See Medical Center of the Americas Renderings

The Medical Center of the Americas (MCA) master plan project is currently in Phase Two, and renderings released in the second half of 2012 include refined designs for specific buildings within the plan area. Four concept images show design elements that are more in line with the current Texas Tech School of Medicine buildings.

Clinical Sciences Building concept.

The Clinical Sciences building may develop as a nine story structure, based on its concept image. It will be located on Alberta Avenue between the current Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center clinic building and Raynolds Street.

Medical Science Bldg. 2 is in the background in this image.

The School of Medicine's Medical Science Building 2 will help complete the university area by going up to the east and perpendicular to the existing buildings. In the concept drawing, this building is in the background, and two additional school buildings are located in the foreground, along Raynolds Street.

School of Nursing building in the foreground.

Another multi-story building pictured in the images is the Gayle Greve Hunt School of Nursing, which will be constructed at the corner of Alberta Avenue and North Concepcion Street. Additional "Future Buildings 1 and 2" can be seen just to the west of the Nursing building, in front of a pedestrian plaza.

A pedestrian plaza between future buildings at the MCA.

A SmartCode rezoning plan is currently in the works for the site, and a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone was recently approved for the area.

Related:
Texas Tech Adds Nursing Building to MCA

Medical Center of the Americas master plan website: http://mcamasterplan.org/

Texas Tech Adds Nursing Building to MCA

The Medical Center of the Americas (MCA) will be adding a new building to its campus soon with the approval of a nursing school building by the Texas Tech University Board of Regents. The board approved the $11 Million building for the Gayle Greve Hunt School of Nursing�s Traditional Bachelor of Science Degree and Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs. The $11 Million is a gift from the nonprofit MCA Foundation.

Artist's rending of the future Nursing School Building.

According to the MCA's news digest, "The Gayle Greve Hunt School of Nursing is currently operating on leased space in downtown El Paso. The new 25,000-square-foot building will contain classrooms, specialized labs, faculty offices, support space, specialized training equipment and public art."

Proposed location of the Gayle Greve Hunt School of Nursing Building.

The MCA Master Plan shows the Nursing School's future location at the northeast corner of Alberta Avenue and Concepcion Street, across the street from the Paul Foster School of Medicine's Medical Education Building I. No timeline has been given for construction of the project.

The Nursing School is abbreviated here as GGHSON.

Learn more about the MCA Master Plan by visiting our Master Plan Page.

Texas Tech Press Release: http://www.ttuhsc.edu/newsevents/search/Default.aspx?id=5377-4
MCA Synapse News Digest: http://www.mcasynapse.org/texas-tech-regents-approve-construction-of-el-paso-nursing-building
MCA Master Plan website: http://mcamasterplan.org/

City to Create TIRZ to Aid MCA Improvements

The City is poised to create a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) around University Medical Center which may help spur development in the area that will become the Medical Center of the Americas (MCA). City Council will vote on an ordinance creating TIRZ #6 on its May 29, 2012 meeting, which would encompass around 67 non-contiguous acres owned in part by the City of El Paso, University Medical Center, Texas Tech University, and MCA Americas Realty Inc.

A TIRZ is created to capture additional tax collections per year in a defined area and dedicate the additional tax to capital/public works improvements within the zone. For example, if the tax at the beginning is $1M, and the tax after year one is $1.5M, the the TIRZ would receive $0.5M for the year.

According to the TIRZ documentation, "The proposed Medical Center of the Americas (MCA) Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone is intended to stimulate private investment in the El Paso MCA area and facilitate the creation of an integrated campus of facilities that will position  the MCA as the premier regional center of health delivery, education, and research. The full  implementation of the proposed Zone is expected to yield significant increases in tax revenues for all MCA area taxing authorities, providing substantial economic benefits and opportunities to the region."


The preliminary study indicates the TIRZ will be in place for 30 years and has identified three projects so far totaling $5.78 Million. In addition, the study identifies $176 Million in non-TIRZ projects within its boundaries. If approved, the City may immediately name a board of directors that would choose projects to bring to City Council for a final vote.


City Council Agenda item (PDF): http://www.elpasotexas.gov/muni_clerk/agenda/05-22-12/05221210A.pdf
MCA Master Plan Details: http://developmenthenews.blogspot.com/p/master-plans.html