A LONG-VACANT ROUTE 66 MOTEL IS ABOUT TO GET A MAJOR FACELIFT. THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE EL VADO IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN LATER THIS YEAR. REBECCA VELARDE WITH ALBUQUERQUE’S PLANNING DEPARTMENT SAYS THE PROJECT SHOULD INJECT NEW LIFE INTO THE OLD TOWN AREA. SHE SAYS IT’S IDEALLY LOCATED CLOSE TO THE RIO GRANDE, WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE TO OLD TOWN, AND IS ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE BIOPARK.
THE HISTORIC EL VADO WILL BE TURNED INTO A BOUTIQUE MOTEL. THE CITY HAS ALREADY DEMOLISHED THE OLD CASA GRANDE RESTAURANT ADJACENT TO THE SITE. THAT PROPERTY WILL BE TURNED INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.
