THE DEMOLITION OF YOUR HISTORY: THREE NEW EMPTY LOTS IN THE HEART OF HISTORIC DOWNTOWN EL PASO Lets take stock of the mass destruction. After years of neglect, the First National Bank Bldg. (circa 1885), one of the oldest and most historic edifices in downtown El Paso, burned to the ground in 2012. That was followed by the demolition of the adjacent Union Bank and Trust Bldg. (Henry C. Trost, 1914) and the Gemm Theater (1890s). Henry C. Trosts John Muir Bldg. (1916), located at the southeast corner of San Jacinto Plaza and inside the Downtown Historic District, was senselessly razed in 2013. Finally, this past summer, an entire city block of historic buildings at the southwest corner of Mesa and San Antonio Ave. (1896-1910) was demolished. All of this occurred with zero opposition from City Council or the Mayor. Indeed, City Council voted to demolish two Henry C. Trost Buildings over the object of the Historic Landmark Commission, which they had appointed! And exactly what do we have to show for the destruction of nine historic buildings? THREE IMMENSE EMPTY LOTS, with no announced development plans in sight. While other Texas cities safeguard their architectural treasures and encourage their restoration as part of a larger economic strategy to develop heritage tourism, we destroy our old buildings and erase our future economy, which will definitely depend upon tourist dollars. Why would a tourist exit I-10 on the way to Austin or Phoenix if the only thing to look at in El Paso are strip malls and empty lots? If we dont want to become merely a place to stop for a burger on the way to someplace else, we had better change our attitude towards our rich architectural heritage and start saving what we have left. We at the El Paso County Historical Commission are proud to take the lead in promoting an alternative architectural strategy that will replace the aimless, senseless status quo with a new vision for our citys future. In the coming months we should have good news to report. There is hope yet... *Please be sure to view all 7 of the attached photos!
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 00:32:53 +0000
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