’s U-Drop Inn, Arcadia’s Round Barn or Odell’s Standard Oil Station.
What I find interesting in that article is the fact that he keeps saying the property is not economically viable, yet — correct me if I’m wrong — it had been in *constant operation* from the time it opened in 1937 until the day he closed it last month.
I suppose it’s a matter of perception. But I think anyone with any sort of historic preservation experience would find Gonzales’ assessment of El Vado’s condition to be woefully out of step with reality.