'Down TI:ME' now Under Construction at Montecillo

A planned new addition to TI:ME at Montecillo is now under construction at West El Paso's smart growth development, according to a press release.

'Down TI:ME' is now under construction at the Montecillo development in West El Paso, pictured in this rendering. (Courtesy Pan y Agua Partners)

Dubbed "Down TI:ME," the building will be constructed just west of the existing retail and restaurant area at the corner of Mesa Street and Montecillo.

City to Extend Westin Hotel/Retail Complex Deadlines

The stalled Westin Hotel and retail complex that is planned near the El Paso International Airport is not dead, according to a City Council agenda item. City Representatives will consider extending deadlines to the incentives package and lease agreement that was approved for the project in 2013 due to an active lawsuit brought by nearby hotels.

An artistic rendering of the Acequia Park hotel and retail development planned for El Paso International Airport land. (Ronkot Design Vimeo Channel) 

Acequia Park, the name given to the complex by the developer, EP Vida, will consist of a 220-room hotel and attached retail complex on nine acres at the corner of Airway Boulevard and Boeing Drive.

Mall News: See Rendering of Cielo Vista Expansion; Bassett Place Makes Dave & Buster's Official

Last week, El Paso's largest shopping center, Cielo Vista Mall, announced a planned 125,000 square foot expansion that will begin in 2016. Now, we have the first images of what that expansion may look like.

This rendering shows what the Cielo Vista Mall expansion may look like, slated for construction in 2016 in East El Paso. (Cielo Vista Mall Property Overview) 

According to the mall's Property Overview, the expansion will occur off of the western wing of the center where the current Dillard's mens and childrens store now exists. This would mean demolition of that location.

Martin Building Apartments Could be Named 'ElectriCity,' Get Giant Lit Sign

El Pasoans are getting a sneak peak at a giant sign that will adorn the Martin Building once its renovation is complete. The historic high rise is undergoing a renovation in Downtown El Paso.

A giant sign could top the Martin Building in Downtown El Paso once its ongoing renovation is completed. "ELECTRICITY" may also be the new name of the retail and apartment building. (City of El Paso)

The image comes courtesy of a Facebook page highlighting the work of Los Angeles based Vuro Art Gallery, which is creating the sign.

North Hills Crossing to Open in June

Northeast El Paso's largest retail development in years is scheduled to open in June. North Hills Crossing, at the corner of Gateway South and Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, has been under construction since August and will add over 200,000 square feet of retail space.

A bird's eye view of the upcoming North Hills Crossing under construction in Northeast El Paso, scheduled to open in June. (Courtesy River Oaks Properties)

The power center will include retailers including Walmart Market, Ross, Marshall's, and Big Lots.

'Fountains' Announces Chuy's Mexican Restaurant Location

A Tex-Mex restaurant popular in central and east Texas's metros will open its first El Paso location in June. Chuy's Mexican Restaurant will have a location at the Fountains at Farah on the East Side.

A Chuy's restaurant will open this summer at the Fountains at Farah in El Paso. (www.chuys.com)

According to a press release, the restaurant will include an Elvis Shrine, the La Chihuahua Bar with framed photos of dogs, a "school" of hand-carved wooden fish, metal palms trees, and a hubcap-covered ceiling.

Will City of El Paso Buy Controversial Kern View Estates Property?

The City of El Paso will consider a proposal this week to purchase a 15.57 acre property on a hill overlooking the Kern and Mission Hills neighborhoods. A developer had previously put forward controversial plans to construct housing on the plot of land.

The City of El Paso may purchase a 15.57-acre property in West El Paso to preserve it as open space. (City of El Paso)

Kern View Estates includes 60 attached single family homes on the side of Crazy Cat Mountain, just east of Piedmont Drive.

El Paso Ranks 5th Best in Nationwide Well-Being Index

The Sun City topped the nation in "purpose" and "physical" well-being in an recently published index. Overall, El Paso ranked 5th best in overall well-being for 2014.

El Paso ranked 5th best overall in a well-being ranking published by Gallup-Healthways. (www.well-beingindex.com)

The 2014 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index measured the 100 largest metros in the country in five different categories of well-being, including purpose, social, financial, community, and physical. El Paso ranked number one in two of the categories, purpose and physical well-being.

Land Study May Mean New NE El Paso Neighborhoods in the Franklin Mountain Foothills

The foothills of the Franklin Mountains in Northeast El Paso could see more residential development in the coming years after the City Plan Commission approved a land study for the area. "Sierra del Puerte" includes about 175 acres of land just west of Magnetic Street.

The site plan for a new residential development in Northeast El Paso shows streets winding around arroyos and open space. (City of El Paso)

According to the land study, the developer plans to construct 319 residential units on 70 acres. The site plan shows residential streets winding through the development, with arroyos interspersed throughout.

Pottery Barn Opens Next Week at Outlet Shoppes

A Pottery Barn store is scheduled to open next week in Northwest El Paso. The newest addition to the Outlet Shoppes at El Paso will open Friday, March 20, 2015.

The 10,178 square foot store will open in the center's northern expansion which opened last year.

Officially a Pottery Barn Outlet, the store offers "high-quality products for the home," according to a press release. It is part of the Williams-Sonoma family of stores.

The new Pottery Barn Outlet store is located next to a Williams-Sonoma Outlet at the center. Shoppers will receive 10% off their entire purchase on opening day.

Montana Expressway? Images Show View of Future US 62/180 Freeway

A local design firm has unveiled renderings of what an eventual new East El Paso freeway may look like once completed. Plans were revealed by the Texas Department of Transportation in 2013 that show a miles-long stretch of Montana Avenue becoming an expressway east of Yarbrough Drive.

This rendering shows the western terminus of the planned US 62/180 freeway in East El Paso. The ramps take traffic to and from Global Reach Drive. (facebook.com/neomedia.dg)

Neomedia Design Group of El Paso posted several images online depicting multiple major intersections along the freeway, including at George Dieter Drive, Saul Kleinfeld Drive, and Rich Beem Boulevard.

Infill Spree Continues with Murchison Project in Central El Paso

A vacant Central El Paso property may see new activity in the form of an infill project revealed in City documents. The property is located at the corner of Murchison Drive and Cotton Street.

New apartment buildings may spring up as part of a Central El Paso infill project. The mixed-use project includes office space on the first floor. (City of El Paso)

According to the master zoning plan, the developer plans to construct a mixed-use development consisting of four narrow 3-story apartment buildings whose facades will face Cotton Street.

Infill Project Planned for Vacant Downtown Property Along I-10

Recent rezoning plans filed with the City of El Paso show an office/retail project may be planned for a prominent property near Downtown along Interstate 10.

An infill project is planned for a long-vacant property across I-10 from Downtown El Paso. (City of El Paso)

The property sits adjacent to the westbound lanes of I-10, sandwiched between West Yandell Drive and Prospect Street on the southern edge of the Sunset Heights neighborhood and is currently vacant.

Digital Wall to Open on Valentine's Day in Downtown El Paso

The long touted interactive Digital Wall planned for the El Paso Museum of History will open February 14, 2015. The interactive wall will be made up of five 95-inch displays aligned horizontally that will allow users to interact with historic images and documents.

A rendering shows what the Digital Wall pavilion will look like once completed in Downtown El Paso. The grand opening is scheduled for Valentine's Day. (El Paso Museum of History/MNK Architects)

Work began on the pavilion that will house the TouchCity Digital Wall back in September, funded by voter approved 2012 Quality of Life bonds.

Stanton & Crosby Apartments make appearance in City documents

An infill apartment project planned for the corner of Stanton Street and Crosby Avenue has appeared in a rezoning application filed with the City of El Paso. The Stanton & Crosby Apartments will be built just north of Downtown.

This rendering shows what the Stanton & Crosby Apartments may look like once completed. The property, which is currently vacant, is located between Downtown El Paso and UTEP. (www.exigoarch.com)

According to the application, the multi-family project will create a two-story structure that will hold a total of fourteen apartment units. This includes two three-bedroom, eight two-bedroom, and three one-bedroom apartments. A live-work unit is also included.