A move to build a 104-unit apartment complex on the west side of El Paso is taking a big step forward after securing a $16 million line of credit from the State of Texas.
The project, which will belong to the Housing Authority of the City of El Paso, is set to be built in the city’s Mesa Hill neighborhood and will be geared for affordable housing.
Noting that El Paso currently has a “critical need for more affordable housing options,” Gerald Cichon said the project is a “testament to our commitment to meeting this need.”
The chief executive officer of the Housing Authority, Cichon, in a statement, said the agency is particularly dedicated to creating a “thriving community that supports working families, older people, and veterans.”
The Mesa Hills project is also receiving $7 million from Texas in straight up funding support.
The project, which will go up near Bluff Canyon, about 7 miles to the northwest of downtown El Paso, will see the building of seven two-story buildings, with construction expected to launch most likely in early 2025.
Renderings of the project have shown that the buildings will be separated by at least two parking lots on a 6.2-acre landscaped site surrounded by trees.
Opposition to the project from area neighbors has taken the form of concerns about noise and potential traffic issues. A group called Coronado Neighbors United recently submitted a petition with more than 600 signatures asking the El Paso City Council to halt the project.
The group has also launched a petition calling for a special election to recall Chris Canales, a member of the Council, for supporting the development.
Despite those complaints, a staff report put together several months ago by the City Plan Commission determined that the project is “in character with the residential and apartment development in the surrounding area.”
By Garry Boulard
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