By Joe Gudenratth
The El Paso City Council is about to do something no council before it in the last 12 years has been able to accomplish, and that is to put into motion the design and construction of the long-awaited multi-purpose center. Unfortunately, they are proceeding along a path that was misguided almost at the conception of the project and puts short-term convenience over long-term benefits.
This effort started back as early as 2006 when the city’s Downtown 2015 Plan called for a multi-use arena with a maximum capacity of 18,000 people. The city’s 2012 Plan El Paso doubled down and called for a new Downtown arena containing 15,000 to 18,000 seats and becoming a “regional entertainment destination.”
It’s when officials attempted to turn these plans into reality that mistakes were made and changed the trajectory of this project. First, the city of El Paso chose to pursue this major community project on its own, and then it proceeded to under budget the project from the start. While hindsight is 20/20 and mistakes can be rectified, the city has remained on this ill-fated path through changes in city managers, council representatives and mayors.
That’s what brings us to the council’s upcoming decision at its Tuesday, Feb. 13 meeting. The understandable and applaudable decision to stay within budget, coupled with a go-it-alone attitude, has taken us from community shaping, economically impacting, modern, large scale, much needed, multi-use arena to an outdoor amphitheater and new amenity for Downtown El Paso. While this project could well add to the attraction of Downtown El Paso, it is unlikely to be the “regional entertainment destination” desired or drive other economic investment in the surrounding areas.
With every decision comes opportunity costs. While the council’s action may be celebrated by some, it will come at a cost that will have long-term implications for our community’s growth and evolution.
Not too long ago, the city was working to bring the Texas Tech School of Architecture to Downtown El Paso. This community effort successfully resulted in the school’s establishment within the historic Union Depot.
This decision paid off, as the school has since grown from seven to 77 students, recently added a new master’s program in historic preservation, and looks to continue their growth in Downtown El Paso.
The current renderings of the new facility show the Union Depot as “retail” space and identifies the train station “as a food and beverage destination.” The council’s action also allows the city manager to proceed with the termination of all leases within the site, including the agreement with Texas Tech.
Even if Texas Tech is allowed to stay within the Union Depot, this project will limit their ability to grow and/or force the school to seek alternative locations.
Lastly, an investment of this size into a community amenity and the debt burden that comes with it will virtually eliminate the city’s ability to lead or join an effort to build the modern arena originally envisioned and still needed within our community.
El Pasoans will be left with the 82-year-old County Coliseum and the 47-year-old Don Haskins Center as our only indoor arenas and continue to be skipped over by opportunities that would utilize a modern arena and benefit our entire community.
I thank the City Council for working to move this project forward but encourage our community not to repeat the mistakes of the past. Work together to deliver the project our community wants and needs.
Joe Gudenrath is executive director of the El Paso Downtown Management District.
