latest news on the downtown revitilazation project? (El Paso, Reno: hotel, to live in)

[holmes]

That's a wonderful idea.. unfortunately in the current political climate of border security that will never happen. It's nice to dream though.

[LEVOW]

Originally Posted by holmes

That's a wonderful idea.. unfortunately in the current political climate of border security that will never happen. It's nice to dream though.

My thoughts exactly, im pro el paso, but sometimes i do get a lil down, we have so much potential, a river walk would be nice, we need something big to get people to start coming back to the downtown area.

[holmes]

A good way to help accelerate the revival of downtown is to stop contributing to the urban sprawl that is plaguing this city. The idea of newer, cheaper, farther is not a way to continue to grow this city. The idea of downtown and suburbia are in direct conflict. I urge all el pasoans to come back to the real el paso..

[LEVOW]

Originally Posted by holmes

A good way to help accelerate the revival of downtown is to stop contributing to the urban sprawl that is plaguing this city. The idea of newer, cheaper, farther is not a way to continue to grow this city. The idea of downtown and suburbia are in direct conflict. I urge all el pasoans to come back to the real el paso..

I completely agree, in the beginning it was nice, the thought of El Paso growing. I remember, when the city only stretched to George Dieter, now weve almost reached close to Hueco Tanks,. Enough is enough, now the Cielo Vista area is considered central El Paso, its not even considered the east side any more. The city is growing unevenly, downtown is suppossed to be the center of the city, we need to get our priorities straight!

[HIGH!Lonesome]

Both of you are correct LEVOW and holmes, stop contributing to urban sprawl and we need to get our priorities straight.

I remember when El Paso ended behind K Mart on Mc Rae, there was no Yarbrough North of I 10, but now El Paso is way out to the point of no return, my sugestion would be to go up, and the best place to go up is in downtown El Paso, and for starters they should at least build one highrise apartment or condominium in downtown and encourage people to move into these highrises.

Once people begin to realize how much more convenient it is to live in a highrise, low water bills, no bushes, trees or lawns to take care off, you can have plenty of indoor plants and trees that grow inside, it's less responsibilitites and stress and work to do around the house and more leisure time for ones own pleasure.

I think that the downtown plan calls for low rise apartments and condos south of Paisano
Street but they need to put more people in downtown, I've already made up my mind when I move back to El Paso, if I dont go back to my youth days and raise lifestock, then I would love to live in a highrise in downtown El Paso when available and be in the heart of the city, when you live in a big city atmosphere you get used to it pretty fast and it's alot of fun.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by holmes

A good way to help accelerate the revival of downtown is to stop contributing to the urban sprawl that is plaguing this city. The idea of newer, cheaper, farther is not a way to continue to grow this city. The idea of downtown and suburbia are in direct conflict. I urge all el pasoans to come back to the real el paso..

I agree even though I'm not urban myself. El Paso used to have beautiful rural areas. It was like 5 or 6 small towns situated around and about the mountain -- each with it's own character and somewhat separated. And at the edge of town -- where almost everyone was, you could hear coyotes, walk through the desert, see owls flying at night -- and a million stars. Yet there was enough city to have all the conveniences, downtown had a variety of stores and a lot of people shopped downtown. Now many people never go there.

There's still something about downtown El Paso in the evening -- it makes you wish there was more to do there.

[peggydavis]

Did you ever hear about the Streetcar conspiracy? In the late 40s, the US government sued National City Lines, a company that bought up and dismantled streetcar lines all over the country. Several very large corporations were involved, all interested in promoting automobiles and buses over streetcars.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by HIGH!Lonesome

I think that the downtown plan calls for low rise apartments and condos south of Paisano
Street but they need to put more people in downtown, I've already made up my mind when I move back to El Paso, if I dont go back to my youth days and raise lifestock, then I would love to live in a highrise in downtown El Paso when available and be in the heart of the city, when you live in a big city atmosphere you get used to it pretty fast and it's alot of fun.

I'm torn on that downtown planning. And now I see they've decided against eminent domain for blight -- and I'm also against eminent domain for blight because someone's blight is another person's paradise (or home or life's work) -- although I'm not sure how they're going to make downtown "acceptable" without it.

I also don't know how many people will drive past the malls and whatever nightlife that exists near the malls -- with the free and easy parking to go downtown where you have to pay to park.

A lot of cities have an interesting downtown built around a historic downtown -- San Antonio has the Alamo for example but El Paso lost most of it's interesting historic places. Too bad we didn't keep all those old saloons and brothels from way back. We don't really have an old-towne -- do they still have the building where Pancho Villa came and had ice cream?

[holmes]

Originally Posted by malamute

I'm torn on that downtown planning. And now I see they've decided against eminent domain for blight -- and I'm also against eminent domain for blight because someone's blight is another person's paradise (or home or life's work) -- although I'm not sure how they're going to make downtown "acceptable" without it.

I too was totally dismayed that city council did not approve the ordinance defining blight. I even wrote my city rep (O'Rourke) about it, to which I've yet to receive a response. I'm all for eliminating the blight downtown, but not at the cost of those who have weathered the storm for years to maintain their properties. Do I like or frequent all the businesses that are non-blighted? No. But that doesn't mean the city and their developers should have free reign to snatch said properties out from under their feet.. If the people of this city are to take the mayor and council's word that eminent domain will only be used as a last resort then what is so wrong with giving those property owners who have cared about their properties some peace of mind? Is it because the plan has no leeway? And indeed all owners within the "blighted" area are fair game? A new downtown at all costs should not be the prime objective here. I fear our downtown is losing its soul one day at a time. A shame.

[HIGH!Lonesome]

I know formost that every major American city charges to park in it's central district, so downtown El Paso is no exception and probably cheaper to park there than in most places.

My idea for downtown redevelopment is to bring new blood into downtown El Paso by encouraging new comers or the younger generation El Pasoans that are eager and old enough to move out of the house to move downtown, and that could increase the population of the central core of the city, therefore downtown El Paso would'nt have to rely on the rest of the city to make the drive there .

Downtown would have an efficient and energetic vibrant population to support itself,and for the rest of El Pasoans living outside downtown, a drive there would be for business,work,shopping, entertainment or just plain pleasure.

By the way, El Paso does have a historic downtown since some of it's buildings are starting to turn 100 years old, like the Bank of America building, it use to be the El Paso
Southwestern Railroad Building and El Paso's first Steel framework in 1906.

The ST. CHARLES HOTEL on South El Paso and Overland streets, the Paso del Norte the Bassett Tower, the Cortez,and many more, there's lots of old buildings that can compromise to bring to terms that a historic downtown is already there, just add some nostalgia bring back the electric trolleys and the Aligators.