El Paso Destroys to Rebuild

Emily Badger explains why the demolition of El Paso's high-rise city hall this past weekend was a cause for celebration, as the first step in a multimillion-dollar redevelopment that promises to transform the city's downtown.

1 minute read

April 16, 2013, 10:00 AM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


"El Paso’s City Hall was not particularly historic (it was built in 1978), nor architecturally significant, nor even structurally unsound. But its eight-second implosion yesterday morning was cause for watch parties all over town because of what will replace it: a new AAA ballpark, the first tangible sign of a $473 million commitment by the city to improve its quality of life (the ballpark, in particular, is also apparently the stuff of some El Pasoans’ dreams)," reports Badger.

"Elsewhere in town, a quality-of-life bond supported by voters last November will also enable new parks, recreation centers, athletic fields, public pools, a cultural center, a children’s museum, and upgrades to the city zoo and performing arts center, about 40 projects in all."

Monday, April 15, 2013 in The Atlantic Cities

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