El Paso officials cut the ribbon Wednesday on 144 newly renovated affordable apartments near the Shoppes at Solana, calling the complex a critical piece of the city’s lower-cost rental stock. City Council Representative Alejandro Chavez described the reopening as the payoff from a decade-long effort to get the long-idled property back into use.
Funding and program details
As reported by KVIA, the community’s rehab is part of roughly $24 million in investment that combined private capital with low-income housing tax credits. KVIA also noted that the work is connected to HOME, the federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program, which in Texas is administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. The TDHCA describes HOME as a block-grant program used to expand and preserve affordable rental housing through federal funds and local partnerships.
Where it sits and local access
The renovated complex is on El Paso’s west side near the Shoppes at Solana along Sunland Park Drive, putting residents within walking distance of shopping, services, and other neighborhood amenities. The Shoppes at Solana’s public listing places the mall at 750 Sunland Park Drive, a key retail hub for the surrounding corridor. Local shopping options in the area are highlighted by Visit El Paso.
A decade in the making
Alejandro Chavez, who represents District One on the City Council, told KVIA the redevelopment took about 10 years from start to finish, a timeline he said reflects how long it can take to finance and rehabilitate multifamily affordable housing. Local leaders framed the project as preservation work, aiming to modernize the units while keeping them in the affordable housing pool rather than seeing them converted to higher-rent apartments.
Next steps and where to look for help
Residents interested in eligibility details, waiting lists, or other affordable housing options in El Paso can reach out to the Housing Authority of the City of El Paso or review HOME program materials. The HACEP oversees local voucher and affordable housing programs, while the TDHCA guides the HOME program and related funding sources.
