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The offical publication of the El Paso Association of Builders
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After significant debate, threats of legalaction, and anger from segments of thepopulation the El Paso City Councilvoted 4 to 3 for the demolition of CityHall in order to place a new Triple Abaseball park on the land.
The contentious meetingwhere the action was takenpitted 114 speakers touting thepros and cons of the council’sactions. Opponents said thattearing down the 10 storybuilding was a violation of trustand the destruction of a perfectlygood building. Proponentsargued that the property was theonly location that could handle theplacement of the ball field withoutgoing through lengthy and costlyprocesses of acquiring privately heldland. In the end the vote caused MayorJohn Cook to consider a veto of council’saction, and he held the collective breathof both camps until two days later. Cookannounced that he would not enact hisveto and the ballpark location wassecured. Major League Baseball and thePacific Coast League had told the councilthat delaying the land site vote couldhave put the approval of the sale of theTucson Padres in jeopardy. With theMayor refusing to cast a veto the leagues
movedforward on
the sale to Mountain Star Sports, Inc., thelocal partnership purchasing the Padres.
Mountain Star Sports Group is apartnership between the Woody Huntfamily and Paul Foster family with JoshHunt and Alejandra De La Vega-Fosterrounding out the partnership. MountainStar Sports Group came together to lookfor a major league franchise to bring to El
Paso and help anchor the downtownredevelopment that both Foster and Hunthave interests in. The City of El Paso inits downtown redevelopment plan had anarena or ballpark in the plan, hoping touse those venues as a catalyst for theproject. In August the Foster Family hadthe grand opening for the Mills Building,a reported $60million redo of the historicMills Building that once housed the WhiteHouse Department store among otherlocal businesses. The newly completed
building houses Western Refiningcorporate offices and the El PasoCommunity Foundationheadquarters among others.Foster is also in the middle ofremodeling the Plaza Hotelbuilding, now gutted andreportedly set to house retail andcondos. All of the action downtownis designed to invigorate that area
and make it a tourist destinationalong with enticing businesses to
open and creating a revitalized hiplocation for apartment living. The ballpark and the decision of city leaders totear down city hall left citizens seeminglysplit on whether or not to secure the siteand demolish the 30 year old building. “Ican’t vote for this action knowing that wehave left so many out of the process, andtearing down this building is ridiculoussince it’s a perfectly good building, clearof any debt,” Northeast RepresentativeCarl Robinson said during the debate. “Iam angry that Cohen Stadium and theTiguas haven’t been taken intoconsideration, and frankly myconstituents are upset with this deal,” he
continued. “It’s time for council to takethe lead and move this city forward,” saidCity Rep Courtney Niland, a proponentfor the demolition and Padre buyout.“We have a chance today to move thiscity forward, or to squander theopportunity,” Niland said before thecouncil vote on the issue. The vote was 4reps in favor and 3 against, withRobinson, Eddie Holguin and EmmaAcosta voting no, and with City RepSteve Ortega absent. That placed theissue in front of Mayor John Cook toeither veto the vote or do nothing and letthe vote stand. The mayor chose not toveto and so the ball park action movesforward.
The issue now is where is the citygoing to move to and when. Citydepartments were ordered to pack andprepare for the move out of the buildingbut with no instructions as to where tomove. “I can only say that I’ve got a lot topack and nowhere to go,” said one cityemployee on the condition of anonymity.The trick move will have to go prettymuch without a hitch in order toaccomplish what is being called “thegreat migration to nowhere” by some.“It’s hard to imagine that this will be asorderly as it is proposed. Can youimagine moving people, furniture,systems all in a rush to leave beforedemolition starts?” said another. Timewill tell if this move was worth theexpense, frustration and confusion that itwill cause. While the city mulls thosethings one thing is for certain: El Pasohas made the decision to play ball.
-Ray Adauto, EPAB
Builders utlookyears
E L P A S O
BUILDERSA S S O C I A T I O N O F
B U I L D I N G E L PA S O ’ S F U T U R E S I N C E 194 6www.elpasobuilders.com www.epbuilders.org
2012/9
DIGITAL EDITION
PLAY BALL! El Paso goes for the home run
INSIDE > THE CHANGING FACE OF OUR CITY
Page 5As El Paso experiences record development, we highlight the new projects and businesses that will help shape our future
2 Builders Outlook 2012/9
My term as President winds down.
With the seasons changing so will the
leadership at the association and I
personally am looking forward to Mundo’s
leadership. He will be a fine President
and should bring some energy and
enthusiasm to the board. As Ray told me
a few years back every person who takes
the presidency changes for the better. I
can attest to that as I come to my terms
end. There is a real challenge in leading
this group that only those who’ve done it
can understand. I appreciate the help and the suggestions that have come my
way. I can only tell you that I really appreciate the work that my executive team
has done. There is no way to pay them back for all the time and effort they put
forward for you. We are blessed to have leaders who care.
By now the question of baseball or no baseball downtown has been answered.
As I write this column I can only say that El Paso’s future plans seem to be
settled as far as downtown is concerned. I think that as you read the articles
prepared by Ray about other improvements around El Paso that you will agree
that momentum is starting to pick up and El Paso won’t be sleeping much longer.
It’s exciting and challenging as we move into 2013 and beyond. I know that we
as an association welcome changes and challenges and movement to make El
Paso a more livable place. It’s really more than buildings and houses; it’s the
people. El Paso and especially this association have great people in it. Get
ready for an exciting 2013, one I hope is blessed and productive for you.
President’s Message |
El Paso Disposal
772-7495
32012/9 Builders Outlook
Frank
Arroyos
President,
El Paso Association
of Builders
Downtown as a kid was a neat
place. There was plenty of activity in
San Jacinto Plaza: the alligators, the
buses full of people, the bustling
stores that lined the plaza. Stores like
Kress were my haunting grounds.
The Plaza Theater hosted Saturday
matinees where kids paid with a
canned good and the organist was
pelted with popcorn. That was then.
It’s a memory now. But if what I saw
in Oklahoma City is any indication of
what can be then downtown could
once again create great memories for
future generations. It all sounds like a
picture book ending where in the end,
we all live happily ever after.
But before we get ahead of
ourselves, let’s think about the price of
progress. The concern over the
ballpark seems to me to be not so
much about the stadium as it was
about city hall. I’ve always wondered
why the city hall front door faced
Mexico, and if you believe some folks
it was built that way to show the back
end to the citizens of this city while
presenting a grin to the folks across
the border fence. Others tell me it was
built to house a hotel that went belly
up and the building needed a tenant.
Presto, City Hall. Former Ray Salazar
said on KVIA’s Sunday night thriller
that it was HIS building and nobody
should touch HIS building. People
lined up to speak about whether or not
the building should stay or make way
for the ballpark. Speaker after speaker
rose to the podium, all passionate
about the issue one way or the other.
After all the hoopla the
representatives postured and
hemmed and hawed. “My fellow
citizens, I’m protecting YOU from this
and that, and I will vote to DO this or
that,” was the cry from behind the
microphones. One rep was on a
honeymoon, three of them had
repeatedly said No to the vote, and
four were squarely for it. That was the
way it was on Saturday and that’s the
way it ended on Tuesday at 6 p.m.,
just in time for the six o’clock news.
What timing. But wait more drama.
Now the Mayor would be the one to
endorse the vote or kick it out. All the
while driving to his daughter’s
wedding in Austin. Probably stopped
to get some brisket at Coopers in
Junction and then made the call. No
veto! Hiz honor said. Long live
baseball, down with city hall.
Meanwhile the world moved on,
spinning on its axis. The vote after all
is just a catalyst to what may be a
future El Paso downtown. It was more
a vote on the psyche of El Paso than
a vote on where we’re going as a city.
A hurdle of sorts was jumped and if
you like the idea of the stadium you’re
a happy camper; if not then time to
decide what to do next. I remembered
a saying from another time and place:
Lead, follow or get out the way. That’s
what we’re looking at. You decide
which one you’re doing.
I have flown hundreds of thousands
of miles in my lifetime but nothing
prepared me for what happened on
the flight from DFW to Oklahoma City.
I was sitting across the aisle from
Conrad Conde, talking about this or
that and pretty much anxious to get to
OKC. We had passed songstress
Amy Grant as we humbly moved
passed first class, kind of neat we
thought. The Captain came on over
the speaker and advised us that we’d
be asked to hold off on deplaning
when we landed because we were
carrying a fallen soldier. The mood
inside the cabin immediately changed.
No one was talking loud or carrying
on. No one. I looked at Conrad and
told him this was a first for me and he
said same for him. Our thoughts
turned to the family waiting at Will
Rogers airport and what we might
see. Flashes of pictures seen online of
passengers peering out of the window
as a flag draped coffin was carried out
filled my head. The plane touched
down in the rain, smooth, like butter.
The plane inched along as a
procession of police cars, a hearse, a
bus and other cars made their way to
the ramp. The plane stopped and
silence gripped the aluminum tube.
Those of us on the right side had to
stretch over to see out the left
windows, curious, anxious. The family
waited under umbrellas held for them
by airmen and we knew immediately
the body we escorted was that of an
Air Force airman. The onboard escort
was now visible with a box in his hand,
about a foot square. Conrad and I
looked at each other curious as to why
such a small box. Cremated or is that
all they found? Either way that box
contained the remains of a fallen
airman and we felt a little pain
knowing it pained the family. It wasn’t
until the next day that we found out the
airman was from the Viet Nam War, a
casualty in “neutral” Laos and only
now was being brought home to his
family. He was killed in 1967. For that
brief moment I recalled what I did in
1967, and how ironic it was that I was
now remotely linked to this airman.
That forty five minute flight seemed to
last forever. Not as forever for that
brave airman who gave all so that me
and Conrad could be on a flight some
47 years later.
Perspective |
Ray Adauto,
Executive
Vice President
EPAB
4 Builders Outlook 2012/9
Ballpark is catalyst; 1967 comes rushing back to me
A new downtown bank building is
going up where once there was a drive
through bank and parking garage.
United Bank of El Paso del Norte is
redoing an existing building downtown
near the El Paso Times building, in an
effort to have a new banking center. The
project is currently adding steel to the
structure and has necessitated the
closure of one southbound lane heading
south. The structure will be built to mimic
the Spanish Colonial style of architecture
and is located at 401 N. Main.
Completion for the project is unknown at
this time.
••••••The Fountains at Farah, El Paso’s
new shopping mall is progressing well.
The center is shaping out as columns for
the parking area have been constructed
and concrete is laid out for the
promenade. Centergy Retail of Dallas,
the firm that is developing the center is
hopeful for a fall 2013 opening. The site
is located at I-10 and Hawkins, and is
where the former Farah factory was. The
600,000 square foot retail center will
house new stores along with relocated
stores. Best Buy and Barnes and Noble
will relocate their Viscount locations to
the Fountains at Farah, while anticipated
stores such as Dick’s Sporting Goods will
open El Paso locations for the first time.
Reports indicate that national retailer
Nordstrom’s Rack will also occupy
35,000 sq. ft of space at the center. More
announcements are coming in the next
few months according to sources.
••••••CVS announces first El Paso location.
CVS Pharmacy will be opening their first
El Paso location downtown at 201 N.
Mesa. According to the CVS Caremark
website “As one of the country's largest
pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs),
we provide access to a network of more
than 65,000 pharmacies, including more
than 7,300 CVS/pharmacy® stores that
provide unparalleled service and
capabilities.” CVS will be bringing at least
four more locations to the market mostly
on the eastside of El Paso according to
sources.
••••••Cinemark Announces Plans to
Construct a New 14-Screen All-Digital
Movie Theatre in El Paso, TX
New multiplex will feature Cinemark's
NextGen Cinema Design Concept and a
Cinemark XD auditorium, Plano, Texas -
Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK),
the world's highest attended motion
picture exhibitor, today announced plans
to construct a 14-screen, all-digital movie
theatre that will feature the company's
new Cinemark NextGendesign concept
in the northeast area of El Paso.
Currently, Cinemark operates three
existing movie theatres located
throughout the city of El Paso. This new
multi-screen complex will be constructed
at the southeast corner of Highway
62/Montana Ave. and Rich Beem Blvd,
near Fort Bliss. The property location is
under development by Southwest Land
and Development.
Long recognized as a pioneer in the
theatrical exhibition industry, Cinemark is
taking the cinema entertainment
experience to the next level. The new
Cinemark NextGen theatre will offer the
latest technology, cutting edge amenities
and customer-preferred options all under
one roof. Cinemark's NextGen amenities
will include:
• State-of-the-art viewing environment
with wall-to-wall, ceiling-to-floor
screens available in all auditoriums
• 4K digital projection powered by
Barco projectors; RealD 3D capability
• Enhanced, sound systems that will
enable customers to hear the movie
as the filmmakers intended
• Cinemark's innovative self-serve
concession stand - offering freshly-
popped popcorn, Coca-Cola fountain
beverages and favorite candy brands
• Cinemark XD:Extreme Digital
Cinemaauditorium
••••••An IMAX is expected to be added to
Premiere Cinema's Bassett Place theater
complex next year.
Construction of an IMAX theater
auditorium, with a six-story, 75-foot-wide
screen and about 420 seats, is projected
to begin by early next year, and it could
be in operation by next summer, said
Gary Moore, Premiere CEO.
Premiere and IMAX last year
announced an agreement that allows
Premiere to put IMAX systems in four
Texas markets, including El Paso. "El
Paso has been on IMAX's radar for a
number of years. It's one of the largest
markets in the United States without an
IMAX theater," Moore said from his Big
Spring, Texas, office.
"Anyone can build a bigger box and
hang a bigger screen, but no one else
digitally remasters content from
Hollywood like IMAX," with its proprietary
technology, Moore said. "People
understand the difference between IMAX
and other (big-screen) experiences. It will
be a big draw to the mall" at Interstate 10
and Geronimo in East Central El Paso,
he said.
Premiere will probably replace two
auditoriums in its 18-screen Bassett
theater and add the IMAX auditorium,
which also will require a higher roof to
accommodate IMAX's huge screen,
Moore said. The company is in the
process of securing city approvals for the
project, he said.
Premiere will show IMAX's signature
documentary films as well as IMAX-
remastered Hollywood blockbusters,
Moore said. Premiere's first IMAX
auditorium is in a new, 16-screen theater
complex expected to open next month at
the South Plains Mall in Lubbock.
-El Paso Timess, Vic Kolenc
••••••SAM’s Club rumored to be set to move
to Northeast El Paso. The next Sam’s
Club appears to be headed to the corner
of Diana and Gateway North, across
from the giant American Flag location.
While not confirmed the site has been the
site most talked about in meetings held by
City Representative Carl Robinson. “I
can only tell you that we are hopeful that
SAM’s comes to the area because we
need to have additional retail,” Robinson
said. Reports on KFOX-TV also
mentioned this location as did a
presentation by Centergy Retail of Dallas
when talking about competition around
the city for the Fountains at Farah. SAM’s
would be just south of Walmart and
Cohen Stadium if the location is secured.
More later on this developing story.
Carmike to Bring New Critically
Acclaimed “BIGD” Experience to El
Paso, Texas Area Movie-Goers with
Development of the Carmike 13
Entertainment Complex
••••••Carmike Cinemas, Inc. (CKEC), a
leading DIGITAL cinema and 3D motion
picture exhibitor, today announced that
construction will begin shortly on a new
Carmike Cinemas entertainment
complex in El Paso, TX. The Carmike
13 will be an anchor tenant of a 230
acre multi-use planned development to
be constructed at the northeast corner
of Montana Avenue (US 62) and Loop
375 in one of El Paso’s fastest growing
areas. The planned development is
located directly across the street from a
new Lowe’s Home Improvement Center
and a Wal-Mart Supercenter.
Jay Anthony, Principal of Dallas, TX-
based Anthony Properties, developers of
the project, stated, “New construction at
Fort Bliss, proximity to the planned Army
Medical Campus and the future El Paso
Community College Campus make this a
prime site that will attract additional top-
tier retail, restaurant and commercial
tenants to the area.”
The new theatre will feature 13
screens with total seating for over 2,800
guests and will be highlighted by a state-
of-the-art “BIGD” auditorium, Carmike’s
acclaimed premium theatre environment.
The new facility will be equipped with
auditoriums featuring stadium style
seating, with comfortable high back
rocking luxury seats, in addition to
retractable armrests and convenient cup
holders. The Carmike 13 will also contain
large, wall-to-wall screens, as well as
DLP DIGITAL projection and DIGITAL
sound. The new theatre will have an
upscale lobby and multiple concession
areas featuring Coca Cola Freestyle
drink centers. One-stop ticketing and
concessions stations are a unique design
feature of the Carmike 13. Filmgoers can
escape the elements, purchase their
tickets and favorite concessions and
quickly move into their comfortable
seats. The new complex will also feature
special services for the visual and
hearing impaired.
52012/9 Builders Outlook
THE CHANGING FACE OF OUR CITY What’s in store for El Paso
years
E L P A S O
BUILDERSA S S O C I A T I O N O F
B U I L D I N G E L PA S O ’ S F U T U R E S I N C E 194 6
6 Builders Outlook 2012/9
Following a substantial gain in July,the pace of new-home sales heldvirtually unchanged at a seasonallyadjusted annual rate of 373,000 units inAugust, according to newly releasedfigures from HUD and the U.S. CensusBureau.
“New-home sales in Augusteffectively tied the pace they set in theprevious month, when they were thestrongest we’ve seen in more than twoyears -- so this is really a continuation ofthe good news we’ve been getting onthe housing front,” said BarryRutenberg, chairman of the NationalAssociation of Home Builders (NAHB)and a home builder from Gainesville,Fla. “Looking at the big picture, saleshave been trending gradually upwardsince the middle of last year asfavorable interest rates and prices havedriven more consumers to get back inthe market for a newly built home.”
“This latest report indicates that new-home sales continue to run at a steady
pace that’s well ahead of what we wereseeing this time last year, and at thisrate, the third quarter of 2012 is going tobe well ahead of the second quarter,”noted NAHB Chief Economist DavidCrowe. “That said, the razor-thininventory of new homes for sale is veryconcerning because it indicates thatbuilders aren’t able to access the creditthey need to build new homes asdemand for them improves.”
Crowe also observed that the share ofnew homes sold in the higher priceranges ($400,000 and above) rosesignificantly in August. “This reflects thefact that people who are able to buyhomes right now are those in higher-income ranges who have cash andequity on hand, while first-time buyersare having a tougher time gettingqualified for a mortgage,” he said.
Regionally, new-home sales gained inall but one area of the country thisAugust, with the Northeast, Midwestand West posting increases of 20percent, 1.8 percent and 0.9 percent,respectively. The South was the onlyregion to post a decline, of 4.9 percent.
Meanwhile, the inventory of newhomes for sale held at an historic low ofjust 141,000 units in August, which is a4.5-month supply at the current salespace.
Pace of New-Home Sales Holds
Steady in August
Texas Association ofBuilders
2013 Officers
Eddie Martin, President, Tilson Home Corp., Austin, Texas
Edward Earl Martin, Jr. was born in
Pecos, Texas in 1956. Eddie graduated
from Abilene Christian University with a
BBA in Accounting and later graduated with
a J.D. from University of Houston Law
School and began his business career as a
tax CPA with Arthur Andersen & Co. After
leaving Andersen, he went into commercial
real estate until joining Tilson Home
Corporation where he now serves as
president and CEO. Tilson Home has been
family owned and operated since 1932 and
has become one of the largest “Built On
Your Lot” custom home builders across
Texas.
A member since 1993, Eddie has given
generously of his time to his local home
builders associations, the Texas
Association of Builders (TAB) and the
National Association of Home Builders
(NAHB). He has served on the TAB board
since 2004 and the NAHB board since
2005. He is a Capitol Club donor to both
HOMEPAC and BUILDPAC, the political
action committees of TAB and NAHB. At
TAB he has served on the Executive
Committee, Legal Affairs Committee,
Government Relations Committee,
Finance Committee, Building Standards
Task Force, and Volume Builders Council.
He represented the interests of the Texas
home builders associations as TAB’s Texas
State Representative to the NAHB
Executive Board. He served as
Government Relations Committee
chairman during the 2011 Texas Legislative
Session. Eddie was installed as TAB’s
president on September 14, 2012.
As a philanthropist, this gentleman
supports HomeAid Houston, Boy Scouts of
America, Bay Area Builders Association
(BABA) Support Our Troops/Operation
Finally Home, MS 150, Houston Police
Relay Bike Ride benefiting the Leukemia
Society, Vanguard Urologic Research
Foundation and Brentwood Oaks Church
of Christ.
Eddie and his wife, Brenda, have been
married for 33 years. They have one son,
Brandon, a CPA who works for Tilson
Home in Houston, and is married to
Rebecca. Eddie and Brenda have one
grandchild, Kate, who was born in
September 2012. The family enjoys golf,
scuba diving and snow skiing. Eddie and
Brenda are active members of the
Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ in
Austin.
Joe Carlyle, First Vice President Carlyle Homes, Inc., Tyler, Texas
Joe Carlyle is the president of Carlyle
Homes, Inc., founded in January 1990. His
company specializes in construction of
custom homes throughout Tyler and the
surrounding area.
In 1998, Joe served as president and
was honored as "Builder of the Year" of the
Tyler Area Builders Association. In 1997,
he was chairman of the Parade of
Homes™. Joe has also served as area
vice president for the Texas Association of
Builders and director of the National
Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
Joe has an Associate of Arts degree from
Tyler Junior College and studied marketing
at the University of Texas in Austin. He has
served his community as a director and
president of the Troup Chamber of
Commerce, founding president of the
Troup Kiwanis Club, EMT paramedic,
volunteer firefighter, and commodore of the
Tyler Yacht Club. He serves on the Troup
City Council Place 2.
He and his wife of 26 years, Debbie, live
in Troup and enjoy attending First United
Methodist Church in Troup. They have
three children: Elizabeth (a graduate of the
University of North Texas) and Rebecca
and Drew (both graduates of UT Austin).
Steve Sorrells,Vice President/Secretary
Sorrells & Gunn, LLC, Waco,TXA native of Waco with 23 years of real
estate experience, Steve and his wife
Becky opened Sorrells Development
Company in 1998. Sorrells & Gunn, LLC
was created with the addition of Keith
Gunn in 1999. Steve was installed as
TAB’s vice president/secretary on
September 14, 2012.
Steve is actively involved in the building
community. He previously served as Area
Vice President and Storm WaterTask Force
Chairman for the Texas Association of
Builders. He also chairs TAB’s Government
Relations Committee. He is a past
president of the Heart of Texas Builders
Association.
He served on several committees and
task forces for the City of Waco/City of
Woodway. He was also the Traditional
Neighborhood Development Committee
Chair for the Greater Waco Chamber of
Commerce. As a Waco Symphony
Homebuilder in 2005 and 2008, he built
homes that were sold with the proceeds
benefiting the Waco Symphony.
The Sorrells are the proud parents of
three children ages 17, 14 and 10.
Rick McGuire, Treasurer McGuire Builders, Inc.,
Lubbock, TexasRick has been building homes in
Lubbock since 1982. Very much a family
business, McGuire Builders, Inc.
specializes in building custom homes in all
price ranges, apartment construction, light
commercial work and property
management.
A member of the Texas Association of
Builders (TAB) since 1984, Rick serves as
a life director for the organization. He has
served on numerous committees at TAB
since 1997 and has previously chaired the
Finance and the Audit Committees. He is a
director and past president of the West
Texas Home Builders Association and has
served as a director of the National
Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
since 2010.
Rick previously sat on the state board
responsible for maintaining the
performance standards that addressed
warranty issues required by the Texas
Residential Construction Commission. In
that capacity Rick stayed abreast of
industry standards that affect all facets of
home construction and continues to do so
through his involvement in TAB and NAHB.
He was named Texas Association of
Builders’ “Builder of the Year” in 2009.
Prior to beginning his building career,
Rick worked as a Certified Public
Accountant and audit manager for a large,
international accounting firm. His clients
included Fortune 500 manufacturing
companies and bank holding companies.
Rick resides in Lubbock with his wife,
Marian.
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72012/9 Builders Outlook
Texas Association Of Builders Announces 2013 OfficersSeptember 20, 2012 – The Texas Association of Builders (TAB), in conjunction with the Sunbelt
Builders Show™, recently installed its slate of officers for 2013 at their Excellence in Leadership
Dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin, Texas. The event was held on September 14, 2012.
Builders utlook on the scene |
The Greater El Paso Chamber of
Commerce intercity visit to Oklahoma
City took place September 20-22 and
EPAB Executive Officer Ray Adauto
was among the 30 city business leaders
and officials who made the trip. Leaving
out of El Paso on American Airlines the
group changed planes at DFW, arriving
in OKC just after 12:30. The flight to
Oklahoma City carried the remains of a
fallen military officer killed during the
Vietnam War in 1967. The Air Force
Colonel’s remains were ceremoniously
escorted to waiting family and military
entourage under rainy skies. The mood
on the plane was somber and normally
hurried passengers watched out tiny
windows as the box containing his
bones was moved to a waiting hearse.
When the ceremony ended we
deplaned and boarded our waiting bus
to tour the home of the OKC Redhawks,
AT&T Ball Park located at OKC’s
Bricktown.
We were welcomed to the park with
large outdoor signs announcing our
visit. For the visitors this was a spec-
tacular welcome and one that immedi-
ately engraved itself to the brain.
Former OKC mayor Kirk Humphreys
and chairman of The Humphreys
Company welcomed the delegation and
gave the first presentation on the cul-
ture and history of the city. Humphreys
was the mayor when the ballpark was
built. His presentation offered the dele-
gation an insight into the OKC MAPS
program, the Metropolitan Area Projects
which was used to transform OKC insti-
tutions. A tour of the ballpark was then
given by Redhawks official Chris Hart.
A group picture was taken on the field.
The delegation then went to the his-
toric Colcord Hotel, built in 1914 and
completely renovated just a few years
ago. This was the delegations head-
quarters for the stay.
A tour of the OKC Museum of Art fol-
lowed and the delegation was given
tours of the large Chihuly Glass
Collection on permanent display as well
as a private tour of the traveling exhibit
of Golf paintings including those of
Dutch masters, Rembrandt, as well as
Warhol. The museum was bustling with
a corporate event moved indoors due to
rain. The evening was concluded with
dinner at Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse
and a welcome by OKC Chamber CEO
Roy Williams.
Friday began with a tour of the
University of Oklahoma Health Science
Center, a 300 acre medical facility and
research campus. Dr. Joseph Ferretti,
Provost of the UOHSC led us on a bus
tour ending up at the Children’s Hospital
where the group was welcomed by Dr.
Stephen Prescott, President of the
Oklahoma Health Foundation and J.R.
Caton of Presbyterian Health
Foundation, a partner at the OU
Medical Center. A visit to the pediatric
Cancer clinic ended the visit. The dele-
gation then moved to Myriad Gardens,
an OKC botanical garden and
amphitheater complex located down-
town. El Pasoan’s Adam Frank and
Gerald Rubin treated the delegation to
lunch while Mick Cornett, the current
mayor of OKC, Russell Claus, Director
of Planning, and Catherine O’Connor,
president of the Alliance for Economic
Development of OKC gave us a status
report on the continuing MAPS initia-
tives and accomplishments.
A tour of the new downtown library fol-
lowed as well as a tour of the residential
development taking place downtown
was given. The day ended at
Chesapeake Arena home to the
Oklahoma Thunder of the NBA. We
were hosted by Gary Desjardins,
regional general manager for the OKC
Convention Center-SMG.
The delegations last visit Saturday
morning was to hear Mike Knopp,
Executive Director, Chesapeake
Boathouse and Frank Merrick, Chair of
the OKC Museum of Art talk about OKC
quality of life. The Chesapeake
Boathouse is home to the United States
Olympic Center for Rowing and
Kayaking, situated on the reconstructed
OKC River, once famous as the river
that got mowed three times a year. The
area is now not only home to the world’s
best rowing facility but has become a
favorite spot for concerts and corporate
events as well as world renowned row-
ing and kayaking events. Knopp, a for-
mer attorney, is considered the “father”
of this facility and for bringing rowing to
OKC. He also coaches the OU Rowing
team as well as heading up the US
Olympic Rowing and Kayaking delega-
tion.
Among the delegation were current
and former members of the El Paso
Association of Builders including
Conrad Conde, Conde Engineering;
Ruben Chavez, CEA Engineering; May
Kipp and Marybeth Stevens with El
Paso Electric; Dr. Ernst Roberts of the
EP Community College and Ed
McCormick, McCormick Architecture.
Mayor Walter Miller of Horizon City,
Jerry Rubin, Adam Frank and Rich
Williams from River Oaks Properties
joined Bob Ayoub from MIMCO in the
visit. The common theme that was
heard was “leadership” and commit-
ment to finish what was promised. The
method used by the OKC leadership
was to have a vision, change thinking
and invest in themselves. The city over-
came some very large hurdles to get to
where they are now, and challenges still
exist. The delegation, which included
an embedded El Paso Times reporter
Cindy Ramirez, left OKC confident in
the prospect of change and its potential
good and bad points. What was seen
was twenty years in the making and
with at least twenty more years to go.
OKC is the example of what can be
done when all parties to the change
work together. The OKC experience is
one piece of a large puzzle that has
transformed that city. The challenge is
to see what piece is needed in El Paso.
Oklahoma City, OK, Really!
View more photos on our facebook page: elpasobuildersassociation
2012/9
TAB Presents
Awards,
Mike Santamaria
gets Presidential
Award
The Texas Association of Builders(TAB) bestowed the 2012 “Of theYear” Awards at their Excellence inLeadership Dinner at the FourSeasons Hotel in Austin, TX onSeptember 14. The awards aregiven annually to recognizeexemplary service and leadershipcontributions to the home buildingindustry by its members.
2012 OF THE YEAR RECIPIENTS:J.B. Sandlin Builder of the Year:
Ron RohrbacherPerry Homes – Houston
Ted Schlossman Lifetime
Achievement Award:
Tommy FordTommy Ford Construction, Dallas
Philanthropist of the Year:
Tilson Home CorporationRemodeler of the Year:
Adam Bakir, Incredible Renovations, Houston
Developer of the Year:
Dan MarksonNPR Group, LLCSan Antonio, TX
Associate of the Year:
StrucSure Home WarrantyLocal Association
Accomplishment of the Year:
Tyler Area Builders Association
Presidential Distinguished
Service Awards
Mitchell AndersonAnderson Fine Homes, Lubbock
T.W. BaileyBailey Family Builders, Frisco, TX
Ed KopalKopal Building & Design, Tyler
Sue Ann PingerTilson Home Corporation, Austin
Mike SantamariaMountain Vista Builders, El Paso
Kay Vinzant, Heart of Texas Builders Assoc., Waco
Chad WallerHi-Fidelity of Lubbock, Lubbock
Gary WilkersonGary L. Wilkerson Custom Homes
Canyon Lake Robert Wood
Custom Homes by Robert WoodLubbock, TX
Dave YelovichTilson Home Corporation, Houston
Founded in 1946, the TexasAssociation of Builders is an affiliateof the National Association of HomeBuilders and has 30 local homebuilders associations across Texas.Representing almost 10,000members, 315,000 jobs and $21billion of the Texas economy, thestate and local associations play acrucial role in providing housing forTexans. For more information aboutthe Texas Association of Builders,visit www.TexasBuilders.org.
10 Builders Outlook 2012/9
112012/9 Builders Outlook
Medicare is a critical program thatmillions of American seniors rely on,but it’s headed towards bankruptcy.According to the latest report from theMedicare trustees, Medicare willbecome insolvent in 2024. Allowingthis to happen would irresponsiblyjeopardize the health care of Medicarebeneficiaries, and would mean that bythe time my three children becomeeligible for Medicare benefits this vitalprogram would be a thing of thepast. This is a serious issue thatrequires serious solutions from ournation’s leaders. Unfortunately,Obamacare recklessly cuts $716billion from Medicare in order to fund anew entitlement program, and with itscostly mandates and regulations hasmade doctors less likely to acceptMedicare patients.
If we pause and remember whyMedicare exists, it is to provide ournation’s seniors and disabled withaccess to health care coverage. Infact, Texas alone currently has over 3million seniors that rely on Medicarefor accessible and affordable care. Iregularly meet with constituentsthroughout the 23rd District of Texaswho tell me of their concern that theirMedicare benefits will be negativelyimpacted, or that their parents will nolonger be able to find a doctor whoaccepts Medicare because ofObamacare’s Medicare cuts, newrules, and onerous regulations.
As a nation, we have a choice whenit comes to Medicare. We can pretendthat Medicare is not in trouble and donothing, which is the only plan thattruly ends Medicare as we know it. Or,we can reform and save Medicare sothat we preserve its promise forcurrent and future seniors. I know howimportant Medicare is and I will notstand by and let its promise to seniorsbe broken. That’s why I supported theHouse of Representatives’ budget,which outlines a plan to save Medicare
that makes no changes for thoseAmericans who are 55 and older, whileallowing those 55 and younger theability to choose from a variety ofMedicare-approved options – includingstaying in fee-for-service Medicarethat exists today – for receivingMedicare benefits. The reformsenvisioned in the House ofRepresentatives’ budget will ensureour nation keeps the promises made to
seniors both today and tomorrow.We must take decisive action now to
save Medicare. Support for the statusquo is the only option that truly endsMedicare as we know it. As therepresentative of the 23rd District ofTexas, I remain committed to savingMedicare to ensure that seniors todayand in the future will have access tothe care Medicare was established toprovide.
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Guest Column
Francisco CansecoTexas Congressman
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12 Builders Outlook 2012/8
Sunbelt Show
Builders utlook on the scene |
The annual Sunbelt Builders Show was combined with a National Association of Builders meeting in Austin
this September. The Sunbelt is produced by the Texas Association of Builders. The EPAB was
represented by President Frank Arroyos, Vice President Edmundo Dena, NAHB representative delegate
Bobby Bowling IV, and TAB representative Randy Bowling.
The TAB show was held in conjunction with the NAHB Fall Board meeting and was designed to help the
Sunbelt Show attendance. The overall consensus was that this worked and the show was deemed a
success by the organizers. The El Paso delegates attended the TAB meetings and went to several
training sessions. “I have to admit that I am amazed by the amount of information I’ve been able to get by
attending the trainings,” said Edmundo Dena. “The ability to network with other TAB members is
invaluable and helps me every time I come,” he continued. “I would encourage more members to attend
and see what your State Association does for you,” said President Arroyos. “Get ready to Rally this
coming February as we join our fellow TAB members at the Capitol,” he concluded.
Membership News
Thanks to our sEpTEMBER
sODA spONsOR:Bella Homes
SODA SPONSOR
years
E L PA S o
BUILDERSA S S o C I A T I o n o F
B U I L D I N G E L PA S O ’ S F U T U R E S I N C E 194 6
11395 James Watt, Suite A-11 79936915-633-8002
132012/9 Builders Outlook
www.elpasobuilders.com www.epbuilders.org
UPCOMING EVENTS |
RENEWALS |
NEW MEMBERS |
Jaime’sCourier
Service,Inc.
Jaime’sCourier
Service,Inc.
915-549-4533 or
915-478-2404
Bonded, insured foryour peace of mind.
84 Lumber
Cemex
Dempsey Appraisal Service
E. F. Building Materials
Henderson & Ellis, CPA, PC
MA Homes
New Horizon Builders
Scott Contracting/HDMechanical
Solar Smart Living
Southwest Décor El PasoCorporation
Southwest Securities Bank, FSB
Southwestern Home Products
Stewart Title Of El Paso
Trim Team
Tropicana Building Corp.
Longhorn Remodeling & Roofing
Contact: Hector Adame, Jr.
4401 Turf Rd., Bldg. E
El Paso, Tx 79938
915-474-3814
Ajp Development, LLc
Contact: Art Paterson
7229 Ticonderoga NE
Albuquerque, Nm 87109
505-804-1402
Decasa UsA, Inc.
Contact: Ana Cristina Lujan
1310 Lomaland Dr.
El Paso, Tx 79935
915-633-1313
October 10Board Meeting 11:00
General Meeting 12
Noon
El Paso Club
Chase Bank Bldg.
(Downtown)
November 12IMG CuP
Sun Country Pro-Am
Golf Tournament
Painted Dunes Golf
Course
December 6EPAB Gala Installation
And Awards Banquet
El Paso Country Club
CONDOLENCES Condolences to Charles Gaddy, Jr. on the loss of his father
Dr. Charles M. Gaddy
Greetings to our Associate Members. Thispast few months have been interesting forthe associates as we had planned on a reallycool outdoor event that just didn’t make.Unfortunately we had to postpone the eventfor now but plan on doing it in the spring time.I would like to personally thank associatesChuck Gabriel with Carpets West; JohnDorney with Dorney Security; and BenTryzna with Barnett and BennettConstruction for their hard work in theplanning for the postponed tent sale. Johnand Ben are new members and they jumpedin with both feet. Chuck has always been a
stalwart contributor and he really did a greatjob heading this group up. Please plan onjoining us for the event sometime in March orApril.
I’d like to also announce a very good golftournament for experienced golfers thiscoming November 12. Our first IMG TrophyPro Am will be held at Painted Dunes and willfeature golf pros from the Sun Country GolfAssociation, meaning those golf pros at clubsaround New Mexico and West Texas. Thepro-am will be 3 players with a pro, and weexpect that those teams will invite their localpros to join them. Players must have
registered handicap in order to play. Shouldbe a fun and challenging time.
Finally as the year winds down I will beentering my final year as AssociatesChairman. I’ve committed myself toEdmundo for his term but I will be looking topass the torch on to someone else. I havelearned a lot as your chair and ask that youparticipate in all of our upcoming events,especially attend the installation December 6.Rally Day next February 20 will be fun. UntilI see you soon have a good month and gosell something.
Showroom: 2131 Missouri
915 • 533 • 6045 fax • 533• 6096
Thomas R. Brown, Owner
14 Builders Outlook 2012/9
Sam ShallenbergerWestern Wholesale Supply
Associates Council
September Board of DirectorsMeeting
The Board of Directors met onSeptember 19 and tried out somethingnew in the way of food for the meeting. Agourmet food truck that was going toparticipate in the big tent sale was invitedto cook for the meeting. Theoverwhelming reaction was verypositive. “The pulled pork is by far one ofthe best I’ve ever had,” SamShallenberger said. Juanita Garcia gave
the truck a thumbs up as well.“interesting choice of food for us, anddifferent but really good,” she said.While the truck was a hit the board waspresented reports on the Sunbelt Showand TAB meetings as well as a reportfrom Bobby Bowling IV on the NAHB fallboard meetings held in conjunction withSunbelt. Regular business wasdiscussed and approved. The nextboard meeting is October 10 at the ElPaso Club, at 11 am.
BOD Meeting
� execuTive oFFicerS
Frank Arroyos - President
Cisco Homes
edmundo Dena - vice President
Accent Homes
Frank Torres - Secretary/Treasurer
GMF Custom Homes
Sam Shallenberger - Associates council
Western Wholesale Supply
Greg Bowling - immediate Past President
Tropicana Homes
ray Adauto - executive vice President
El Paso Association of Builders
� couNciL/commiTTee cHAirS
Affordable Builders council
Bobby Bowling IV
Associates council
Sam Shallenberger
Build PAc
Randy Bowling
Desert Green Building council
Javier Ruiz
industry Promotions
Greg Bowling
Land use council
Vacant
Young Designer Award
John Chaney
remodelers council
Rudy Guel
membership Drive
Mike Santamaria
Finance committee
Kathy Carrillo
education committee
Frank Spencer
� ADviSorY To THe BoArD
J. Crawford Kerr, Attorney, Firth, Johnston
& Martinez
� BoArD oF DirecTorS
Joe Bernal, Joe Bernal Insurance
Doug Borrett, Karam Co.
Kathy Carrillo, Pioneer Bank
John Chaney, Passage Supply
Sergio Cuartas, BIC Homes
Ted Escobedo,Snappy Publishing
Art Garcia, El Paso Door
Juanita Garcia, ICON Custom Home Builders,LLC
Samira Gonzalez, Edwards Homes
Lorraine Huit, Cardel Design Group
Walter Lujan, Dawco Home Builders
Sal Masoud, Del Rio Engineering
Bruce Meyer, JDW Insurance
Edgar Montiel, Palo Verde Homes
Kathy Parry, Hunt Communities
Javier Ruiz, Senercon & Border Solar
Frank Spencer, Aztec Contractors
Henry Tinajero, WestStar Bank
Linda Troncoso, TRE & Associates
Ken Wade, El Paso Building Materials
Paul Zacour, Zacour & Associates
2011 Builder member of The Year
Greg Bowling
Tropicana Homes
20110 Pat cox Award
Kathy Parry
Hunt Communities
2011 Associate of The Year
Sam Shallenberger
Western Wholesale Supply
John Schatzman Award
Bob Bowling III
Tropicana Homes
ePAB Special Award
Rudy Guel
Guel Construction
Honorary Life members
Brad Roe
Cliff Anthes
Wayne Grinnell
Chester Lovelady
Don Henderson
Anna Gil
Past Presidents
committed to Serve
ePAB mission Statement:
The El Paso Association of Builders is a
federated professional organization representing
the home building industry, committed to
enhancing the quality of life in our community by
providing affordable homes of excellence and
value.
The El Paso Association of Builders is a
501C(6) trade organization.
© 2012 Builder’s Outlook
is published and distributed for the
El Paso Association of Builders
by Snappy Publishing
240 Thunderbird • Suite C
El Paso • Texas • 79912 915-820-2800
6046 Surety Dr. El Paso, TX 79905
915-778-5387 • Fax: 915-772-3038
Kelly Sorenson
Mark Dyer
Mike Santamaria
John Cullers
Randy Bowling
Doug Schwartz
Robert Baeza
Bobby Bowling, IV
Rudy Guel
Anna Gil
Bradley Roe
Bob Bowling, III
E. H. Baeza
Hershel Stringfield
� TAB STATe DirecTorS
Doug Borrett, Karam Co., Life Director
Randy Bowling, Tropicana Homes
� NATioNAL DirecTorS
Bobby Bowling IV.
Demetrio Jimenez
NATioNAL ASSociATioN oF
Home BuiLDerS
(800) 368-5242
TexAS ASSociATioN oF
BuiLDerS
(800)252-3625
years
E L P A S O
BUILDERSA S S O C I A T I O N O F
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www.elpasobuilders.com www.epbuilders.org
Builders utlook