Deep in an Albuquerque Business First story about developers Bill and Anna Smith of Construct Southwest and Anthea LLC, they respond to the charges in an appeal from a rival over the redevelepment of De Anza Motor Lodge in Albuquerque.
The Anthea developers submitted the winning $8.2 million proposal in March to redevelop the historic Route 66 motel. But that decision is being appealed:
The De Anza Co. group filed the appeal with the city last month saying the city’s request for proposals (RFP) scoring process was arbitrary and the city misrepresented the group’s financial status in relation to the project. The group also argued the city’s decision was illegal because their proposal would tear down fewer buildings.
Bill Smith said the RFP required only three existing buildings on the site to be saved, and their project saves four. He said their proposal also “recognizes and honors the lodge’s historic significance.”
“We’ve preserving the Zuni murals, the U-shaped motor court and have a Route 66, mid-century modern and Southwest theme that really represents what De Anza was,” he said.
The appeal is slated to be heard June 15. Bill Smith says if the appeal advances, it will delay redevelopment of the long-stalled project. Anthea says it is hoping to reopen De Anza in late 2016.
I strongly suspect the appeal will be rejected because the rival proposed a mix of public and private financing that has proved difficult to acquire with other De Anza proposals. Anthea’s proposal is entirely private financing and thus subject to far less red tape. The city’s Development Commission doubtlessly was aware of previous issues with public-private financing and didn’t want to go there again.
Zuni trader and Indian art collector Charles G. Wallace built De Anza in 1939. The motel, at 4301 Central NE, is on the National Register of Historic Places. The site was used in at least one scene in the acclaimed television drama “Breaking Bad” and recently used as a shooting locale for a Tina Fey movie, “Fun House,” that will be released in 2016.
Zuni trader and Indian art collector Charles G. Wallace built De Anza in 1939. The motel, at 4301 Central NE, is on the National Register of Historic Places. The site was used in at least one scene in the acclaimed television drama “Breaking Bad” and recently used as a shooting locale for a Tina Fey movie, “Fun House,” that will be released in 2016.
(Image of the De Anza Motor Court sign by Thomas Hawk via Flickr)