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.

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.

Artspace Lofts Applications Available August 15th

Several Application Workshops Also Scheduled

By Armando Landin

Residents interested in applying for a live/work unit at the upcoming Artspace Lofts can pick up an application beginning next week through the El Paso Community Foundation.

The Artspace El Paso Lofts, currently under construction Downtown, will release applications to potential residents beginning August 15, 2016. (Artspace)

Artspace officials will hold an "Application Release Celebration" on August 15, 2016, at Cafe Mayapan from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., located at 2000 Texas Avenue, east of Downtown El Paso.

Holiday Inn Express Planned for Northeast El Paso

By Armando Landin

Plans are underway to bring a Holiday Inn Express to Northeast El Paso. The four-story hotel is planned for a property along Gateway South Boulevard.

According to preliminary plans filed with the City of El Paso, the hotel will include 85 rooms with a total area of 54,160 square feet.

Downtown El Paso Alive with Investment

A Comprehensive List of Downtown Projects   

By Armando Landin   

A couple of years back, it was the hope of City officials that a new baseball stadium and other Quality of Life projects would breathe new life into Downtown revitalization efforts and spur private investment in El Paso's largely-ignored center.

Downtown El Paso is seeing a clear surge of investment with private and public projects spread throughout the area. 

The Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas are now in their third season, and two short years after Southwest University Park opened its gates on the site of the former City Hall, signs of burgeoning investment are becoming clear.

West El Paso Tower Approved by City Council

By Armando Landin   

City Council has unanimously approved a rezoning change that will allow the 22-story Shadow Mountain development in West El Paso to proceed.

The City of El Paso has approved the 22-story Shadow Mountain mixed use project on the West Side. (Meyers Group)

In a special meeting held solely to consider the project on July 19, 2016, City Representatives heard from members of the community on both sides of the issue, those supporting and those opposed to the tower.

New Westside Tower Stirs Up Opposing Views

By Armando Landin

Supporters of a proposed 22-story tower in West El Paso have set up a Facebook page and online petition that urges City Council to approve the ambitious project unveiled in April.

Shadow Mountain Tower would rise 22-stories in West El Paso, as seen in this rendering. City Council will consider approving the project in the coming weeks. (Meyers Group)

Meanwhile, opponents have also setup an online petition calling for the City to deny the required zoning change for the project unless the height of the tower is lowered or it is moved to Downtown El Paso.

'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.

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.

Courtyard by Marriott Plans New Hotel Next to Downtown Ballpark

Details have emerged on a brand new Courtyard by Marriott coming to Downtown El Paso. The new multi-floor hotel will have a prominent spot along I-10 and across the street from Southwest University Park, home of the El Paso Chihuahuas.

A Courtyard by Marriott hotel is planned for Downtown El Paso, as seen in this rendering from the architect. (Mitchell Carlson Stone, Inc.)

As first reported by El Paso Inc., the hotel project is led by Jim Scherr, the lawyer and businessman behind the renovation of the crumbling and vacant International Hotel into the Doubletree Hotel, just block away from the new Courtyard project.

Johnny Rockets Possibly Headed to UTEP Area

By David Berchelmann

A new addition to the El Paso restaurant scene appears to be getting closer to fruition. Johnny Rockets could be headed to Mesa Street near the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).

In July of 2015, an announcement was made that Johnny Rockets had agreed to a deal with Cruzar Group, LLC, to bring their brand to El Paso and the surrounding region. Up until now, the location of their first restaurant was unknown.

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.

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.

Family Dollar to Replace Three Buildings in Central El Paso

National discount retailer Family Dollar plans to construct a brand new store in Central El Paso where three structures currently stand. The plan was revealed in a recent Detailed Site Development Plan Review through the City of El Paso.

The site plan for the future Family Dollar in Central El Paso shows it will have zero setbacks along both Fort Boulevard and Piedras Street.

Family Dollar plans to build a 8,470 square foot store after demolishing three structures at the corner of Fort Boulevard and Piedras Street, including one commercial and two residential buildings.

Brand new apartments planned near the Downtown El Paso ballpark?

A recently discovered rendering shows a possible new infill apartment complex planned for a property near Southwest University Park in Downtown El Paso. The simply named Franklin Apartments have made an appearance at a local architecture firm's website.

The Franklin Apartments, pictured in this rendering, could go up on West Franklin Ave. in Downtown El Paso. (www.exigoarch.com)

No specific location details are available, but the rendering shows the apartment structures on a vacant property on West Franklin Avenue about 800 feet west of the Downtown ballpark which is home to the El Paso Chihuahuas Triple-A baseball club.

Twelve-Story Apartment High-Rise Coming to Downtown El Paso

TJ Karam, partner at Bearing Development, has told KVIA that he and a group of investors plan to build a 11 1/2 to 12-story apartment building in Downtown El Paso about a block from the baseball stadium site. The first floor of the building will house a beer garden.

Future site of an apartment high-rise in Downtown El Paso. (Bearing Development)

The structure will be built at 533 West Franklin Street, less than 500 feet to the west of the future Triple-A ballpark, the site of the former Oscar's Laundry building which currently stands vacant. Bearing Development told the El Paso Times earlier this year that plans were in the works for 40 apartment units at that location, though the size of the building was not disclosed at the time.

Weekly Edition, Issue 30

The Weekly Edition, Issue 30 has arrived! Take a look at the newest issue of our Weekly Edition, by clicking HERE. (Note: The newsletter will open in PDF format.)

In this edition:

• Ballpark Readies for 'Chihuahuas': New Team Name Gets National Attention
• Liberty Expressway to be Widened: Spur 601 to Get More Lanes, Frontage Roads
• Stiles Park to Receive 50 Trees as Part of Improvement Project
• NewsBits by El Paso DevWire

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Mesa Infill Project Revised, Facade Simplified

A project to construct an infill building at the site of a structure lost to fire in 2011 has been revised, according to an item on the City Plan Commission agenda set for the January 24, 2013 meeting. The project is located at 906 N. Mesa Street.

Revised plan for the new building at 906 N. Mesa Street.

The site plan and elevation schematics that are part of the Special Permit application show a simplified facade with less windows and stonework than previously revealed. The first level parking garage now has one entrance at the rear and no longer has one at the front, and the garage's footprint has also been reduced.

Previous elevation plan.

According to the application, the square footage has decreased in size from 9,795 to 8,830. Side elevations show that balconies have been added.

The building formerly at 906 N. Mesa Street was destroyed by fire on May 17, 2011 and was demolished by the city days later after a partial collapse of the top floor. The building was vacant at the time. The owner of the property is DDDG Investment II, L.P.

Building destroyed by fire in 2011.

Previously: Mesa Project to Replace Building Lost to Fire

City Plan Commission agenda: http://www.elpasotexas.gov/development_services/preview_mtng.asp?meetingid=1782

City Eyes Five Points for SmartCode

The City of El Paso would like to bring SmartCode zoning to the historic Five Points neighborhood in the city's center, and a public meeting was held last month to educate residents on the process and what it means.

The current state of Five Points (left) shows too many empty lots and no pedestrian amenities.

According to a list of questions and answers on the Plan El Paso website, the SmartCode zone would only dictate form and not a property's use. SmartCode would require construction of a buildings to follow guidelines with respect to setbacks and density, but would not dictate exactly what function the building would serve.

SmartCode would also help to preserve the neighborhood as well as possibly bring amenities like mixed-use buildings, street trees, pedestrian-friendly areas, higher density development, and bikes lanes to the area. The plan's focus is to improve quality of life by enhancing the urban feel of Five Points and to increase desirability to draw residents back to the area.

Mixed-use buildings near the Five Points Transit Terminal.

Census figures show that the population of the Five Points neighborhood went from 6,385 in 1990 to 5,214 in 2010. Central El Paso as a whole lost over 23,000 residents in the same 20 years, which has led to divestment in the city's core. To encourage renewed investment, the City could possibly offer incentives to new developments within a defined area, such as tax rebates and fee waivers.

No timeline is available for implementation of the SmartCode rezoning plan.

Related: Glory Road SmartCode Initiative Moves Forward

Plan El Paso Five Points SmartCode page: http://planelpaso.org/2012/11/five-points-rezoning-information-resident-resources/