City reveals location for Downtown arena
The City of El Paso plans to acquire a two block area south of the Downtown Convention Center for the voter-approved $180 million dollar Multipurpose Cultural and Performing Arts Facility.
The “targeted footprint” for the arena would be bound by West San Antonio Avenue, South Santa Fe Street, West Paisano Street, and Leon Street. The city must first acquire the property before construction begins.
“The property acquisition process will include asking city council to consider authorizing the City’s eminent domain authority,” the city stated in a news release.
“We are working closely with our consultants to identify the smallest area possible within the footprint for the project, in order to disrupt the fewest number of landowners,” City Manager Tommy Gonzalez said.
“The power of eminent domain allows the City to begin a structured negotiation process with established protections for and disclosures to property owners,” City Attorney Sylvia Borunda Firth said. “It is absolutely our goal to negotiate in good faith with property owners and reach agreement on the purchase price.”
The City will implement a relocation program for residential and commercial tenants as part of the acquisition process. “Our hope is that these small businesses and residents will want to stay downtown, but that will be their choice. We will develop a relocation plan that works for each situation,” Firth said.
Back in August, City Council awarded a contract for $4.8 million to International Facilities Group to help with site selection and gathering bids for the arena’s operator.
The arena was part of a the $473 million quality of life bond that passed with voter approval in 2012.
In November of last year, City Council indicated it wanted greater control over design of the new Downtown arena. Council approved a “construction manager at risk” method, which means the Council will have input during the design process and not have to bid on a design process that is already completed. It is the same policy used to build $75 million Southwest University Park.
Documents from the City prior to the quality of life bond vote in 2012 showed plans for an arena with 15,000 to 18,000 seats. However a later master plan showed the arena with 12,700 seats. The Don Haskins Center, built specifically for basketball, has about 12,000 seats.
“This is a very complex and unique project,” City Manager Tommy Gonzalez said last year. “It’s going to be a once in a generation kind of project for this community.”
The arena is expected to host sporting events, concerts and other entertainment.
According to City officials, the modern, multi-purpose arena will be designed to accommodate a wide range of events with first class amenities such as open concourses, club level seating and the technical infrastructure needed to draw top-level entertainment.
The projected opening date is late 2019 or early 2020.
