Northeast redevelopment could include demolition of Cohen Stadium

Nine months after a windstorm damaged Cohen Stadium’s shade canopy structure, repairs are still needed.

Restoring the stadium in Northeast El Paso was one of the issues District 4 city Rep. Sam Morgan campaigned on the hardest.

“That place used to be a destination point for our community. It was a place where our community came together. It has just fallen into ruin and it’s just heartbreaking. It’s an eyesore, that’s what it is. It breaks my heart. I drive past it every single day,” Morgan said.

City officials and Rep. Morgan are now asking for the community’s help to reimagine Cohen Stadium. Developers are also invited to a community meeting next Monday to help shape a comprehensive master plan for the site.

“One of the things that I realized when I was out in the community, everyone complained about Cohen, you know. But when you ask what would you like to see there? No one could give you anything, other than just something. You know, some shopping, some eateries,” Morgan said.

Morgan said all options are on the table, including tearing down the Cohen Stadium in order to make room for a new development. The site covers more than 50 acres. Morgan said the city has also begun talks with El Paso Community College to potentially acquire a 50-acre plot of land bordering Cohen Stadium.

El Paso city engineer Sam Rodriguez said the city has started the process to do a master plan for the future redevelopment of the site.

“Any time you do a master plan process, you have to look at all the options, you know. Whether it is looking to reuse the existing facilities, or starting from scratch, we have to look at all those options. And we really have to work with the community to develop that vision,” Rodriguez said.

Morgan said a three-month comprehensive study of Cohen Stadium is underway and should be completed in November.

“When I reimagine Cohen, I reimagine it as a destination. Somewhere that not just Northeasterners, but everyone in El Paso would want to come to. You know, something that doesn’t exist in our community. Eateries that don’t exist here yet, event centers,” Morgan said. “Based off the community, we just need something done. Regardless of whether we keep Cohen, or we raze it to the ground, you know, something has to be done.”

The community meeting invitation states the following:

“The development of a master plan is the first step in the process to evaluate the potential land uses and redevelopment alternatives for the site. The Future Project will:

· Revitalize the Cohen Stadium site

· Provide a catalyst for development in Northeast El Paso

· Create a regional project”

The master plan is expected to be completed in early 2018.

Morgan said he has some preliminary plans that he will share with the community and developers at next Monday’s meeting, but he is open to suggestions.

“Something that will be sustainable. It’s not going to be just a flash in the pan. But it’s actually going to take root, and it’s going to give our community the anchor that it actually needs in order to grow and develop economically, like any other part of this community,” Morgan said.

The community meeting will be held on the El Paso Community College Transmountain Campus, 9570 Gateway Boulevard (Foyer of the Administration Building), at 6 p.m. Monday, October 23.

At a city council meeting in June this year, reps talked about coming up with a long-term plan for Cohen Stadium.

City officials said an insurance company was willing to pay $500,000 to repair the canopies, but that is not enough to prevent future wind damage.

It’s not clear it the city collected the insurance money.

Back in June, Deputy City Manager of Public Works and Transportation Khalil Zaied told city council and the mayor that the city has yet to identify the funding needed to complete the Cohen Stadium project.

In August of this year, city council approved $950,000 to make repairs at Cohen Stadium.