EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — The El Paso City Council has approved a $3.17 million expansion of the El Paso Convention Center with the purchase of several downtown properties.
The expansion is part of the city’s long-term plan to bolster the tourism economy, attract high-impact conventions, and reinforce downtown as a hub of economic and cultural activity.
The recent purchase of the downtown properties, totaling approximately $3.17 million, includes properties at 311 Overland Ave., 315 W. Overland Avenue, and a portion of Block 25 along West San Antonio Avenue.
According to the city, these sites, adjacent to the current convention center campus, will provide the necessary space for future expansion.
The purchase will be funded through the Hotel Occupancy Tax, paid by visitors staying in local hotels, which supports tourism-related projects.
According to the city, the expansion aims to create a modern, competitive facility capable of hosting major state and national events, adding that by increasing capacity and amenities, the convention center expansion is expected to drive higher hotel occupancy rates, boost tax revenues, and create local jobs during both construction and operations.
The recent expansion comes after years of downtown investment, including over $250 million in private development that will add more than 1,100 new hotel rooms and restore historic properties.
The city states that while the project is still in the early stages of the process, detailed design and planning will follow.
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