[Neighbors] Hiway House Demolition Permit

Fri Jan 5 15:52:51 MST 2024

Gary: I agree that demolition might be the only option because of one,
originally poor construction, cheap materials and decades of postponed
upgrades, upkeep by owners

who, like those of the De Anza, were unable to finance any of these
improvements. HOWEVER: it is WHAT is planned, proposed, to replace Hiway
House: this of the greatest concern to

myself and and ought to be for all those living south of this site. There is
exactly ONE block between our property just south of Lead, with NO
assurances that Developers, of

whom I have reasonable expectations of excessive, inappropriate, financial
rewards focused redevelopment proposals.  This is the same unease I have
about the old Bacchechi (sp?)

property, recently - witnessed from the Limonata just last week - the
subject of a huge multiunit, police raid, replete with bullet proof vests,
to oust another crop of methamphetamine 

producers comfortably producing and distributing on the site. The owner of
not only the Bacchechi site,  but also the wonderful, small scale units of
with coffee houses and restaurants, 

is not securing the other site, and appears to be rejecting issues that have
arisen with regard to number of dwelling  units, assigned car units and
their the impacts to an already overcrowded 

Silver/Tulane traffic there.   Plans by the California Los Angles Developer
include enough units with noted car numbers that simply driving down Silver
would  overwhelmed a still one family, 

albeit with casita,  neighborhood. 

To return to the Highway House, in general, developers between Girard and
Carlisle sties  on Central have included, among others, huge Pheonix style 

apartment complexes that impinge an already struggling - due to A.R.T. and
other phenomena - small business - area.   I had promised myself Not to get
involved with

either Baccheci or the Highway House matters - Jim Strozier aside - but may
have to, as these two development sites impinge upon neighborhoods that are
of long standing, 

worthy of consideration inhabitants.  Christmas/New Years Hearings may be
convenient for ensuring VERY low participation rates by neighborhood
residents. How Convenient for allowing

for allowing the least appropriate redevelopment proposals and by the
further encroachment of out of state owners who give very little credence to
the character

of New Mexico and of this particular area of the South East Heights. Yes, I
plan, barring previously scheduled events, any future hearings.

Dear Leslie: I saw you at the Santa Fe event awarding Nob Hill kudos for its
Historic Preservation.  I was amused by your shock at seeing me there:  I
remain committed to

somehow ensuring both Public and Pueblo of Zuni access to the Zuni Murals in
the basement, but remain unconvinced that historic preservation is a
commitment in

a City so distracted by sudden high rates of  homelessness, high crime
rates,  and inappropriate solutions that threaten existing, intact
neighborhoods. 

Actually: there are THREE sites on Central between Girard and Carlisle that
should be of concern to those who live in the University, Nob Hill and
Southeast

Heights areas:, the former Manny's Restaurant site (see Tony Anella), the
Highway House site, and the Baccheci (sp?)site.  Everyone just south of this
area ought

to understand that the redevelopment of these three sites could change
forever, the character of this slice of Route 66. But hey, who even
remembers even the

1980s? Let alone the l950s?. This aside, I urge that future discussions
about redevelopment of all these sites take place, with plenty of advance
notice of

meetings regarding all of these sites. 

Cc: Leslie Naji Inaji at cabq.gov <mailto:Inaji at cabq.gov> 

Cc: neighbors at nobhill-nm.com <mailto:neighbors at nobhill-nm.com>  Nob Hill
Neighbors Association

From: Neighbors_nobhill-nm <neighbors_nobhill-nm-bounces at mailman.swcp.com>
On Behalf Of Gary Eyster via Neighbors_nobhill-nm
Sent: Friday, January 5, 2024 9:55 AM
To: Leslie Naji <lnaji at cabq.gov>
Cc: neighbors at nobhill-nm.com
Subject: [Neighbors] Hiway House Demolition Permit

Leslie Naji, Preservation Planner, CABQ Planning Dept.

By email to  <mailto:lnaji at cabq.gov> lnaji at cabq.gov

Subj: Hiway House Demolition Permit

Dear Ms. Naji,

Consensus Planning reached out to us several weeks ago to discuss this
possible demolition. We recommended a single purpose community meeting which
they hosted at their offices Dec. 14.  We publicized the meeting to our
neighborhood association using the normal process, an announcement to our
email list of about 300 subscribers and posting on the events page of our
website. It was attended by five neighbors, none of whom indicated
opposition. On Dec. 20 we received an email from 11 residents in the 200
block of Bryn Mawr SE supporting demolition.

We placed the question on the agenda of our monthly board meeting of Jan. 2
and publicized it the same way. A half dozen neighbors attended in addition
to seven of our eight directors. We heard one neighbor who expressed a wish
that the motel be redeveloped using the current structure. The others all
spoke in support of demolition. 

Arguments for demolition included the poor quality of construction, damage
from a fire and an explosion, presence of asbestos, and the layout of the
motel with about 60 rooms as opposed to a new structure that could have
around 120 rooms making it more sustainable economically. While the current
structure is fenced it continues to be attractive to squatting, threat of
open fires, etc.  Removing the existing structure will improve this problem.

The community appreciated the idea that a new hotel would be one story on
Central although three stories elsewhere on the site. They also appreciated
the underground parking. Although it was not brought up that night I have
heard several neighbors indicate a strong preference for a project that
would reference area culture and architecture.

Our board of directors voted 7-0 in support of CABQ issuing a demolition
permit. We thank you and Consensus Planning for the opportunity to be heard
in this matter.

Kind regards,

Gary L. Eyster

President, Nob Hill Neighborhood Association

(505)991-1388

meyster1 at me.com <mailto:meyster1 at me.com> 

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