I'm going to print an e-mail I received from Michael Taylor, program manager for the Route 66 Preservation Program: El Vado's status is still very much up in the air. The more people that fill the rooms at the upcoming meetings, the better. I think it would be especially important to get Albuquerque residents to … Continue reading More input on El Vado needed

Kate Nelson, a columnist for the Albuquerque Tribune, weighed in a few days ago about the condition of El Vado Motel: Thick adobe walls and lovely old vigas can't counteract the lunch-gagging stench of the El Vado Motel - a place where the ghosts of meth addicts, prostitutes and worse seem to wander even now, … Continue reading Contradictions about El Vado Motel

Kate Nelson of the Albuquerque Tribune weighs in with a column with a more pessimistic view of El Vado Motel preservation efforts. I don't agree with her, especially after talking to several people who’ve stayed at the motel and say its condition is nowhere near as grave as Nelson implies. If any of you readers … Continue reading Column about El Vado Motel

Here’s an Albuquerque Tribune story about the bulldozing of the Gaslite Motel on Route 66. I have to admit I’ve never heard of it, and it sounds like it’s not going to be missed (a Google search found two homicides there from 1997 to 1999 alone). It sounds like the plan is a good one, … Continue reading Albuquerque’s plans to replace Route 66 motel

Jerry Ueckert of Edgewood, N.M., submitted a letter to the editor to the Albuquerque Journal and its coverage of the El Vado Motel hearing. He's brought up some interesting issues (especially since he's a newspaper reporter himself), and he's gave me permission to post it here. The Albuquerque Journal's report on the El Vado Motel, … Continue reading Letter to editor about El Vado hearing

Emily Priddy, eastern vice president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, has contacted me about a way to help El Vado Motel in Albuquerque gain its proposed designation as a city landmark, thus making it much more resistant to the wrecking ball. Your mission: Write a short letter to the Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission, … Continue reading How to help El Vado Motel again

The Albuquerque Journal posted a report (pay-only subscription) about an application from Mayor Martin Chavez to designate El Vado Motel a city historical landmark. In short, much was discussed, but nothing will be decided until at least next month. The designation would offer some protection to the old roadside lodging site. Development guidelines would be … Continue reading El Vado Motel hearing