El Paso city officials are trying to determine what exactly to do with a historic downtown building housing the old De Soto Hotel.
That structure, at 309 E. Mills Avenue near the intersection of N. Stanton Street, was heavily damaged due to a fire that broke out on the upper floors of the four-story building and spread downward before firefighters were able to contain the blaze.
The fire destroyed the entire rooftop of the building and most of the top floor.
Bult in 1904 and comprising some 22,400 square feet, the building was for decades known as the Great Northern Hotel – and in later years as the De Soto Hotel – had rented out rooms on a long-term basis.
In the last two decades, the building was also known for its extensive boxer’s mural on the N. Stanton Street side of the structure, otherwise known as the “Boxer’s Hall of Fame,” which is thought to be one of the largest boxing murals in the country and was completed in 2004.
The owner of the building, businessman Rogelio Gonzalez, had earlier announced plans to undertake a $1.2 million renovation of the hotel. Two months ago the El Paso City Council voted to approve nearly $60,000 in fee and tax rebates for a project that would have seen an entirely restored hotel with 34 rooms and first floor commercial space.
In a statement, El Paso City Manager Tommy Gonzalez said, “We believe it extremely unfortunate to see this building destroyed by a fire, just as we were bringing it back to life with the help of a private partner who was eager and willing to re-activate the blighted hotel and work to preserve the iconic murals on the western side of the building.”
By Garry Boulard
