EPCC moving forward with $20 million dollar building plans

El Paso Community College is moving forward with plans to build a $20 million classroom building and parking garage just outside the historic Sunset Heights neighborhood near Oregon and Montana streets.

The City Plan Commission unanimously voted to re-zone 12 portions of land near the campus. They also voted to “de-designate” a portion of land considered historic.

Historic Preservation officer Providencia Velasquez said a historic home once stood on the parcel of land in question. She said it unknowingly got demolished about 17 years ago. A small portion of the wall still remains.

Paulo Peres, Program Manager for a firm working with EPCC on the project, said they will work to incorporate a portion of that wall into the design of the building.

The final plan will need to be approved by El Paso City Council. Peres said it will hopefully go before Council this month. EPCC plans to begin the search for a contractor in February.