I got an e-mail from the City of Albuquerque this afternoon informing me that El Vado Motel's new owner, Richard L. Gonzales, has appealed the Landmarks Commission's recommendation to make El Vado a city landmark. The appeal will be introduced Feb. 6, the same day the city council was to decide the landmark issue. A … Continue reading El Vado owner appeals landmarks recommendation
Category: Preservation
Blogger decries El Vado owner’s greed
Jon Knudsen of Albloggerque, a blog site based in the Nob Hill neighborhood of Albuquerque, says El Vado Motel being put up for sale for $3.25 million is "sad lesson in greed." It sure seems like the owner is not only asking the city to bail him out of an idea that wouldn't fly with … Continue reading Blogger decries El Vado owner’s greed
Big day in Chandler
A bunch of local dignitaries showed up in Chandler, Okla., on Saturday for the "Arms Around the Armory" ceremonies, including state politicians, philanthropists and city officials. But the day's big stars were an enormous stone building and the most famous highway in the world, Route 66. The first photo was from the groundbreaking ceremony for … Continue reading Big day in Chandler
“Disgusting” El Vado for sale for $3.25 million
Owner Richard Gonzales testifed under oath during Landmarks Commission hearings that El Vado Motel on Albuquerque's Route 66 was "disgusting" and "not viable." But I got word today from an Albuquerque source that I trust implicitly that Gonzales has put the "disgusting" and "not viable" El Vado up for sale with an asking price of … Continue reading “Disgusting” El Vado for sale for $3.25 million
Council will decide on El Vado on Feb. 6
Ed Boles with the City of Albuquerque today said the recommendation to designate El Vado Motel on Route 66 a city landmark will be introduced at the next council meeting Jan. 18 and the council will vote on it Feb. 6. You can use this handy contact form to let the councilors know you want … Continue reading Council will decide on El Vado on Feb. 6
Arms around the armory
The Daily Oklahoman has a story about a "human chain" at 11 a.m. Saturday to kick off the restoration of a historic National Guard armory in Chandler, Okla. The building will be converted into a Route 66 interpretive center, and it's hoped to be open in about a year. The building also will serve as … Continue reading Arms around the armory
Meeting of the Route 66 minds
There's going to be a heckuva lot of Route 66 brainpower sitting in one room in Albuquerque next month. The newly formed advisory council of the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program will meet Feb. 9-10 at the Hotel Albuquerque in Old Town. The council was established to recommend ways to preserve important properties along Route … Continue reading Meeting of the Route 66 minds
Time to help El Vado again
The Albuquerque City Council is set to hear the recommendation from the Landmarks Commission to designate the endangered El Vado Motel on Route 66 as a city landmark. When that will be, I'm not sure. The next council meeting is Jan. 18. The agenda won't be set until Friday. That leaves little time for people … Continue reading Time to help El Vado again
Byway is the highway
The Oakville-Mehlville Journal in Missouri reported additional details about Route 66 in Missouri recently being designated a scenic byway. We reported about the initial announcement in November. The Route 66 Association of Missouri and the Missouri Department of Transportation worked for several years to acquire the designation. Scenic byway status allows communities and groups to … Continue reading Byway is the highway
Petrified Forest facilities get a face-lift
The Holbrook (Ariz.) Tribune-News is reporting developments in store for the Petrified Forest National Park, namely: -- The Painted Desert Inn will reopen after nearly 18 months of renovations. -- "Along with the inn’s reopening in 2006, the park will open a Route 66 pullout. This point overlooks the Painted Desert, the inn and the … Continue reading Petrified Forest facilities get a face-lift