Council approves designated area for Downtown arena
City Council has approved the area to be used for a $180 million voter-approved Downtown arena and authorized the use of eminent domain as a last resort.
Prior to the vote, Mayor Oscar Leeser said he would not approve the use of eminent domain to acquire properties in the area. Not a single city representatives voted against approving the site. District 1 Representative Peter Svarzbein was not present for the vote.
“It has the most potential for tax based growth in private sector development around it and it leverages the investments that we’ve already made,” District 8 City Representative Cortney Niland said.
ABC-7 has learned the effort to buy properties has already started in the identified two block area just south of the Convention Center. It is bordered by San Antonio, Santa Fe, Leon, and Paisano streets. Plans tentatively call for an arena with 12,700 seats.
Some public speakers like Yolanda Chavez said the plan would destroy the area’s history and urged city representatives to vote “no.”
“The people in the area are El Paso’s history. They encompass the story of El Paso. To demolish this neighborhood to build an arena is to bring harm to two of El Paso’s most precious resources: its history and its people,” Robert Diaz said.
“You’re talking about displacing 150 poor people, Latinos, under the shadow of the new Mexican-American cultural center. How ironic is that? Are you kidding me? You’ve got to be kidding me,” Max Grossman said.
The city said Tuesday the project is being designed to fit the smallest footprint possible, incorporate existing facilities, and create foot traffic to support area businesses.
The City Attorney Sylvia Borunda Firth told council 17 families will be affected by the arena’s location. An estimated 47 people would be relocated, she said.
Borunda Firth said the city would follow federal and state guidelines when it comes to relocating businesses and residents. The goal is to keep everyone who wants to remain in the Downtown area in Downtown.
