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Ten months after the city declared El Vado Motel an official landmark, the owner of the property at 2500 Central Ave. S.W., is looking to raze the place.

Richard Gonzales, who is separately appealing the landmark designation, filed an application this month to demolish the property, arguing that it can't make money in its current condition.

"I have no alternative," he said Friday.

His long-term plans for the land are only preliminary, but he did express interest in building townhomes or condominiums there. Previously, Gonzalez talked of converting the land into residential units while retaining a "significant portion" of El Vado, but he said the city didn't want to play ball.

If he's successful in tearing down the motel, those negotiations would be moot.

"If it's all demolished, it's no longer a landmark issue," he said.

To get the demolition permit, Gonzales will have to show the city Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission that the property is "incapable of producing a reasonable economic return." Gonzales, aided by hired engineers and architects, made that argument at a hearing last month, complete with various financial statements and renovation estimates.

But the city, at least so far, isn't convinced that El Vado has to be such an unprofitable venture.

The information Gonzales put forth "is inconclusive with regard to potential economic return," according to a report written by Senior Planner Maryellen Hennessy. "Opportunities for reuse are too easily disposed of in the evidence presented."

The city-hired engineer, meanwhile, is taking a closer look at the economic story ahead of a Dec. 13 hearing, where the issue is scheduled to be hashed out further.

Preservation advocates say the the 69-year-old motel is a unique relic of the tourist motorcourt lodging days in the heyday of Route 66.

Mayor Martin Chavez could not be reached for comment on the matter Friday, but has in the past called for the preservation of the motel.

In other local government news, the City Council takes up a proposal to revamp how big box stores are constructed on Monday. The new body of regulations, sponsored by Councilor Debbie O'Malley, comes complete with a six-month moratorium that would stop construction on all buildings except those that follow the interim guidelines.

The end goal is to come up with a permanent set of rules.