I got an e-mail from the City of Albuquerque this afternoon informing me that El Vado Motel‘s new owner, Richard L. Gonzales, has appealed the Landmarks Commission’s recommendation to make El Vado a city landmark.
The appeal will be introduced Feb. 6, the same day the city council was to decide the landmark issue. A city staffer told me the appeal will “more than likely put the recommendation on hold until the appeal has been heard by the Land Use Hearing Officer.”
I’ll get a copy of the actual appeal in a few days. But at first glance, this sounds like another Hail Mary from Gonzales. Unless he’s uncovered something egregious committed by the Landmarks Commission, the appeal will be denied. I read nothing in the hearing transcript that raised a red flag.