A solution to a long-simmering battle over the proposed construction of a multi-purpose arena in downtown El Paso may be on the horizon.
More than 5 years ago, city officials announced that the proposed $180 million structure would go up at the site of a historic neighborhood known as Duranguito.
That decision prompted a flurry of lawsuits on the part of community activists and other to stop the project, arguing that the neighborhood, with structures dating to the early-19th century, was historically and culturally important and should be preserved.
Now the city has decided to enter good faith talks with one of the project’s principal opponents, Max Grossman, a University of Texas at El Paso art professor.
Members of the El Paso City Council have not only voted in favor of authorizing the negotiations, but also, because materials costs have increased since 2016, hiring a consultant to arrive at a new figure.
More specifically, the council authorized city staff to investigate how much it may cost to stabilize structures in Duranguito that were damaged during initial demolition work in 2017 that was quickly halted.
As originally proposed, the $180 million was to come out of a 2012 Quality of Life Bond approved by city voters. The total bond was $473 million and has since been used to fund the construction of a large number of recreational and cultural facility projects.
A timetable for the negotiations, along with a new cost estimate for the project, has not yet been announced.
By Garry Boulard
