The restoration of the historic De Anza Motor Lodge along Route 66 in Albuquerque will be delayed until at least April because of inexplicable delays in Washington, reported the New Mexico Business Weekly.
The project requires approval by the National Park Service so developer Rob Dickson can receive tax credits to cover part of the costs of the $4.3 million project. Dickson plans to convert the motel into 39 apartments, a Zuni jewelry store, and a Route 66 visitors center.
He planned to break ground in July and have the project finished by spring. But …
“We thought we would get the approvals from Washington in 30 days, or at least get comments or have a discussion on our proposal, but we’ve heard nothing,” a frustrated Dickson told the Business Weekly. “We’re all puzzled, but we’re not just sitting around. The Mayor’s (Richard Berry) staff has written a letter and called the National Park Service asking that it do everything to get it approved.” […]
If he gets the plan approved from the NPS before the end of the year, he would start construction next April.
Construction will take about 10 months, which would put completion in early 2014 at the earliest.
Dickson also encountered a delay this past summer because of a financing snag. Restoring the De Anza has already seen other delays in the past decade.
S.D. Hambaugh, a tourist court operator from Tucson, Ariz.; and C.G. Wallace, a trader with the Zuni Indians, built De Anza Motor Lodge in 1939. It closed during the 1990s, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.
(Image courtesy of 66Postcards.com; hat tip to Dave Willman)
Does anyone know how many visitor centers there are on the Route in New Mexico alone? Do they really need another one? Maybe if it had unique content or a subject which adds something to the experience. But, to honest, I think there’s a glut of them on the road right now.
With a Route 66 theme? None in New Mexico.
Illinois, on the other hand …