shopping center growth plans revealed by el paso developer

Nearly a dozen new shopping centers are currently being planned for construction in the next year by a major retail developer based in El Paso.

Altogether, that will mean more than 500,000 square feet of new built space.

River Oaks Properties says that although it wants to develop the new retail space in many sections of the city, it will focus its development efforts primarily on the fast-growing eastern side of El Paso.

Many of the retail centers being planned will be smaller than typical shopping mall sizes, with more of a neighborhood feel.

According to the website El Paso, Inc., River Oaks owns “several hundred acres of undeveloped land, mostly in far East, including a 100-acre plot near Montana and Joe Battle” that could be used for new retail space construction.

Among the new River Oaks projects is 15,000 square feet of retail space called the Market at Pebble Hills, and the 40,000 square foot Reserve at Rich Beem, which will include eight new buildings and both outdoor patio and common gathering spaces.

Also in the development stage: a new 63,000 square foot Albertson’s Supermarket location at the intersection of Pebble Hills Drive and Zaragoza, also on the far east side of the city.

In a joint statement issued by River Oaks president Adam Frank and the company’s executive chairman Jerry Rubin, it was noted that the new projects will become reality “without any city or county tax dollars to subsidize our development.”

Founded in 1968, River Oaks has a portfolio of more than 150 properties in the metro El Paso area.

By Garry Boulard

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