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.

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.

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.

32-Acre Mixed Use Center Planned for West El Paso

By Armando Landin
 
A new 32-acre shopping center is planned for Northwest El Paso and could be the first along the Transmountain corridor west of the Franklin Mountains.

Four restaurants surround a plaza in this rendering of the Legacy at Cimarron, a "mixed-use" development planned for West El Paso. (ESmith Legacy/RJL Real Estate)

The Legacy at Cimarron is billing itself as a mixed-use community that will offer space for retail shops, restaurants, and office uses. It also includes two hotels, with a total of 228 rooms.

Downtown Arena Aims for 2020 Opening

By Armando Landin
 
The Downtown Arena in El Paso could open in early 2020, according to a contract the City will consider next week.

The Downtown 2015 Plan for El Paso (announced in 2006) envisioned a multipurpose arena with nearby hotel, retail, and restaurant uses, as seen in this concept drawing. (Downtown 2015 Plan)

The El Paso City Council is set to consider approving a "Owner’s Representative Services" contract for the $180 million Downtown Arena that would essentially assign a management company to the project.

This contract includes managing the Arena project through all of its phases, officially known as the Multi-Purpose Cultural and Performing Arts Center. This includes site selection, choosing the design team, and overseeing construction.

See New Renderings of the Eastside Regional Park's Rec Center

By Armando Landin

One of the largest projects planned for the Eastside Regional Park in El Paso will be the recreation center/natatorium that will sit on the park's southern side.

The recreation center at the Eastside Regional Park in El Paso will include a competition-ready pool, a gymnasium, and various activity rooms. (In*Situ Architecture)

As planning for the park ramps up, we're getting a better look at the recreation center through renderings posted by the center's architect.

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.

Olympic-Size Pool, Aquatics Center First Up at Massive Eastside Regional Park

By Armando Landin

Far East El Paso residents will see an aquatics center first as Phase One proceeds for the upcoming Eastside Regional Park. The massive 92-acre park is located off of Hueco Club Road, south of Montana Avenue and east of Rich Beem Boulevard.

This rendering shows how the entrance to the Eastside Regional Park in El Paso may look like once completed. (City of El Paso)

The aquatics area will include a natatorium with a 50-meter "competition-ready" pool and an adjacent a warm up/cool down pool as well as an outdoor recreational pool, splash pad, and lazy river.

Topgolf Shows Interest in El Paso, But Where?

With Topgolf's announcement last week that it is looking to expand into the El Paso area, it leads us to wonder... where should it go?

A typical Topgolf facility includes a three-level structure with "bays" on each floor. The national chain is looking to expand into the El Paso market. (Topgolf)

Topgolf, a driving range entertainment venue, announced last week that it wants to expand to small and mid-sized cities, including El Paso. Topgolf locations vary in size but typically require around 15 acres of space.

Alamo Drafthouse Now Hiring 200 Employees for West El Paso Location

By Armando Landin

The latest addition to the Montecillo smart growth development in West El Paso is now hiring in anticipation of its opening. Alamo Drafthouse cinema seeks 200 employees for its upcoming location.

The Alamo Drafthouse is now hiring for its West El Paso location, shown in this rendering. It will be an anchor tenant in the upcoming Montecillo Town Center. (Alamo Drafthouse/Triple Tap Ventures)

The new movie house will be an anchor tenant in the Montecillo Town Center, located at Mesa Street and Montecillo Boulevard. No other tenants have been announced for the center, which is part of the larger Montecillo development.

Dave & Buster's Details Emerge, Now Hiring 200 Employees for Bassett Place Location

The interior of the upcoming Dave & Buster's location at Bassett Place in El Paso will be "upscale and modern," according to a press release. The company is looking to fill 200 positions for the new entertainment and dining venue located in East-Central El Paso, which opens April 11, 2016.

A "360-degree bar" can be seen in the background of this photo. These new employees are taking part in a "group training" at an existing, unnamed Dave & Buster's location. The new El Paso location is seeking to hire 200 employees. (Dave & Buster's)

Dave & Buster's El Paso location will include over 30 big screen, high definition televisions and a 360-degree sports bar. This is the "Watch" part of the company's "Eat, Drink, Play & Watch" slogan.

Wildlife Theater Under Construction at El Paso Zoo

By Armando Landin

The City of El Paso recently broke ground on a new attraction at the El Paso Zoo. Work is underway on a wildlife theater that will host live animal shows at the park in Central El Paso.

Exterior rendering of the Wildlife Theater now under construction at the El Paso Zoo. (City of El Paso)

The wildlife amphitheater will seat 300 people in the open-air venue which will contain a canopy overhead, according to renderings of the project.

Update: Dave & Buster's at Bassett Place to Have Grand Opening April 11th

By Armando Landin


The Dave & Buster's location slated for Bassett Place in East Central El Paso will have a grand opening on April 11, 2016. That's according the Dave & Buster's website. The site had previously indicated an opening date of April 4.

The location will span 36,000 square feet and is under construction in the former food court area of the mall. The website indicates the new location will be open daily from 11:00 a.m. to midnight.

‘West Towne Marketplace’ to bring 500,000 Square Foot Retail Center to West El Paso

Center Could Open as Early as Late-2017
By Armando Landin

Construction will soon be underway on a 500,000 square foot retail center at the corner of Desert Boulevard North and Paseo Del Norte on El Paso’s West Side. West Towne Marketplace will feature retail, restaurant, and entertainment options on the 63-acre property, according to a brochure.

A rendering of West Towne Marketplace shows a roundabout in the "lifestyle" area of the retail center, planned for West El Paso. (River Oaks Properties)

The new center will include a large grocery retailer as its main anchor along with big box sporting goods and soft goods retailers, spread throughout the more traditional power center sections of the development.