City Council committed to preservation, restoration of Abraham Chavez Theatre

(Oct. 2012 story)

City Council voted 7-0 Tuesday to approve a resolution stating its committed to the preservation and restoration of the Abraham Chavez Theatre.

City Rep. Carl Robinson was not present for the vote.

The resolution comes in the wake of rumors that the more than 2,000-seat Abraham Chavez Theatre would be torn down in order to make way for a 18,000-to-20,000 seat multi-purpose arena that could help bring larger events to El Paso.

Artists concepts of the new $50 million ballpark have included an arena on the current site of the Abraham Chavez Theatre. Bu City Manager Joyce Wilson said those previous drawings were simply conceptual and other sites are possibilities, including the area south of San Antonio and Santa Fe streets and south of Paisano Drive near Union Depot.

A new arena would need to be approved as part of the upcoming quality of life bond election.

The Abraham Chavez Theater, named after the former symphony conductor and UTEP professor, was built in the 1970s and is in need of repairs, Wilson said. In order to completely refurbish the building, Wilson said it would cost $20 to $25 million.

(Oct. 2012 story)