Mexican-American Cultural Center to be housed at Abraham Chavez Theatre

The voter-approved Hispanic cultural center will be housed within the Abraham Chavez Theatre building, and community residents have pledged to raise more than $20 million to offset the cost of the quality of life bond signature project.

City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved designating the Mexican American Cultural Center at the Abraham Chavez building, an endeavor that’s slated to cost $34.6 million, significantly more than the $5.7 million approved by voters.

“Once we start spending millions (of dollars approved by voters) on it (the design of the cultural center) but if we discover that the funds won’t be raised and we have to build somewhere other than the Abraham Chavez, then the city’s money goes right down the tube,” City Rep. Michiel Noe said.

District Attorney Jaime Esparza who led a sub-committee of residents that provided input to a programmatic study done by the City’s Museum and Cultural Affairs Department, said they are ready to raise funds.

“I think we can raise $20 million. It’s not easy but I think it’s achievable. There is a lot of excitement in the community,” Esparza told council.

He said the sub-committee may even able to raise $25 million, which would still leave the city short about $9 million from the estimated $34 million construction cost.

Bryan Crowe, General Manager of Destination El Paso, said the city may be able to make up the funds from revenue from programs at the facility.

“We are going to have programming and money coming into the facility and I think we have to look at the performance of the facility of what the Abraham Chavez (Theatre) will bring,” said Mayor Oscar Leeser.

However, the programmatic study shows the cultural center’s revenue will be significantly less than its expenses. By year three, it would bring in about $43,000 but spend $549,000. City officials have said a fundraising foundation would have to be established to infuse money into the center.

The programmatic study was conducted with help from consultant Mimi Quintanilla of firm Quintanilla Schmidt which works on implementing and studying cultural centers in municipalities. Quintanilla made a slew of recommendations to city council on Tuesday, including establishing an artist residency at the Center and implementing programming with established institutions.

The study proposes the cultural center have a black box theater, demonstrative kitchen, studios, media arts labs, library, acting studio and more. It would offer free as well fee based programs and workshops.

“I am very optimistic and hopeful about this project,” speaker Hector Montes told the council.