Alamo Drafthouse Now Showing New Films, Official Grand Opening May 6th

By Armando Landin   

El Paso's newest movie theater may not have had its grand opening yet, but it is already showing first run movies. Alamo Drafthouse will have its official grand opening on May 6.

The Alamo Drafthouse movie theater in West El Paso is now having its soft opening while it trains its new employees. (Alamo Drafthouse)

The newest addition to the Montecillo smart growth community in West El Paso opened its doors on Monday, April 25, to patrons in order to help train staff in the run up to the grand opening, showing older films such as "Back to the Future" and "Mad Max: Fury Road."

New Cinemark Theater to Anchor 'Eastlake Marketplace' near Horizon City

The Far East El Paso area is getting yet another Cinemark movie theater as part of a large shopping center development at the corner of Eastlake Boulevard and Gateway West. It will be the theater chain's fourth location in the East El Paso area.

A Cinemark movie theater will anchor Eastlake Marketplace at the corner of Eastlake Boulevard and I-10. (Site Plan: River Oaks Properties)

The Cinemark theater will anchor a new shopping center named Eastlake Marketplace in an area just outside of El Paso's city limits, west of Horizon City.

'The Substation' Brings Village-Style Retail Center to West El Paso

By Armando Landin   

An upcoming commercial project will add a "village-style" retail center to West El Paso and will include shops and restaurants in a "heavily landscaped" atmosphere.

One of the main features at The Substation retail center in West El Paso will be a pedestrian mall and meeting area, shown in this rendering. (EP Riverbend Development)

That's according to plans for The Substation which will be built at the corner of Doniphan Drive and Sunset Road near El Paso's Upper Valley, south of North Mesa Street.

'Midtown Lofts' Could Transform Warehouse District in Central El Paso

By Armando Landin   

A loft project proposed for Central El Paso may be the beginning of transforming a longtime warehouse district into a livable community. The Midtown Lofts project is slated for an industrial neighborhood near the Spaghetti Bowl.

The Midtown Lofts will bring an apartment complex to a warehouse district in Central El Paso. (Exigo Architecture)

According to the architect's website, the three-story apartment complex would be located at the corner of Durazno Avenue and Stevens Street, one block east of Copia Street and south of Interstate 10, though the site does not indicate on which corner the complex would be constructed.

Workers to Begin Laying Streetcar Rail in June

By Armando Landin   

The streetcar project in Downtown El Paso has been chugging along for months, but has mostly been focused on utility relocation. That will change in June when crews begin laying rail along the streetcar route.

This cross section shows how the streetcar rail will be embedded in a concrete slab. Rail recently arrived in El Paso and will soon be laid for the streetcar project. (CRRMA)

The first shipment of rail has arrived in El Paso and will be kept in storage until needed. The rail pieces were manufactured in Austria and brought by train from the Port of Houston.

Airport Project to Enhance Outdoor Landscape, Lighting

By Armando Landin   

The City of El Paso is looking to create a "sense of place" in areas surrounding and leading up to the airport, and a new project will soon add landscape and lighting enhancements as well as public art.

Landscape enhancements, landscape and architectural lighting, and an "artistic lighting element" are part of the $2.7 million project.

The City will consider awarding the consulting contract portion of the project to Meridian Green Works.

22-Story Mixed-Use Tower Planned for West El Paso

By Armando Landin   

A Florida based developer plans to build a mixed-use tower in West El Paso in the coming years, according to City documents. The 22-story highrise will go up near the corner of Sunland Park Drive and Mesa Street on a currently vacant lot, on Shadow Mountain Drive.

A rendering of the Shadow Mountain mixed use tower, planned for West El Paso. (Meyers Group)

The tower will be a mix of hotel and apartment units, with retail proposed for the ground floor. It will rise 256 feet, making it the second tallest building in El Paso. The Wells Fargo building in Downtown El Paso is 296 feet tall.

Asia Gateway Project Moves Forward at El Paso Zoo

By Armando Landin  

Getting into the Asia area at the El Paso Zoo will look a lot different in the future and will even include a new carousel. The City of El Paso is set to award the design and consultation contract for the Asia Gateway project.

The path into the Asia area of the El Paso Zoo will move several feet to the north, leading to the Asia Gateway, as shown with the green arrow in this site plan. The final site plan may differ, based on the consultant's design. (City of El Paso)

After the project is completed, a new path will take visitors around the northern side of the Asian Discovery Center and through a new "gateway" between it and the Grasslands Cafe.

San Jacinto Plaza to Celebrate April 16th Grand Opening with 'Fiesta'

San Jacinto Plaza will have a grand opening celebration on Saturday, April 16, 2016. That's according to a flyer released today which most will likely hope is not an April Fool's joke.

A dedication ceremony will take place at 9:30 a.m. followed by a celebration from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the park in Downtown El Paso. The plaza features newly renovated "Los Lagartos" sculpture by famed artist Luis Jimenez Jr.

Details Emerge on Four More Spray Parks, Coming to East and West El Paso

The four remaining City Districts in El Paso will also get spray parks in the coming year, and the city has revealed details on the locations and expected amenities.

Salvador Rivas Park in Far East El Paso will be getting a "Water Garden/Lakefront" themed spray park with features similar to those seen in this rendering. (City of El Paso)

In all, there will be eight spray parks spread throughout El Paso, all open to the public and free of admission. The City is moving forward with requesting bids for the design/build contracts on the final four, which are considered Phase Two of the spray park project.