In the November 2008 issue of The El Pasoan, editor Cassandra Yardeni spoke with the Karam brothers about their loft project in the SoGov district, south of the new County Building. These brothers are part of a long lineage of developers in El Paso and their latest project, 1st Avenue Lofts, is by far the most ambitious and urban. Click here to read the full story.
More recently the Karam brothers became the focus of a video project (watch video below) produced by Joseph Villescas and Valentin Sandoval, which takes viewers on a tour of the loft building and introduces the project managers Luke and T.J. Karam.
Click here to learn more about Black Bird Concepts.
More Information: Click here to learn more about the 1st Avenue Lofts project
Anne
January 14, 2009
Awesome! There is so much potential in downtown El Paso! Beautiful buildings and yes, even those "warehouses" can be utilized. In Omaha, NE for example, there they have the 'City Market and 13th Street" area where they turned warehouses in condos and indoor shopping areas with sidewalk cafes, restaurants and small boutiques and stores. It reminded me of cities like Berlin and Munich (where I used to live most of my life) where people actually LIVE in the cities and WALK to work and WALK if they want to go to a club or a bar or a restaurant. Downtown El Paso would be perfect for developing a similar feel, a similar quality of life, a concept, where people actually get to know each other and socialize-thanks for having this "vision", thanks for doing SOMETHING!!
Mies
January 14, 2009
I hope they do a better job than was done at the so-called lofts in the old Popular builiding. Those turned out to be just another banal contractors' special. Here's some design suggestions:
leave the brick exposed where ever possible.
leave the concrete ceiling structure exposed where ever possible
make the windows much much bigger
But my guess is that even then the results will not be too spectacular. Looks like the floor to floor height is just not sufficient to give that great classic loft feel to the spaces. Appears to be only 9' max. floor to ceiling.
Remember, God is in the details! Good luck!
Abram DelaCanal
January 14, 2009
Great idea guys! Even with the downturn in the economy there will be a demand for this type of projects in EP!
Apothecary
January 14, 2009
It is exhilarating to see young visionaries, native sons, seize the opportunity to further the re-development of the historic center of our city. With all due credit to ongoing efforts, the 1st Avenue Lofts project certainly merits both attention and support as it takes form. For much too long El Paso, among the most historic cities in the nation, has witnessed it's legendary core fall victim to inner city blight and economic decline. The efforts of these young guns deserve both praise and economic muscle. The very fact that they are initiating this concept amidst the most challenging economic environment since FDR is extraordinary. But then again, bear in mind that Conrad Hilton built his downtown El Paso Hotel in 1930!
GL
January 14, 2009
In this economy, I wish you good luck.