[Neighbors] Hiway House Demolition Permit

[Gary Eyster]

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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