City of El Paso still in the dark on cost for proposed Downtown arena
After shelling out almost $800,000 for a multiphased feasibility study on a proposed Downtown arena, city officials still don't know how much the preliminary cost would be to build it.
"We do have a project budget of approximately $158 million left in the project fund, but right now we do not have any cost estimates," Daniela Quesada, chief architect for the city of El Paso, said at a community meeting Thursday evening. "We will be receiving cost estimates as part of the consultants' recommendations, which of course, we will share with the public."
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The study began in May and came with a price tag of $798,611.
Quesada said Thursday's meeting "is part of the listening process."
Quesada presented the study's timeline and some concepts that were contracted with San Francisco-based architecture firm Gensler and Associates.
El Pasoans in a packed room at the Blue Flame Building were given three minutes to ask questions, but some participants came away with more questions than answers.
Debbie Nathan, an independent journalist, detailed an incident in which more than 500 comment cards had identical handwriting that were in support of building an arena/stadium in 2012. Nathan asked Quesada, the moderator, what she thought of the incident.
Her question went unanswered as Nathan took a few extra seconds after the time expired to explain.
"I'm sorry, her three minutes are up. We're gonna be respectful of everyone's time,"
Quesada said, before moving on to the next person.
Kathleen Staudt joined some who used the time as public comment to voice their disagreement with the proposed arena.
"We do not want or need another arena with costly event fees open only part of the time for scheduled events, with little to no parking except for lots owned by developers," Staudt said.
Quesada also shared unattributed quotes that she said were made by the steering committee's members during a meeting June 9.
"I'd want Downtown to be a place for everybody, that draws different people together," one quote said.
"We should consider events and programming that can draw people and funds from outside El Paso," another quote read.
Quesada also shared the committee's draft vision statement.
"Part of the district is a multipurpose venue that acts as a concert venue at night but can also support local markets, family events and related local businesses at other times," Quesada said.
The full study will be broken into three parts:
Market economic assessment;
Architectural/structural assessment;
Site/program/urban design/master plan.
The architecture firm's study will analyze:
Financial models that include estimates of capital and operating costs;
Public-private opportunities;
Preservation of historic buildings and to preserve the historic character of the neighborhood;
Recommendations on how to safeguard dilapidated buildings, and options for funding sources that align with a temporary restraining order.
Final results of the study are expected to be presented to the City Council in January.
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Anthony Jackson may be reached at ADJackson@elpasotimes.com and @TonyAnjackson on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: City of El Paso still in the dark on cost for proposed Downtown arena
