Redforkhippiechick received an interesting comment a few days ago from Karim Hakam about her post in February about the endangered El Vado Motel on Route 66 in Albuquerque. Hakam’s father ran El Vado for a number of years. Here’s what he had to say: … It never ceases to amaze me how passionate the Route … Continue reading An interesting note about El Vado Motel

From today’s Albuquerque Journal: The historic El Vado Motel on Central is safe for now. By a 4-2 vote, the city Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission on Wednesday denied a request to demolish the 70-year-old tourist court, in part finding the property owner, Richard L. Gonzales, failed to show that no means of preserving the … Continue reading El Vado demolition request rejected

An article in the Albuquerque Journal says that the city and El Vado Motel owner Richard Gonzales have entered talks to settle their spat over the historic Route 66 property: City officials and the old Route 66 tourist court owner, Richard L. Gonzales, are pursuing “settlement negotiations,” according to a letter from Planning Director Richard … Continue reading El Vado owner, city go into negotiations

Preservation Online, a publication by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has a story about the City of Albuquerque fending off an attempt by a developer to demolish the historic El Vado Motel on Route 66. Much of the information in the Preservation Online story has already been reported here and in other media. But … Continue reading El Vado Motel update

According to the first paragraph of the Albuquerque Tribune: Two rulings this week on the future of the Route 66-era El Vado motel either deal a huge setback to the city’s efforts to preserve the historic structure or represent a minor bump in the road, depending on whom you talk to. First off, State District … Continue reading Ruling leaves El Vado’s future in doubt

A few weeks ago, Albuquerque’s Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission unanimously recommended that the historic El Vado Motel on Route 66 be designated a city landmark to protect it from demolition. Today, I learned the Albuquerque City Council will decide whether to officially designate El Vado as a city landmark during its Jan. 7 meeting. … Continue reading City Council will decide on El Vado on Jan. 7

The Albuquerque Tribune published a story today about the city council’s meeting Monday on whether to again designate El Vado Motel a city landmark, thus protecting it from destruction. One councilor is confident the council will follow the Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission’s unanimous recommendation and grant the designation. Councilor Isaac Benton said he expects … Continue reading Councilor thinks El Vado will be preserved

That was a close one. The Albuquerque City Council voted 5-4 Monday night to award city landmark status to El Vado Motel, giving it some protection against being torn down to make way for luxury townhouses. The vote followed more than two hours of sometimes-disjointed discussions that Councilor Don Harris labeled “a train wreck.” The … Continue reading El Vado Motel earns city landmark status — barely

Here’s a brief from Wednesday’s Albuquerque Journal about the continuing fight to preserve El Vado Motel: A state district judge advised developer Richard Gonzales and the city of Albuquerque on Tuesday to seek a compromise in their dispute over El Vado Motel. Gonzales is seeking a demolition permit to tear down at least part of … Continue reading Judge urges compromise with El Vado Motel