The Albuquerque City Council just voted 7-1 to approve the designation of the historic El Vado Motel as a city landmark. The designation will take effect June 1, with a provision in the ordinance stating that no demolition permits can be issued for the property between now and then. Film at 11 (ABQ time, that … Continue reading 7 to 1 for El Vado
Highlights, quotes, etc. from the Albuquerque City Council meeting: Richard Gonzales, the developer who bought El Vado last fall with the intention of tearing it down and replacing it with luxury townhouses, started his comments to the council with this gem: I’m not prepared to make any presentation to you this evening, because I just … Continue reading Details from El Vado meeting
Because the Albuquerque City Council so resoundingly passed the resolution to designate El Vado Motel a city landmark and listened to our pleas for preservation, I recommend that you thank the council’s members. You can do so by clicking here and writing a quick note. Being a politician is often a thankless job; I have … Continue reading Give ’em a thank-you
Here’s the report from the Albuquerque Tribune.
The Albuquerque Tribune’s opinion page has a regular “bouquets and brickbats” feature, in which it heaps its praise or derision on what’s happening with local issues. The Tribune sent a bouquet to the Albuquerque City Council for designating landmark status Monday night to El Vado Motel on Route 66. Albuquerque obsessed with razing historic buildings … Continue reading City’s decision on El Vado earns praise
The historic Horn Motor Lodge (pictured here in present-day and an old postcard), on Route 66 in Albuquerque, is being threatened by development. The Sandia Theatre is also threatened. There’s a proposal, called Country Club Plaza (scroll down to the lone Southwest listing to read it), to raze the properties for a mixed-use development of … Continue reading Horn Motor Lodge in Albuquerque threatened
I received a notice Friday that the hearing on Richard Gonzales’ appeal of the City of Albuquerque Landmarks Commission’s decision to designate El Vado Motel a city landmark has been delayed. The hearing will be at 9:30 a.m. March 30. Having read the city Planning Commission’s strong and convincing rebuttal, I think it’s just delaying … Continue reading Appeal on El Vado landmarks decision delayed
The City of Albuquerque Environmental Planning Commission voted 6-2 on Friday to redevelop the Horn Oil Co. on Route 66 into a multi-use residential area, according to the Albuquerque Journal (subscription-only content). There also is a report at the Albuquerque Tribune site. Horn Oil Co. at one point in its history on Route 66 boasted … Continue reading Bad news for Horn Oil Co.
I got word today from the city of Albuquerque that the appeal of Richard Gonzales, owner of El Vado Motel on Route 66, was denied. He was seeking to overturn the Landmarks Commission's recommendation to designate El Vado a city landmark, thus giving the historic motel greater protection. Gonzales was wanting to tear down the … Continue reading El Vado Motel appeal is denied
Here it is, in full: Greetings: El Vado Motel is back on the Albuquerque Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission’s agenda in two weeks. If you support preservation of this historic Route 66 landmark, know that its designation as a City of Albuquerque Landmark is again at stake, along with its very existence. Two related questions … Continue reading An urgent message from Albuquerque
