Concepts of ‘smart-growth’ used in eastside apartments

El Paso has seen its first smart growth community in west El Paso at the Montecillo Apartments.

Smart growth communities are supposed to be located in dense areas of the cities near commercial areas in walking distance or transit-friendly.

In east El Paso, Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the Casitas Del Este Apartments is just the beginning for smart growth in the eastside.

The resort-style apartments are not entirely smart growth, but expected to use some of the concepts.

The complex will be located on the 1300 block of Pullman Street, alongside Zaragoza, one of the busiest streets in the city.

Investors Building Inc. president, Ike Monty said his company is trying to remedy the multi-family housing shortage in El Paso.

“A lot of older multi-family products were built in the 1970’s so I think what’s happening is you have new people wanting to move in and there is a burden put on older properties,” said Monty.

Monty said the location is ideal.

“It’s high-growth area on the eastside of town. I think it’s a great market,” said Monty.

The ten-acre lot will house more than a 150 units in a gated community.

Apartments will have energy-saving appliances, insulated wallsandwater-conserving landscape.

More developments are in the works for Investors Building around high-traffic areas of east El Paso that could incorporate more concepts of smart growth.

“We definitely will incorporate more of them as we starts to do more projects,” said Monty.

The apartments will range between 900 and 1,200 dollars.