Yesterday we learned that the City of El Paso is planning to expand the Convention Center across San Antonio Avenue, right up to the edge of the former Arena Footprint. We have attached an image of where we believe the City is planning to build this expansion, based upon information from our contacts.
Shortly after the November 5 election, the City sent letters of intent to property owners between W. San Antonio Avenue and W. Overland Avenue that included a citation of the eminent domain statute.
We can tell you that the owners of at least two historic buildings on W. Overland also received a letter of intent.
At the December 16 meeting, Mayor Leeser and CFO Robert Cortinas discussed this project in the abstract and even the possibility of funding it by bonding revenue from the City’s portion of the Hotel Occupancy Tax, but there was no indication that it would extend to the northern border of the former Arena Footprint.
Needless to say, it would be very difficult to convince investors to rehabilitate the Arena Footprint properties if the City were to initiate a gigantic construction project right next door that could take years to complete while generating massive traffic jams.
Improving our convention center facilities is a great idea and there is plenty of room south of Antonio Avenue for expansion, including the old Exploreum, bus depot, and adjacent empty lots.
However, the historic tenements on the north side of Overland Avenue should be left intact. One of them was recently rehabilitated and is now fully leased. The City has already displaced enough people!
Now that the cat is out of the bag, we hope the City will present to the media and public its specific plans.