The historic La Fonda Hotel in downtown Santa Fe, N.M., soon will undergo significant interior renovations and make small cosmetic changes to the exterior, reported the Albuquerque Journal.
The outside work required approval by the city’s Historic Districts Review Board, and it was granted Tuesday.
That includes the addition of a small staircase on the southwest corner of the building, the opening of an exit door on Water Street that was closed off years ago, repair and replacement of woodwork, re-stuccoing and reconfiguring the bell tower to create better access.
It’s just a taste of La Fonda’s planned renovation, which includes a makeover for 164 of the hotel’s 178 guest rooms and the hotel corridors. […]
The interior changes involve improving the guest rooms with hardwood flooring, new and restored handcrafted headboards, renovated bathrooms and modern touches such as flat panel televisions hung in wooden frames.
The Historic Districts board praised La Fonda’s plan for trying to preserve its historic look and taking inspiration from architect Mary Colter‘s original design.
The project’s architect said work should begin in January and be finished by August 2013.
La Fonda sits less than a block from the 1926-1937 alignment of Route 66 that goes into downtown. Even though La Fonda was built in 1922, an inn has been located at that site as far back as 1607.
(Image courtesy of La Fonda)
Looks good. We will try to make it there next time west.
Who shot the picture? Very nice shot. Looks like HDR.
Rick, I had to go back to the La Fonda site to check. Robert Reck shot the photo, and he has a website: robertreck.com.
La Fonda offers free downloads of several dozen photos for public-relations purposes, which is very cool.