Another one will bite the dust, but not by fire

Sadly, it will take a few of these to disappear and become a blot on downtown and elsewhere in town before people finally become aware of just who and for whom council serves...because it sure doesn't serve historic buildings that's for sure. Note the following blog entry, on the El Paso Development News site. Dated in October after the Historic Landmark Commission (HLC) denied approval for the demolition of the Trost building, the entry provides a good backgrounder on the location of the now fated Muir building (ironic in what the name of another John Muir evokes) and images of its original façade and what it looks like today.

According to the entry on the El Paso Development News site:

The application for demolition was submitted by the Borderplex Community Trust, a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) originally created to facilitate the City's original Downtown 2015 Plan which was announced in 2006. Since then, the REIT has focused on purchasing properties, such as the Wells Fargo and Chase buildings downtown, but has made few moves in terms of revitalization. If approved by the City Council, this would be the first major construction project put forward by Borderplex in El Paso's downtown.

However, today we know the result. And, given the history in this town of developer influence (and their cronies on council, ad nauseum), of REITs, Razing, and Resurfacing for flat parking lots, be on the look out for just that on this space soon. Now be sure to thank the Borderplex Community Trust, et al. for this bright spot on the horizon. 

Loretto Academy Chapel

Loretto Academy Chapel
Originally uploaded by chacal la chaise.

Being new to the world of a photo blog (and photo city blog), I'm not sure if I should post images of how the city looks today, yesterday, or long ago. That being said, and as I have a large cache of images of El Paso at the ready, I thought I would start at a place (that also refers to a particular point in time, aka high school) when photography began to be a part of my life.

This chapel and its attached convent and high school buildings were designed by architect Henry Trost for the Sisters of Loretto. The chapel is the cornerstone of 7 acres that makes up its schools and other buildings. Now in the center of town, it is the school where I attended and graduated from high school.

According to this article produced by El Paso Community College, "the school opened on September 11, 1923, with 143 students and eight teachers. At the time, the site for the school was outside the city. The first all-girls school in El Paso, the academy would teach not only academic subjects but leadership skills and the means to succeed in everyday life."