The city of Albuquerque finally has gained ownership of the historic El Vado Motel along Route 66, and city officials are exploring ideas on what to do with it now, reports the Albuquerque Journal.
Among the ideas are converting the property to a Route 66 neon museum, an artists’ colony space, or even as a motel.
Parts of the motel looked like they were in bad shape when we visited the Duke City a few months ago. But city officials are confident they can stabilize the structure so it can be renovated later.
While the ownership of El Vado was pending in the courts, the adobe structure itself deteriorated because the roof was left exposed after swamp coolers were pulled off. A couple of walls slumped into the ground.
That kind of severe damage is fairly limited, Boles said. The city has replaced the old tar-and-gravel roof with a single-ply membrane roof, at a cost of about $130,000, which will maintain the structural integrity while planning takes place.
“It’s stabilized. It’s secured. It’s fully fenced. We visit frequently. I don’t think anybody here expects this to remain vacant for as long as it has been now,” Boles said.
The saga to save El Vado from the wrecking ball began in late 2005, when local developer Richard Gonzalez announced he’d taken possession of the motel and would raze for luxury townhouses. The subsequent battle to save the motel included lawsuits, a historical landmark designation, municipal hearings, and finally a seizure of the property by the city in early 2008. After offers and counteroffers, Gonzalez in March received $1.4 million from the city for the property — considerably less than the $2.5 million he was seeking.
(Photo courtesy of Ace Jackalope.)
Its real simple. Reopen it as a motel like it was meant to be. Route 66 in Albuquerque needs the El Vado. The place will always be full with 66 aficionados from all over.