Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Project: Reader Reaction
A recent Project: Reader Reaction question asked for opinions on what to do with Hotel Clovis. Some responses:
“Tear it down. No one seems to plan on doing anything with it, and the cost to restore is outrageous. I realize that it is a part of Clovis’ history, but what good does it do if no one plans to utilize its worth and make something of it? I’d rather see parts of the hotel and pictures in a museum.”
— Tanya Hughes, Clovis
“I would love to see the Hotel Clovis opened and made into a museum. The train museum could be moved into the hotel as well as fixing an area for pictures and stories of the history of Clovis, and the surrounding area. It can also be used for small shops and offices. I hate to see the building rotting away from neglect.”
— Ardyth Elms, Clovis
“As a native of Clovis, the hotel has a special place in my heart. A lot of people in Clovis have history in the hotel. There are only two options, in my opinion: Either fix it or tear it down. There will be people on both sides of the issue so leave it to a vote. Let the people of Curry County decide if they want to pay to restore it or not. Very simple, majority rules. I would abide by the vote, whichever way it went.”
— Don Reid, Clovis
“There is not much that can be done but secure the building until the foreclosure is completed. Then, and until then, maybe someone will step forward and try to make an earnest and honest deal.”
— James W. McDonald, Clovis
“The Hotel Clovis outlived its usefulness long ago. Nobody seems to want to pay for it or fix it. It is an eyesore to the modern Clovis community and a constant reminder of the problems it has created. Take it down and sell the scraps to help pay for this action.”
— Bill Middleton, Clovis
“The building’s structure is still sound and the building has a lot of potential. With the fiscal problems currently being faced by both the city and the county, I cannot see either entity pursuing any capital investment in the building. To bring this facility up to current building code standards (which will be mandatory during any renovation effort) will cost millions of dollars. To turn this structure into a viable part of the community, the owners (Hispanic Business Council) should be aggressively looking for investors to remodel, or looking for a buyer who has the means to develop this property. Demolition should not be an option.”
— Bob Baker, Clovis
“The Hotel Clovis should have been razed LONG ago. No doubt that many people have thought about what the hotel could be used for, but the bottom line seems to be the investment required to put the property to profitable use.”
— Bill Gaedke, Clovis