ABC-7 takes a closer look at North Hills Crossing coming to northeast El Paso

An online petition signed by more than 1,000 people indicates residents don’t want another Wal-Mart, McDonald’s or dollar store in northeast El Paso.

Construction has already begun on a new northeast El Paso development called North Hills Crossing. While most people welcome the growth, some are disappointed about the retail options planned.

“I’d really like to see us have a nice restaurant out here in the northeast,” Hardy Kemp said.

“I like CVS,” new El Paso resident Erika Mojocoa said.

When northeast El Pasoans were asked what they’d like to see in the new shopping center, everyone had some ideas.

What some are saying, more than 1,000 on an online petition, is that they don’t want repetition. Northeast El Paso City Rep. Carl Robinson said a few residents have expressed concern to him.

El Paso Development News reported that a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, McDonald’s, Big Lots and a dollar store will be in the shopping center. What a lot of people have said they’d like to see is a Target.

Real estate consultant Richard Amstater said his company, RJL Real Estate Consultants, reached out to Target early on, and the company expressed interest. Once the recession hit, the company decided not to join the new shopping center.

“I think it’s very beneficial because I’ve learned living out here everything is really far,” Mojocoa said.

However, everyone seemed to agree that the city of El Paso is growing; and the development, regardless of what stores and restaurants open, is welcomed and will bring new jobs to the area.

Some of the other stores shown in the online renderings are Ross, Marshalls and Petco. Amstater also told ABC-7 that some of the restaurants coming to the development are entirely new to northeast El Paso, and he believes they will be well received. He’s hoping the list of everyone moving into the complex can be released next month, with an opening planned for summer 2015.