Historic downtown El Paso buildings set to be demolished

By Crystal Price EL PASO, Texas -- An El Paso real estate development company has filed demolition permits with the City of El Paso to tear down a city block of historic buildings near San Antonio and Mesa in Downtown El Paso.

River Oaks Properties plans to demolish the entire city block between 212 and 220 E. San Antonio St. in Downtown El Paso.

This demolition permit application is in addition to the already accepted permit to destroy 109 S. Mesa St.

KFOX 14 reached out to River Oaks Properties for comment about what will be put in place of the historic buildings. However, no one returned our calls.

The announcement has some long-time El Pasoans upset.

"It was nice coming downtown," said Guadalupe Crook, a resident of Central El Paso. "I can remember when all the stores were open. It's unreal what they're doing."

Some El Pasoans KFOX 14 talked to said filling the space with something new could be a good thing.

"It's a good idea to make parking lots and something else to help downtown to look better," said Javier Puentes, a resident of downtown El Paso.

The Texas Trost Society said the planned demolition will destroy the historic Downtown El Paso core in staggering proportions.

"We were all outraged," said Malissa Arras, president of the Texas Trost Society.

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Historic downtown El Paso buildings set to be demolished