Historic Landmark Commission speaks out on El Paso’s Downtown Arena
The downtown arena was a topic of conversation for El Paso’s Historic Landmark Commission.
The arena would be bound by west San Antonio avenue, south Santa Fe street, west Paisano street and Leon street.
While some of the members believe there are a handful of buildings with historic value within the arena’s footprint, just as many think the city chose the right location.
Joseph Longo asked his fellow commissioners if they wanted to take a formal stance for or against the location of the downtown arena. While members decided to do more research before making a decision as a group, they did express their differing opinions.
Daniel Carey-Whalen and D.J. Sevigny both sit on the commission.
“These consultants who we are paying a lot of money say you have amazing architecture. Everyone says it. They come here and say this is amazing architectural heritage, other cities would kill for this. Yet, we have been mowing them down. I’ve been here for 4 and a half years, and we have been moving them down left and right,” Carey-Whalen.
“The surrounding area would greatly benefit from this. I’ve been to numerous other cities, and have seen the amount of activity around sports venues is fantastic. And I am speaking specifically looking at south El Paso street because that is a very commercial corridor,” said D.J. Sevigny.
Sevigny believes there are a handful of buildings with historical value, but that value is diminished by a nearby tire store and Greyhound bus stop.
A few of the members have torn feelings, but commissioner Don Luciano believes the city made the right choice.
“I think having the convention center and having this new arena, they need to be close to each other. A lot of conventions that come here will need both facilities,” Luciano said.
The city may have been working on the arena’s location for a few years, but at least a couple of commissioners take issue with city council approving the location just days after it was announced.
“That is what I am most upset about, the sqashing of dialogue by really the speed of which this evolved,” Carey-Whalen said.
