About a year ago, Alan McNeil purchased the long-closed and long-neglected Triangle Motel on old Route 66 in Amarillo, Texas.
It had been condemned, but the city gave a one-year moratorium if McNeil could show progress was being made in the cleanup. A review of the progress is coming shortly, reports the Amarillo Globe-News (free registration required).
The previous owner used the motel as storage. McNeil said he and a crew working on the motel have hauled away more than 70 tons of debris. The building also has water damage and is ravaged with mold and mildew. Some estimates are as high as $250,000 to bring it up to code.
McNeil concedes he’s looking at about $29,000 for a new roof, $15,000 for electrical work and up to $15,000 for plumbing repairs.
“We’ve done a lot of work on it,” he said. “We’ve cut down like 70-something trees, cleared out grass and debris and did a lot of grading on the road.
“When we first got here, there was dirt from one side to the other,” McNeil continued. “We didn’t even know there was curb and gutter when we bought it. We found out after we started digging.”
McNeil got substantial help from Old Texas Route 66 Association members and other volunteers last year with the cleanup efforts.
The story makes it sound like a decision hasn’t been made regarding McNeil’s application for a Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program cost-share grant. However, it was previously reported by McNeil’s mother that the Triangle did win a grant, and the Corridor Program will make an announcement about all grant recipients shortly.