Land Swap Could Mean Big Business For East El Paso

EL PASO — A land swap deal could bring new business opportunities for a part of East El Paso. Plans are in the works to bring development projects near the intersection of Loop 375 and Montana.

At present, the U.S. Army owns much of that land, but the federal government is negotiating a deal to swap it for state-owned acreage.

Business leaders say the high-traffic, high-visibility corner would be a big prize in the high stakes real estate game that continues in East El Paso.

If the deal is approved, the Army would give up several acres near the intersection of Montana and the Loop, and in exchange, the military would get some state-owned propery closer to Fort Bliss.

It’s expected that the state would sell the land it acquired to developers, which would result in the building of new homes and shopping centers to an area that’s filled now with sage brush.

Tanny Berg, an El Paso developer, said builders have had their sights set on the land since the city began its big eastward push. “It has always been envisioned as being the premier intersection,” he said, and adds that development near the Loop has primarily targeted first time home-buyers in the real estate market, but that could change.

“It’s a whole different face of this community, and a whole new personality,” he said.