Weekly Edition, Issue 32

The Weekly Edition, Issue 32 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:
'Fountains at Farah' Officially Opens
Retail Buzz: Possible New Tenants Revealed for 'Fountains'
Officials to Study Need for Downtown Parking Structure
NewsBits by El Paso DevWire

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Mulligan Building Facade Makes Big Strides

After less than a year of construction, the newly-renamed Mulligan Building is starting to look like its old self. An updated photograph posted by architecture firm In*Situ on its Facebook page (below) shows that windows have been installed on the façade facing North Campbell Street.

(facebook.com/InSituArchitecture)

The building looked much different earlier this year after decades of inactivity left the structure empty and with a previously “renovated” look. The brown and beige façade covered up historic brickwork and details.

Mulligan building prior to construction
this year. (www.insituarc.com)

Paul Foster, one of the partners involved in bringing a Triple-A ball club to El Paso, donated the 62,400 square foot building to the City in September of 2012 after officials voiced concern over the sales price of the building. The City had been looking for office space in order to facilitate relocation of departments so that the former City Hall could be emptied to make room for the Triple-A baseball stadium.

Two months ago, the building was renamed from the “Luther” to the “Mulligan” Building in honor of John Mulligan, the Irish immigrant who built the structure in 1915.

The $13.7 million project should be completed later this year, according to In*Situ’s website (www.insituarc.com). The building will house the City’s Information Technology and Engineering & Construction Management departments.

Pedestrian Pathway Breaks Ground

The City of El Paso broke ground yesterday on the Convention Center North Pedestrian Pathway, a project that will connect the cultural/museum district of the city to the Union Plaza entertainment area. Currently, pedestrians must travel around the Convention Center to reach restaurants, clubs, and retail in Union Plaza.

The Pathway will be built in multiple phases, with the first focusing on areas around the Triple-A ballpark currently under construction. The project should be completed around February of 2015.

Read about the project in greater detail in our story from earlier this year:
Closer Look: Convention Center North Pedestrian Pathway

New Urbanism Puts El Paso in Spotlight

City Approached to Help Others Learn Planning Concepts

The City of El Paso shifted its focus a few years back to promoting smart growth, mixed-use, and walkable developments, and now officials in other U.S. cities are reaching out to El Paso when it comes to learning about new urbanism.

Mesa Street near UTEP reimagined using new urbanism and smart growth principles. (Plan El Paso)

El Paso officials developed a nine-week session on new urbanism to help affiliate internal department heads and engineers with the principles of mixed-use and sustainable neighborhood development, led by Mathew McElroy, Director of the City Development Department. Shortly thereafter, the sessions were opened up to local developers.

The fruits of the City’s labors have become clear as developments using new urbanism ideals are sprouting up. The developer of the Montecillo smart growth community has begun construction on SmartCode zoned lots, a first for El Paso, and another SmartCode development, Aldea, is planned immediately to its south.

New urbanism concepts include creating walkable neighborhoods with a mix of housing types. This concept image envisions such a neighborhood for the corner of Rojas Drive and Zaragoza Road where a credit union is currently located. (Plan El Paso)

Now, officials from other cities have taken notice and invited the City to teach new urbanism to their engineers and development personnel. In January, McElroy will run a learning session for scores of government workers in Oklahoma City, and another session is planned for Austin.

An article last month in Governing Magazine (www.governing.com) highlights the City’s efforts and goals in developing the learning sessions.

This rendering shows a new vision for Mesa Street in front of a shopping center which currently holds a Walmart and Home Depot. (Plan El Paso)

The City’s biggest new urbanism effort has been the implementation of Plan El Paso, the extensive planning document that was adopted into the comprehensive plan last year. The plan calls for creating walkable, smart growth neighborhoods throughout the city, incorporating many concepts of new urbanism.

Plan El Paso won the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2011 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement and has been lauded by development agencies and publications throughout the United States.

The entire Plan El Paso document can be seen at planelpaso.org. The Lead Consultant on the project was Dover, Kohl & Partners of Florida (www.doverkohl.com).

Weekly Edition, Issue 31

The Weekly Edition, Issue 31 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:

• New Urbanism Puts El Paso in the Spotlight: City Approached to Help Others Learn Planning Concepts
• Mulligan Building Facade Makes Big Strides
• NewsBits by El Paso DevWire

>>> GO TO THE WEEKLY EDITION <<<

Don't forget to sign up to be notified when each week's new issue is available. Subscribe below.

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