Historic Hotels Approved To Be Demolished To Create Surface Parking

"The City Council voted late Tuesday to demolish four historic hotels downtown and to put parking lots in their place, but it put off at least temporarily the planned demolition of three other hotels."

"The decision dismayed local preservationists who appealed to the council to save the hotels authorized for demolition. They were all built between 1870 and 1930 and were closed in code enforcement sweeps beginning in 2001."

"The decision authorized the immediate destruction of the Commercial and Main hotels and the Hotel St. Leo, hotels the Cultural Heritage Board sought to preserve. It also endorsed the razing, likely next year, of the Land Hotel."

"Mayor Ed Chavez and other council members said they are uncertain a developer could bring forward a plan for the remaining three hotels that would not require a massive subsidy. Still, they said it is worthwhile to try. To put off their demolition for at least six months is "a sensible compromise," said Councilwoman Susan Eggman, who proposed it."