Wells Fargo Bldg to Undergo Renovations in Downtown El Paso

The owner of the Wells Fargo Plaza building in Downtown El Paso will begin renovations this week on the lobby area of the tower. Borderplex Community Trust made the announcement in a press release on October 28, 2014.

Renovations to Wells Fargo Plaza in Downtown El Paso include an outdoor seating area that is part of a full-service restaurant. (Courtesy Borderplex Community Trust)

The most visible part of the renovation will be upgrades to the lobby area. Borderplex plans changes to the lobby to make it "more open, airy, and light-filled," which includes contemporary elements and structural changes to improve pedestrian flow.

Brio RTS Launches First Route

After years of planning, engineering, and construction, Sun Metro has finally launched its first Brio Rapid Transit System (RTS) route. The Mesa Corridor route begins officially running on October 27, 2014.

El Paso's mass transit system held a "launch party" on Monday at Cleveland Square. The Mesa Corridor route runs from Downtown El Paso to the Westside Transfer Center, with 22 stops along the round trip.

H&M, Armani Exchange Announce Opening Dates for Outlet Shoppes at El Paso Stores

The Outlet Shoppes at El Paso has announced opening dates for two of its newest additions. H&M and Armani Exchange will both open stores at the Northwest El Paso outlet shopping center later this month.

A flyer announcing the grand opening date for the first H&M store in El Paso. (Courtesy Outlet Shoppes at El Paso)

Armani Exchange will be located in a 2,950 square foot space at the Outlet Shoppes in an existing building. The retailer sells apparel for men and women along with accessories.

West Elm Store Opens this Week at the Fountains at Farah

The largest tenant on the Promenade at the Fountains at Farah is scheduled to open this week. West Elm, a home furnishings and decor retailer, will open Thursday, October 16, 2014, at the East El Paso shopping center. Hours of operation have not yet been posted.

The West Elm sign was recently installed at the Fountains at Farah in El Paso. (instagram.com/westelmelpaso)

West Elm's 22,000 square foot store will have two levels, accessible from both the lifestyle Promenade area and the big-box Boulevard Shops upper section.

Ground Broken for Campbell Apartments Near Downtown

A South El Paso neighborhood near Downtown will see a brand new apartment building rise within about twelve months, just one block south of Paisano Drive. Groundbreaking was held Thursday for the 88-unit Campbell Apartments at 501 South Campbell Street.

The Campbell Apartments will rise five stories in South El Paso, just south of Downtown, as shown in this rendering. Construction could be complete by fall of 2015. (Courtesy Soto Enterprises)

The urban, mixed-use building will rise five stories, with retail and parking on the first level and apartment units on the upper floors. 

There will be 3,654 square feet of storefront retail space available which may be divided in up to four separate tenants. Behind the retail spaces, there will be 48 parking spaces in a covered garage.

UTEP Updates: Campus Work Centers on ‘Transformation’ Projects

Transportation, Housing Developments Also on University’s Checklist

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is gearing up for its Centennial Celebration, and crews continue their progress on projects around campus.

Students and visitors to UTEP have dealt with detours, fenced off areas, and general construction for many months, particularly in the middle of the school’s grounds where Centennial Plaza is taking shape.

A crowd gathers around the Esfera Cuantica Tlahtolli sculpture, recently unveiled at the University of Texas at El Paso (www.youtube.com/user/UTEP)

According to UTEP News, crews recently began digging holes for the trees and shrubbery that will surround the plaza. Centennial Plaza is the centerpiece of UTEP’s Centennial Celebration, a large gathering area bordered by the Union, Geological Sciences, Psychology, and Administration buildings. University construction will ultimately remove streets, parking lots, and concrete areas to reveal a more natural, pedestrian-friendly environment.