Mohave Daily News: Local

NEEDLES - Dan Lutzick, artist and sculptor, is the new project manager overseeing the rehabilitation of the city's El Garces. The goal of the project is to turn the old train depot into an upscale hotel, restaurant and intermodal transportation center by Dec. 22, 2008. But Lutzick won't be leaving the next day. He is committed to staying on until April 1, 2010, to assure a successful outcome.

Both Allan Affeldt, investor in the project, and Lutzick are the visionaries responsible for successfully reviving La Posada in Winslow, Ariz. Since both structures are former train stations and Harvey Houses, it seemed natural they take on El Garces as their next major transformation. Affeldt had become interested in El Garces a few years ago and Richard Rowe, city manager, decided to approach him about the possibility of recreating his efforts with Needles' biggest landmark.

With little hesitation, Affeldt started working on a concept plan which the city approved in August of last year.

Both Affeldt and Lutzick expressed appreciation for Rowe's part in making the project a reality, with Affeldt saying, “He's been a key individual in shepherding the process along.” Neither of them think the vision would have evolved this far without Rowe's commitment to obtaining necessary resources, and they continue to maintain a strong working relationship with city officials.

With total confidence, Affeldt has turned daily operation over to Lutzick by naming him president of El Garces LLC. In April, Lutzick and his two dogs set up camp, literally, in a travel trailer on site, allowing the artist to remain close to his subject. Seeing himself as an upper manager wielding a sledge hammer, he intends to work personally with consultants, subcontractors and others on every aspect of development. He needs to get his hands dirty to do that, he said. This is more than a job to Lutzick, it's a drive to preserve a work of art and make it functional once again.

Lutzick began studying physics in college but ended up graduating the University of California, Irvine, with a degree in fine arts, specializing in large scale ceramics. Irvine is where he crossed paths with Affeldt and his artist wife, Tina Mion. A mutual interest in preservation and sustainable design took the two artists and the peace activist, Affeldt, to Winslow in 1994 where La Posada was waiting to be reborn. Diving into the task at hand, Lutzick came to know every aspect of the operation from construction to publicity to gift shop management.

When asked how one goes about tackling such a huge project, Lutzick replied, “I assess it on a grand scale and then take it one little piece at a time.” That means he will schedule and coordinate all phases but doesn't intend to micro-manage down to the smallest details. Those will fall into place further down the road, he assured. Besides, he added, he wants to allow for flexibility where needed.