From today’s Albuquerque Journal:
The historic El Vado Motel on Central is safe for now.
By a 4-2 vote, the city Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission on Wednesday denied a request to demolish the 70-year-old tourist court, in part finding the property owner, Richard L. Gonzales, failed to show that no means of preserving the structure has been found.
Gonzales said he will appeal to the City Council.
Barring a reversal by the City Council, that means there’s a one-year moratorium on demolition. But if the city or someone else is going to buy it (provided that Gonzales will let them), they’d better move fast. The more time expires, the greater the expense is for fixing up the property.
Eminent domain, anyone?
I sure hope the penalty for illegal demolition in Albuquerque is severe enough to be a real deterrent. It’s one thing for an act to be illegal; it’s another for the penalty to outweigh the perceived benefit to the instigator. I’ve seen “protected” properties razed or gutted a few times over the years, with no real consequences to the owner. Mid-century architecture fans are still in shock over the illegal demolition of Johnie’s Broiler in LA last week; I hope that’s the worst we see this year.