Dear Friends and Media:
This morning the State Board of Review of the Texas Historical Commission will decide whether to approve El Paso County’s application to establish a national historic district in the heart of our City. The meeting will begin at 8am MST. Our agenda item is number 6: https://www.thc.texas.gov/sbrmeeting
I have attached a letter of support that County Commissioner David Stout submitted to the THC yesterday. If you want to understand the history of this project, which is critically important for the economy and culture of our Downtown, then I invite you to read every word.
Meanwhile, we have learned that a certain El Paso law firm, Kemp Smith LLP, has been systematically contacting downtown property owners about the National Register nomination but refusing to identify their client. I expect we will learn more about this mysterious effort shortly.
Again, it is my hope that the State Board of Review will approve this nomination on the merits since it has been many years in the works, is backed by a most excellent architectural survey conducted by Hardy Heck and Moore, has broad support in El Paso and among all the key historical organizations, and has not been formally opposed by a single stakeholder at any stage in the process.
Have a good weekend!
Max
Max Grossman, PhD
Board of Directors, Preservation Texas
Vice-Chair, The Trost Society
Co-Chair, Restore Sacred Heart Church