Tell me about the Three Legged Monkey! (El Paso: appointed, lease)

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Aside from the loud music, and that someone was killed in the parking lot (not that I don't find that frightening), what else goes on there that the city would spend 3 million dollars to satisfy the residents of one neighborhood?

If you take out the details and just look at the facts as I have (because I don't live there anymore), it just does not make sense for the city to purchase an entire shopping center just to get rid of one night club.

As for the residents complaining to close it, how many are we talking about, and what clout do they have that they can get the city to spend 3 million dollars to get a business to vacate?

Could not the city mitigate the problem by offering to take over the lease instead and providing an alternative location for the club than to purchase the entire shopping center? I'd expect this in larger cities (that can afford it), but there must be more to the story than I have read.

Three Legged Monkey to close after city purchases shopping center - El Paso Times

[katzpaw]

It makes no sense. The Three Legged Monkey isn't even close to houses (see map) and police say it wasn't a major trouble spot. They get way more calls and trouble on Cincinnati Ave. Now the city owns a big empty retail space that they can't/won't rent out to another restaurant or bar.

Street View: Google Maps

[malamute]

Yes, it doesn't make sense to me either -- and the Kern area has at least as much to complain about with the rowdiness and brawls and crime that the bars at Cincinnati bring to their neighborhood. It makes you wonder what all really goes on behind the scenes, why the one place was targetted.

[Chuco]

I don't see why the city had to do this. Then again I don't live in that area so I'm not sure how bad it really gets there. Hopefully the Three Legged Monkey can move to a more bar friendlier place than where it was. Cincinnati? Lee Trevino or Zaragosa areas?

[ZSP]

From what I understand...the city already owns the property...it was leased to some LLC a many years back and would have automatically reverted back to the city in about 12 years. But, as you stated, pressure from somewhere/someone has forced the hand of our city gov't into spending the taxpayer's dollar to get it back earlier. This is the penalty.

Something smells pretty rotten to me. Cielo Vista carried plenty of clout back in the day but I had no idea that kind of influence still existed.

[kidicarus89]

There has to be either A) Someone REALLY, REALLY influential who lives in the neighborhood or B) There is some incentive for the city to take on that much cost to drive out a single bar.

I don't get it. The Monkey has always been a bit ghetto and attracted drunk Bliss soldiers, but yeah, like previously said, there are lot more vocal Kern residents who haven't been able to do much about the Cinci district, and that area has multiple bars that are sometimes problem areas.

[lipbalm]

Originally Posted by kidicarus89

There has to be either A) Someone REALLY, REALLY influential who lives in the neighborhood or B) There is some incentive for the city to take on that much cost to drive out a single bar.

I don't get it. The Monkey has always been a bit ghetto and attracted drunk Bliss soldiers, but yeah, like previously said, there are lot more vocal Kern residents who haven't been able to do much about the Cinci district, and that area has multiple bars that are sometimes problem areas.

During my last trip to El Paso I was disappointed to see how cinci area turned out. It was ghetto and not the mostly college crowd it used to be in the late 90's early 2000's. Wanted to stop by and have a beer in my old stomping grounds and I could not get the hell out of there fast enough. Sad really.

[katzpaw]

Good. A judge has ruled that The Three legged Monkey can stay open.

East El Paso's Three Legged Monkey wins legal fight against city, can stay - El Paso Times

"While Judge Mott said his ruling was to end the legal battle, he said he doubts the issue is over and suggested that all parties could avoid future legal battles with reasonable negotiation."

[kidicarus89]

Good, never understood why it was singled out when there are hundreds of bars near neighborhoods around the city.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

From the article:

"Overall, Armstrong estimated, he spent $700,000 in legal fees.

I'm no longer naive," Armstrong said. "I know the tactics that are used now. And I know as a taxpayer and citizen what I don't want to stand for. So hopefully, this provides some clarity to people on what's happening in our city (government) and the culture that has been happening for many years now."

If he spent that much, the city spent more. What a waste of El Paso's tax dollars, and for what? Someone in El Paso must be, or will be running for office in the future and wanted this win under their belt. I hope people will remember this... in the future.