The controversial $119 million Albuquerque Rapid Transit bus project along Central Avenue (aka Route 66) began operation 13 months after construction began. Reporters and dignitaries boarded one of the all-electric buses for its maiden voyage Saturday. One of the buses running Saturday was a Route 66-themed vehicle. Mayor Richard Berry, who shepherded the ART project to … Continue reading Albuquerque Rapid Transit opens; buses are rolling
Tag: Albuquerque
Albuquerque wants to create historic Route 66 inventory
The city of Albuquerque is considering a resolution to create an inventory of all buildings along Route 66 that are 50 years old and older to document and even preserve them. KRQE-TV in Albuquerque reports: The city said the building inventory would have a snapshot of the building, information about it, building materials used, as … Continue reading Albuquerque wants to create historic Route 66 inventory
Singer’s music video shot at Albuquerque Route 66 sites
Pop singer Bebe Rexha and country-pop duo Florida Georgia Line recently released a music video shot at two Route 66 sites in Albuquerque. Rexha's "Meant to Be" video was released Oct. 23 to YouTube. It's racked up millions of views and reached the top 10 of the iTunes chart. Featured in the video are the Grandview … Continue reading Singer’s music video shot at Albuquerque Route 66 sites
El Vado Motel to reopen in December; De Anza in 2019
The long-simmering restoration of Albuquerque's historic El Vado Motel is slated to reach completion by December, when it reopens as a boutique motel with local-beer taproom, retail store, mixed-income housing and food pods. The city had hoped to have it open by the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta earlier this month. Meanwhile, restoration work on the … Continue reading El Vado Motel to reopen in December; De Anza in 2019
El Vado Motel’s lobby soon will open as beer taproom
The lobby of the historic El Vado Motel in Albuquerque will open in early November as a taproom for local beers from Ponderosa Brewing Co. Redevelopment of the Route 66 landmark into a boutique motel is continuing, but Chad Rennaker of Palindrome Communities Development told the Albuquerque Journal that El Vado Taproom will open in a … Continue reading El Vado Motel’s lobby soon will open as beer taproom
Developers unveil De Anza Motor Lodge renderings in Albuquerque
Developers of the historic but long-closed De Anza Motor Lodge in Albuquerque on Tuesday showed off artist's renderings of the upcoming project, which is expected to break ground in October and take about a year to complete. According to the Albuquerque Journal, the Route 66 motel will be demolished and rebuilt as a hotel, apartments, … Continue reading Developers unveil De Anza Motor Lodge renderings in Albuquerque
Business owners say ART work will hurt Route 66 festival
Businesses along the Nob Hill sector in Albuquerque say next month's Route 66 Summerfest will be hampered by ongoing Albuquerque Rapid Transit construction. In a featured guest column signed by 16 other business owners in the Albuquerque Journal, Stone Mountain Bead Gallery owner Robert Steinberg said a recent article about how crews will be finished with … Continue reading Business owners say ART work will hurt Route 66 festival
De Anza Motor Lodge project takes another step forward
The lengthy quest to rehabilitate and reopen the long-shuttered De Anza Motor Lodge in Albuquerque took another significant step forward last week. The city’s Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission on Wednesday approved a redevelopment plan for the Route 66 motel that would keep most of its vital historical elements, reported, the Albuquerque Journal. As proposed, … Continue reading De Anza Motor Lodge project takes another step forward
The enduring fascination with Oklahoma Joe’s in Albuquerque
One of the most popular comment threads in the nearly 12-year history of Route 66 News is the one about Oklahoma Joe's, a restaurant along Route 66 that also became a tavern popular with University of New Mexico students. It also was known as Okie's or Okie Joe's. At last count, more than 220 comments … Continue reading The enduring fascination with Oklahoma Joe’s in Albuquerque
Redevelopment of De Anza Motor Lodge begins next month
The long-awaited redevelopment project for the closed De Anza Motor Lodge in Albuquerque begins in June, setting up the Route 66 property's reopening as an extended-stay hotel sometime in summer 2018. Construct Southwest, chosen by the city to redevelop the neglected but historic property, will begin to raze three buildings down on the property in June, … Continue reading Redevelopment of De Anza Motor Lodge begins next month