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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Columbia Sportswear Opens at Outlet Shoppes

The Outlet Shoppes at El Paso has added another retailer to its lineup. Columbia Sportswear is now open at the center in Northwest El Paso.

Columbia Sportswear is now open at the Outlet Shoppes at El Paso, joining a North Face store that opened earlier this year. (Horizon Group Properties)

The store opened August 19, 2016, and is offering discounts throughout their grand opening weekend. This includes 25% off and a complementary tote bag. A $500 gift card will also be raffled off.

New Details Emerge for Montecillo Town Center

By Armando Landin   

A greater number of apartments and less street retail space are some of the details discovered in recent renderings and leasing listings for the Montecillo Town Center, the smart growth development currently under construction in West El Paso.

Retail and mixed-use buildings surround a plaza at the future Montecillo Town Center, currently under construction on El Paso's West Side. (EPT Communities)

As vertical construction nears, we're getting a clearer picture of the final layout for the buildings that will make up the Town Center and the form those buildings will take.

P.F. Chang's Opens August 29th at 'Fountains'

By Armando Landin
 
Another restaurant option is opening soon at the Fountains at Farah in East El Paso. P.F. Chang's China Bistro will open in late August at the shopping center.

P.F. Chang's will open August 29, 2016, at the Fountains at Farah in East El Paso, the third restaurant opening in August at the center. (Fountains at Farah)

According to the restaurant chain's website, the grand opening is scheduled for August 29, 2016, on the Promenade level of the Fountains.

Bricktown Tap House, Candle Boutique Now Open at 'Fountains'

By Armando Landin   

Two new additions to the Fountains at Farah lineup in East El Paso have now opened. Bricktown Tap House and The Candle Boutique both opened August 1, 2016, at the shopping center.

Bricktown Tap House & Kitchen is now open at the Fountains at Farah in East El Paso. (Fountains at Farah)

Bricktown Tap House & Kitchen has opened in the Promenade section of the Fountains, the Main Street-like lifestyle area of the center, adjacent to Chuy's Mexican Food.

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.

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.