West El Paso Tower Plan Canceled

By Armando Landin

Plans for a west side mixed-use tower have changed significantly, according to new plans released by the developer. The Avery Shadow Mountain project will no longer consist of a 22-story tower as the centerpiece of it's development. Meyers Group of Florida is the developer for the project.

An artistic rendering of the planned Avery Shadow Mountain mixed-use project in West El Paso. (Meyers Group/Exigo Architecture)

Instead, the new plans show multiple four- and five-story buildings consisting of mostly residential apartments. The original plan included 228 apartments and 219 hotel rooms, for a total of 447 units, while the new plan consists of 293 apartment units and no hotel.

26-Story Tower Proposed for Downtown El Paso

By Armando Landin   

Plans are in the works to bring a 26-story, mixed-use tower to El Paso's downtown. The brand new addition to the city's skyline would include a mix of retail spaces, hotel rooms, and apartments, at the corner of Mills Avenue and Campbell Street.

A 26-story mixed-use building has been proposed for Downtown El Paso. (Kobi Karp Architecture via City of El Paso)

An eight-level parking garage is also part of the overall structure.

City to Vote on Convention Center Hotel Incentives

By Armando Landin

The long awaited renovation of the Hotel Paso del Norte in Downtown El Paso is one step closer to reality as City Council will vote this week on incentives for the project.

A 10th-floor swimming pool and spa area are included as part of the Hotel Paso del Norte renovation in Downtown El Paso. (City of El Paso)

The hotel, formerly the Camino Real Hotel, was purchased earlier this year by the Meyers Group of Florida, a development company with ties to the El Paso area. It is located at 101 South El Paso Street.

Montecillo Announces Planned Four-Acre Resort

By Armando Landin

A new resort is set to join the Montecillo smart growth community on El Paso's West Side. The Resort at Montecillo is set to start construction later this year.

An overhead shot of the planned Resort at Montecillo which will start construction in fall of 2017 in West El Paso. (Courtesy EPT Land Communities)

The four-acre project will include various resort amenities, including a Resident Clubhouse, "resort style" water attractions, and an events center.

Massive East Side Entertainment-Retail Center Proposed

By Armando Landin

Far East El Paso could be in line for one of the biggest retail and entertainment centers the city has ever seen, according to plans for a new center at the Americas Interchange.

The proposed Plaza Del Rey development in El Paso spans nearly 300 acres and includes over 1.6 million square feet of retail space. (West Retail)

Plaza Del Rey would have a total of 2.8 million square feet of usable space if built as currently planned, including 1.68 million dedicated to retail alone which includes a proposed outlet mall.

New Northwest El Paso Hospital to Open Jan. 17

By Armando Landin

The Hospitals of Providence Transmountain Campus in Northwest El Paso will celebrate its grand opening on January 17, 2017 as construction on the brand new teaching hospital nears completion.

The Hospitals of Providence Transmountain Campus in El Paso will have an open house January 7, 2017, and a grand opening on January 17. (Hospitals of Providence EarthCam)

A Community Open House will also be held on Saturday, January 7, so that the public can get an early look at the campus. The hospital is located at 2000 Transmountain Road at the intersection of North Resler Drive.

Collaborative Office Space Opens in Historic Downtown Building

By Armando Landin

The second floor of a historic building in Downtown El Paso is now home to a new collaborative office space. The 5,500 square foot space, named One : One, is on the second level of 500 North Oregon, a building completed in 1901.

A new collaborative office space has opened in Downtown El Paso on the second level of a historic building. (Courtesy One : One)

The renovated layout of One : One includes offices with glass walls, desks and seating areas in an open space, and conference rooms encased in glass cubes.

T.J.Maxx/HomeGoods to Join West Towne Lineup

By Armando Landin

Three possible retailers have been revealed for the upcoming West Towne Marketplace in El Paso.

A T.J.Maxx/HomeGoods store is slated to open at West Towne Marketplace, under construction in West El Paso. (River Oaks Properties)

A T.J.Maxx/HomeGoods store will be joining the lineup and is expected to be one of the larger anchors for the 500,000 square foot retail center under construction at the corner of Desert North Boulevard and Paseo del Norte on the West Side.

Lofts Breathe New Life Into Historic Five Points Building

By Armando Landin     

The historic Five Points neighborhood in Central El Paso has seen a steady resurgence in recent years, and a recently completed renovation project is adding loft apartments to the mix.

Left: Stairs lead to the street level entrance of the Stevens Block 3 Lofts in Central El Paso. Right: A newly renovated loft space still includes historic touches such as exposed brick. (Courtesy Hiett, Pharr & Associates)

Stevens Block 3 Lofts are now open at 801 North Piedras Street on the second level of the historic Stevens Building, built in 1921.

Cabela's Coming to West El Paso

A Cabela's location could be the first tenant revealed for the upcoming West Towne Marketplace in El Paso, according to City permits.

The store would span 48,305 square feet, giving it a smaller footprint relative to other Cabela's locations.

Whole Foods Market Opens in El Paso

Whole Foods has opened its first El Paso store, a long awaited addition to the Sun City's grocery lineup.

El Paso's first Whole Foods Market opened October 19, 2016, on the city's West Side. (Whole Foods El Paso)

The store, located at 100 Pitt Street on the West Side, spans 50,000 square feet and includes a restaurant, garden beds to grow produce on site, and a community room that can be used for yoga, cooking classes, and meetings.

Topgolf to Open at Montecillo in El Paso

By Armando Landin     

The City is on the brink of signing a deal with Topgolf to open a sports entertainment venue in El Paso. City Council will consider approving an incentives agreement at its next meeting.

From top left: The exterior facade of an existing Topgolf facility; Hitting bays include seating for several people and are climate controlled; A rooftop terrace at an existing location; A wide view of hitting bays and outfield targets. (City of El Paso)

According to City documents, Topgolf is planning a $15.7 million facility that will be located at the Montecillo smart growth development in West El Paso.

Express Store Opens at Outlets September 15

By Armando Landin
   
The Outlet Shoppes at El Paso is adding another retailer to its lineup. An Express Factory Outlet store will open at the mall on Thursday, September 15, 2016, at 10:00 a.m.

This will be the clothing chain's fourth store in the Sun City, but its first outlet store. The others are located at Sunland Park Mall, Cielo Vista Mall, and Bassett Place.

Avalon West: Phase One of New Desert Pass Development

By Armando Landin
 
A new project featuring apartment homes in West El Paso is the first part of a multi-phase development bringing residential and commercial uses to a long-vacant area off of Interstate 10 and Resler Drive.

The Avalon West apartment community is the first project to open along Desert Pass Street, a new area between Remcon Circle and Resler Drive in West El Paso. (Courtesy Maria Nuzzo/Bohannon Development)

Avalon West, an apartment community that will be built in two phases, officially opened its doors on July 22, 2016.

Dental School to Open at Texas Tech El Paso Campus

The Texas Tech University Health Science Center (TTUHSC) in El Paso has announced a new addition to its campus, a new dental school that will open in the coming years.

The school is made possible thanks to a $25 million donation from the Hunt Family Foundation, though additional fundraising will be necessary to reach the final price tag, expected to cost over $50 million.

Artspace El Paso Lofts Now Accepting Applications

By Armando Landin

Artspace officials are now accepting applications, effective September 1, 2016, from those interested in securing a spot in the Artspace El Paso Lofts.

A rendering of the upcoming Artspace El Paso Lofts, scheduled to open in November in Downtown El Paso. (Artspace)

Applications will be considered on a first come, first served basis and can be submitted at the El Paso Community Foundation during regular business hours, located at 333 North Oregon Street in Downtown El Paso.

Work Progresses on El Paso Streetcar Rehabilitation

By Armando Landin
 
The vehicles that will be used for the upcoming streetcar project, currently under construction, will use the same bodies as those seen on city streets decades ago in El Paso.

The color scheme El Pasoans will see on streetcars once they make their return to Downtown streets in late 2018. (CRRMA)

And now we're getting a peek at the rehabilitation process for those streetcars taking place thousands of miles away.

Designs Revealed for New $85M UTEP Building

By Armando Landin
 
The public is getting a look at what a new research building will look like at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) once it's completed.

The proposed exterior design for the Interdisciplinary Research Building at the University of Texas at El Paso. (UTEP)

New renderings are available showing the exterior design and proposed landscaping for the Interdisciplinary Research Building (IDRB) which will be constructed at the western edge of the current campus.

Take a Look at Planned Westside Pool Facility

The City of El Paso is holding another community meeting for the upcoming Westside Pool, and new renderings have been released showing the latest design.

The new Westside Pool in El Paso should open by January 2018, as seen in this rendering. (City of El Paso)

The facility will include an Olympic-size indoor pool located within a 35,980 square foot building, located at 650 Wallenberg Drive.

Kate Spade New York, Bath & Body Works Headed to 'Fountains'

A Kate Spade New York store may be headed to the Fountains at Farah in East El Paso. Recently filed construction permits indicate a store will open up at the center. It will be its first location in the Sun City.

Job openings have also been posted at career websites indicating open spots for store managers and "muses," what the company calls its sales associates, all but confirming a store is in the works. No official announcement has been made, and no opening date is available.