I think this is an important question, seeing that the city and certain individuals are trying to revitalize it. Here is my list in no particular order:
- farmers market/deli/small grocery
- housing (space dedicated to high end, middle income, & those making minimum wage)
- live/work space for artists/entrepreneurs (rent controlled)
- free bus fares for people traveling in a certain radius around downtown
- more open space (parks & such)
- wider sidewalks
- more food vendors
- more trees & plants (desert friendly of course)
- large fields right outside of downtown for sports/picnics/special events (close enough where one could walk there if they lived downtown)
- Aquarium/IMAX
- Trolley service/light rail (in the future)
- Performing Arts Center
- Boutique hotel
- moving of more museums downtown (create a true museum district)
- a larger Walgreens
I will add more as I think of more. What would you like to see downtown? What would downtown need if you were going to move down there?
My name is David and I am living El Paso.
9 responses so far ↓
Ernesto // January 6, 2009 at 10:04 pm |
More restaurants that have outdoor eating (tables and chairs; like in NY/LA) by the sidewalk…maybe even allow the customer to take your pet (if you’re eating outside of course).
livingelpaso // January 7, 2009 at 5:54 pm |
I agree with you Ernesto. I heard that Mills Plaza is going to have the outdoor cafes. We will see.
Vicente // January 8, 2009 at 3:57 am |
I miss traveling on the subway so one would be great here or atleast surface trains that connect all of the city.
Enrique M // January 9, 2009 at 2:34 pm |
First, a recognition and appreciation of the vibrant retail commerce that already exists downtown. This retail will continue to exist from the southern end of downtown to the international bridges. If the efforts to revitalize the area around San Jacinto Plaza is successful, the new higher end retail will co-exist with the existing, lower end retail to the south. This is not a bad thing.
Moving the downtown Sun Metro bus stops away from San Jacinto Plaza and closer to the international bridges has taken away the foot traffic upon which the retail stores around San Jacinto Plaza depended. Those retail spaces around San Jacinto Plaza will be available for a higher end retail commerce.
The area immediately north, northeast, and northwest of downtown is the ideal location for development of high rise market rental apartment and condominium buildings.
Museums do not need to be moved downtown from other locations. There are very important historical sites downtown which should be converted into historical museums: A Mexican Revolution Museum in the Caples Building, an Old West Museum in the old Wells Fargo Building on the southeast corner of San Antonio and El Paso Streets, and a Railroad Museum in the old freight depot on N. Campbell Street and Franklin.
In order to create real excitement in downtown El Paso, two new high rise office buildings of at least 30 stories, utilizing magnificent architectural qualities should be built: one at the site of the El Paso Times parking lot bordered by Kansas, Campbell, Main, and Mills Streets, and the other on the site of the Bank of the West, bordered by Mesa, Stanton, Franklin, and Missouri Streets.
The occupants of the two new office buildings and the existing downtown buildings, including the buildings being remodeled by Paul Foster, and the residents of the new housing north of downtown can provide the customer base needed for the desired higher end retail to be able to keep their doors open.
A modification in the City’s downtown revitalization plan is needed. The redevelopment zone concept, with its proposed use of eminent domain, should be scrapped. The properties in so-called redevelopment zone should be included in an expanded “historic incentive” district. It is time to remove the divisive “redevelopment zone using eminent domain” concept. It is not needed and it is not feasible.
Vicente // January 11, 2009 at 1:40 pm |
I agree with Enrique M. I once mentioned to an El Pasoan how I was driving through downtown Canutillo; he found that so amuzing that someone thought Canutillo had a downtown. He laughed and laughed. What he missed was that I (coming from a city where my little neighborhood has more people in it than the whole El Paso metropolitan area) can say the same thing about El Paso’s downtown, so I agree with Enrique that El Paso needs more high rises.
Steve // January 12, 2009 at 3:44 am |
I am seconding Vicentes comments El Paso does really have a downtown , really anything other than the hideous thing there right now would be good. Something modern with no attempt to have old looking buildings making things ugly.
I would say something like an high class shopping area along with a middle class one. A few chain restraunts and a nice park that acts as a hub.
Vicente // January 13, 2009 at 1:49 am |
I actually envision something like Colorado street in Pasadena (California). That would be great; it has the restaurants, the shopping, clubs, pubs, while staying clean and maintaining the small town feel…I think that would be great for El Paso.
Shelby // January 15, 2009 at 1:57 am |
No anti-competitive covenants restricting new buildings just to attract higher-end stores!
livingelpaso // January 15, 2009 at 6:47 pm |
This is a great discussion! All of you have great visions of what you would like to see. I like El Paso’s older buildings. They need to be cleaned up of course, but that is part of El Paso’s history/culture. Now, a few new buildings representing El Paso’s move into the 21st century would be really nice too. It is possible to combine the new with the old.
Shelby: Would you like to expand on your comment about anti-competitive covenants? I am interested to hear more.