Since its founding in 1873, El Paso has been a gateway to the Western United
States and Mexico. For over a century Downtown El Paso was a vibrant center of
industry, commerce and social interaction for the region. Over the past several
decades, El Paso’s Downtown has deteriorated. The decline in the local economy
and loss of many of El Paso’s mainstay industries have been factored into the
decrease of Downtown El Paso’s allure with local citizenry, businesses and
out-of-town travelers.
Recent publicly funded activity Downtown has led to a renewed interest in
redeveloping the area to re-establish its role as the heart of the community.
The restoration and renovation of the historic Plaza Theatre, construction of
several museums, a remodeled convention center and redevelopment of Union
Station are examples of individual projects which have begun the transformation
of Downtown. Seeking to capitalize on these efforts, City leaders and The Paso
Del Norte Group saw the need for a comprehensive plan to redevelop and
revitalize Downtown El Paso that was both economically viable and feasibly
implemented. Public and private community leaders initiated the process for the
El Paso Downtown Plan in 2004, and in February 2005 the City Council and Mayor
approved the development of the Master Plan. The Plan is an outline which will
change Downtown for the next 100 years.
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