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.

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.

Northgate Transfer Center Breaks Ground August 12th

By Armando Landin   

The long-awaited Northgate Transfer Center project will break ground August 12, 2016, marking the beginning of construction for the anchor of the Metro 31 transit oriented development.

The planned Northgate Transfer Center in Northeast El Paso will have an official groundbreaking ceremony on August 12, 2016. (City of El Paso)

The $10.6 million transfer center, located at 9347 Diana Drive in Northeast El Paso, will include a park and ride garage and an enclosed waiting area with nearby ticketing areas. A large, outdoor pedestrian plaza is also planned.

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.

Canyons at Cimarron Bringing 'Casual Lifestyle' Shopping Center to West El Paso

By Armando Landin   

A new, "casual lifestyle" shopping center is headed to West El Paso and will be located in the Cimarron master planned community.

This rendering depicts one of the "Main Street" areas of the future Canyons at Cimarron, planned for West El Paso. (EP Riverbend Development)

The Canyons at Cimarron will be an open air, walkable center which will include 92,000 square feet of space for retail, restaurant, and office uses.

Update: City Postpones Vote on West Side Tower

Update: The El Paso City Council has postponed a vote on the Shadow Mountain development, stating the rezoning application will be considered in one week. City Council no longer holds weekly meetings, so it's unclear if the City will hold a special meeting or actually means the vote will be postponed until the next regular meeting on July 29, 2016. We will update the date of the vote when it is official.

Original Story:

Monday, July 11, 2016

El Paso City Representatives will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow a 22-story tower to go up on the West Side. City Council will vote on a rezoning request at its biweekly meeting.

The El Paso City Council will decide the fate of the proposed 22-story Shadow Mountain tower at its July 11, 2016 meeting. The existing Coronado Tower is to the right. (Meyers Group)

The project, located at 201 Shadow Mountain Drive, just east of the Sunland Park Drive and Mesa Street intersection, requires a General Mixed Use zone to allow for hotel, residential, and retail uses within the same building.

Northgate Transit Project To Break Ground Soon

The City of El Paso will vote Tuesday on awarding a contract for the construction of the Northgate Transfer Center, signalling that work should begin in the coming weeks.

Construction on the Northgate Transfer Center in Northeast El Paso should begin in the coming weeks. (City of El Paso)

Northgate's transit terminal is the first part of the larger Metro 31 transit oriented development planned in Northeast El Paso.

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.

Aldea Developer Seeks Incentives Agreement for I-10 Overpass Construction

The developer of the future Aldea SmartCode project in West El Paso is seeking a Chapter 380 incentives agreement for construction of a freeway overpass adjacent to the property.

A new overpass is planned at Interstate 10 for Mesa Park Drive, the main thoroughfare that will take I-10 commuters into and out of the 196 acre Aldea development. Mesa Park will cross I-10 about three quarters of a mile north of Executive Center Boulevard.

The new Mesa Park Drive overpass is denoted here by a green arrow. The new interchange will provided access to the Aldea El Paso project on the West Side. (Schematic: City Council Agenda)

The agreement would provide Geltmore, LLC, the developer, with incentives in the form of rebates on the City's portion of sales and use tax. The incentive could total between $3.7 million and $4.7 million, depending on the cost of construction. The rebates will be calculated on sales by retailers within the Aldea development.

Update: City Approves 'Metro 31' Mixed Use Project for Northeast El Paso

City Council voted unanimously today to approve the new SmartCode, mixed-use project planned for Northeast El Paso at the former Northpark Mall property. This gives Hunt Development Group the green light from the City to move forward with final design and construction for the vacant 31-acre property.

An artistic rendering of the western entrance to the Metro 31 development off of Diana Street, coming to Northeast El Paso in the next few years. (City Council Agenda)

Up next, Hunt will seek a similar incentives agreement from the County of El Paso worth $5 million, which would add to the $13.7 million that City approved.

Read our previous story from November 28, 2014: This is 'Metro 31': City Reveals Northgate SmartCode Project Details

This is 'Metro 31': City Reveals Northgate SmartCode Project Details

Hunt Development Group Proposal Awaits Council Approval

Update: City Council has approved the project.  Read More >>

Original Story: 
The City of El Paso has unveiled details on the planned 31-acre transit-oriented mixed-use project slated for the former Northpark Mall site in Northeast El Paso at the corner of Dyer Street and Diana Drive. The proposal, submitted by Hunt Development Group, will be considered by Council on December 2, 2014.

This concept image shows a residential area within Metro 31, the SmartCode development planned for Northeast El Paso. (City Council Agenda)

Renderings of the project, which is called Metro 31 in several places within the development agreement, show buildings laid out in an urban fashion with little to no setbacks from streets. Structures are of varying height and scale, with some apartment buildings rising four stories.

Ground Broken for Campbell Apartments Near Downtown

A South El Paso neighborhood near Downtown will see a brand new apartment building rise within about twelve months, just one block south of Paisano Drive. Groundbreaking was held Thursday for the 88-unit Campbell Apartments at 501 South Campbell Street.

The Campbell Apartments will rise five stories in South El Paso, just south of Downtown, as shown in this rendering. Construction could be complete by fall of 2015. (Courtesy Soto Enterprises)

The urban, mixed-use building will rise five stories, with retail and parking on the first level and apartment units on the upper floors. 

There will be 3,654 square feet of storefront retail space available which may be divided in up to four separate tenants. Behind the retail spaces, there will be 48 parking spaces in a covered garage.

Mixed-Use Project Set For Union Plaza

Development Includes Apartments & Retail with a Sunken Courtyard

Construction will soon begin on the transformation of a vacant Downtown El Paso building into a mixed-use structure with retail and apartment elements. The building, located at 513 West San Antonio Avenue, can be found in the historic Union Plaza district on the western edge of Downtown.

A new mixed-use project for Union Plaza in El Paso is getting underway. This rendering shows the building after completion. (Courtesy Liev Arch)

The long, narrow building will contain retail on the first and basement levels, with apartments on the second and third floors. A sunken courtyard will be created along the back of the building with landscaping and a water feature.

The vacant building in Union Plaza should
be transformed by spring of 2015.
(Courtesy Liev Arch)

According to the architect on the project, Carlos Lievanos of Liev Arch of El Paso, the structure dates to the early 1900’s. The renovation design maintains the historic character of the facade, with plans to restore the brickwork and add only a “Texas canopy” along the retail spaces on the street level. The canopy will help to showcase the retail spaces along San Antonio Avenue, he indicates, helping draw customers to the shops. Lievanos was also the architect on The Mix at Union Plaza project nearby.

Weekly Edition, Issue 64

The Weekly Edition, Issue 64 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:

• Mixed-Use Project Set for Union Plaza
• Construction Update: San Jacinto Plaza Renovation Project
• Officials Break Ground on New Northwest El Paso Hospital

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Infill Project to Bring Apartment Building to Magoffin Neighborhood

Mixed-Use Development to Add Small Retail Space to Three-Story Building

A vacant property near Downtown El Paso may soon see new life as a mixed-use apartment building. That’s according to a rezoning application on the next City Plan Commission agenda.

Artistic rendering of the Magoffin Apartments planned for Central El Paso. (www.exigoarch.com)

Plans are to construct a three-story structure on the property, called the Magoffin Apartments, located at 1217 Magoffin Avenue. The first floor will mainly be used for parking spaces, providing a total of 14 slots for residents. A 556 square foot retail space will be located along Magoffin.

Weekly Edition, Issue 63

The Weekly Edition, Issue 63 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:

• First Look: Sun Metro Streetcar Facility
• Infill Project to Bring Apartment Building to Magoffin Neighborhood
• City Selects Four Pedestrian/Bicycle Enhancement Projects for Funding Request

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Mixed-Use Infill Development Planned for Northeast El Paso

Proposed Project Includes Residential & Commercial Spaces with Zero Setbacks

A vacant property in a long-standing Northeast El Paso neighborhood will see new life as a mixed-use development, according to a current rezoning application with the City. The owner is proposing the project for a 0.23-acre property at 5101 Fairbanks Drive.

The Northeast El Paso mixed use project will include retail buildings with zero setbacks. Street trees are included in the zoning plan. (www.elpasotexas.gov)

According to the project’s site plan, there will be six commercial spaces and two one-bedroom apartments created. The commercial buildings will be easily distinguishable as they will have zero setbacks along Fairbanks Drive, which means the structures will be built along the sidewalk, with parking in the back.

Weekly Edition, Issue 60

The Weekly Edition, Issue 60 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:

• Plans Revealed for Former ‘El Cruzero’ Land
• Mixed-Use Infill Development Planned for Northeast El Paso
• Sun Metro Adds Articulated Buses to East Side Route

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Planned Campbell Apartments Pictured In Rendering

A concept rendering of the Campbell Apartments, a 88-unit mixed use project planned for a neighborhood near Downtown El Paso, has been posted at the website of the architectural firm behind the design, EXIGO Architecture (www.exigoarch.com).

Rendering of Campbell Apartments. (www.exigoarch.com)

The rendering includes four levels, which was the original design. The latest plan includes a fifth level of apartments.

Read our previous story regarding the Campbell Apartments: Design Changes for Apartment Project Near Downtown