A long-awaited redevelopment of the landmark El Vado Motel in Albuquerque may begin by summer, and part of the property will reopen as a boutique motel by summer 2017.
The Albuquerque Journal reports a $16 million, scaled-back plan for the long-closed Route 66 motel and a nearby piece of land recently was greenlighted by the city. The city picked Palindrome Communities to redevelop the property in September 2014.
One of the big changes is to build fewer affordable apartments the adjacent Casa Grande site.
Redeveloper Chad Rennaker gave the newspaper a few details on what will happen to El Vado:
He said the El Vado development will feature a Ponderosa taproom in addition to a courtyard filled with “food pods” that will provide a number of dining options from budding and established restaurateurs.
In addition to new construction, where Palindrome will serve as general contractor, the company will also steer the El Vado remodeling, which will include a 20-unit boutique motel, with an event space, the food court, pool and retail space.
Irish immigrant Daniel Murphy opened El Vado Auto Court Motel on Route 66 in 1937. It’s cited as one of the best examples of pre-World War II motels in New Mexico. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.
El Vado closed in 2005 after new owner Richard Gonzales said he wanted to bulldoze it for luxury townhouses. The city seized the property a years later after a long fight to save it.
(Artist’s rendering of the repurposed El Vado Motel via the city of Albuquerque)