Efforts to jump-start redevelopment in Duranguito have hit another wall. City staff rejected all proposals for the Union Plaza block in downtown El Paso this week, halting the first formal attempt in years to turn the long-fenced parcels into housing, retail, and public green space.
The move leaves 17 city-owned properties just south of the Judson F. Williams Convention Center in limbo after protracted legal battles and partial demolition. City officials say they plan to debrief qualified bidders and eventually bring any recommended next steps back tothe City Council, but there is no firm timeline for when that will happen.
Rejection Tucked Into City Council Agenda
The administrative rejection surfaced in the fine print of the Dec. 16 City Council agenda. A “Notice for Notation” that lists bids and proposals rejected by the Purchasing Director specifically names the “2025-0386R Union Plaza Redevelopment” item, according to the El Paso City Council agenda.
The notice covers activity from Feb. 19 through Dec. 5, 2025, and appears alongside a list of other procurement items recorded for notation rather than discussion or vote.
What The City Wanted And When Bids Closed
The city’s request for qualifications called for an adaptive-reuse plan that would keep historic character intact while adding green space, new housing (including affordable units), and ground-floor retail or cultural uses across 17 properties in the Union Plaza area…