According to the first paragraph of the Albuquerque Tribune:
Two rulings this week on the future of the Route 66-era El Vado motel either deal a huge setback to the city’s efforts to preserve the historic structure or represent a minor bump in the road, depending on whom you talk to.
First off, State District Judge Valerie Huling ruled against the city in El Vado owner Richard Gonzales’ appeal, who is fighting the city’s effort to designate the historic Route 66 motel a historic landmark.
Huling’s 18-page opinion boils down to this: The Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission, which was charged with making a recommendation on the landmark status to the City Council, did its job without adequately considering the economic impact of such a designation.
The case now goes back to the commission, which must decide again with the judge’s opinion in mind.
“I would paint it as kind of a do-over,” said City Attorney Bob White.
Also, Gonzales won an appeal to a city land-use hearings officer of the rejection of a demolition permit for the motel. That sends it back to the City Council, or it could send it back to the Landmarks Commission.
The two cases, which promise to drag on for months, are inextricably linked. If Gonzales eventually wins his appeal about the landmark designation, then his demolition permit application becomes moot – demolishing an ordinary building is an easier process than demolishing a landmark.
Another option, floated by Kelly, is that the city buy the property.
Let’s hope it’s the latter. The condition of El Vado isn’t going to improve over the months that Gonzales and the city would haggle over legal issues.