The stores of El Portal Outlet Shoppes will host a preview opening on March15, followed by an official opening on Thursday, March 16, according to Deputy City Manager Cynthia Collazo, who has provided City oversight for the construction of the 335,000 square foot riverfront mall.
The March 15 preview will benefit Bethany House.
Situated on the site of the former River Drive Mall, the $100 million shopping complex houses 76 stores and offers about 1,400 parking spaces, 566 of which are under cover beneath the two-level shopping area. The mall features a food court, covered walkways, landscaped courtyards, and a children’s play area.
The much-anticipated outlet mall, which was developed by El Portal Center L.L.C. (EPC) of Chicago, is located at 1600 Water Street west of Gateway to the Americans Bridge (Bridge I.) The center is a joint venture of CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. and Horizon Group Properties, Inc. When developed, Phase II of the site, will add another 80,000 square feet of retail and mixed use space.
The construction of El Portal employed 1,000 workers, and its stores will generate 1,200 full time positions and 1,600 seasonal positions. Collazo said that a recent job fair at TAMIU generated much interest for students who seek part time employment. She said the City is encouraging Laredoans who live downtown or in proximity of the mall to take advantage of nearby employment opportunities.
Collazo said that vacant lots near the Outlet Shoppes could become sites for infill housing, apartments, or condos for those who have come to establish or manage a store at the new mall. She added that the downtown area north of the mall is ripe for the creation of loft apartments and the establishment of more restaurants.
Collazo said she and her staff have worked closely with the mall’s construction superintendent, Danny Townsend of EMJ Corporation, and representatives of AEP, Spectrum, CenterPoint Energy, and the Laredo Police Department to review the progress of the development.
Karen Gaytán
March 1 Media tour of the Outlet Shoppes at El Portal.
City staff who have worked assiduously to facilitate the development’s progress include City Manager Jesus Olivaares; Finance director Rosario Cabello; Building Development Services director Ramon Chavez; City engineer Rogelio Rivera; Assistant City Manager Robert Eads; John Porter, Acting Director of the Environmental Services Department; Yvette Ramon, Acting Director of the Bridge Department; Chief of Police Ray Garner; Fire Chief Steve Landin; Traffic Department director Roberto Murillo; Utilities director Riazul Mia; and Public Works director John Orfila.
Collazo lauded the efforts of contractor EMJ to address the noise and dust of the mall’s construction. “They wanted to have a minimal impact on surrounding residents. Company representatives were part of our weekly meetings,” she said.
El Portal is accessible from Santa María Avenue as well as from Santa Ursula (adjacent to Bridge II) and the down ramp that drops to the river and goes west under Bridges I and II. San Enrique Avenue to Water Street in the Azteca neighborhood will also provide access. The Santa Isabel Truck Route, now illuminated by LED lighting, provides an expeditious route out of the mall. Additional egress is available via San Enrique one way northbound beginning at Water Street.
“El Portal is now a huge part of downtown,” Collazo observed. “We want El Portal shoppers to also explore historic downtown’s architecture, its stores, and its restaurants.”
Of the City’s push for walkability, a major component of Plan Viva Laredo, the City’s comprehensive development plan, she said, “Downtown sidewalks are being revamped, and the lack of lighting is being addressed. Several of us have spent a lot of time walking downtown at night as a team to understand what our goals are for visibility and safety,” she said, adding that the Tatangelo Walkway will soon have lighting, that some sidewalks have been widened for ADA compliance, that missing brick pavers have been replaced, and that utility and other poles have been removed from many sidewalks. She said City Code Enforcement officers have been part of those walks and have made note of compliance issues.
Anticipating a large influx of Mexican shoppers into Laredo during Semana Santa, Collazo said that one of the benefits of shopping in Laredo and not further North up IH-35 is that they do not have to file the CBP’s I-94 tourist arrival and departure permits for travel beyond the Border Patrol checkpoint.
She said that the City’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, local hoteliers, and EPC staff are working on overnight travel packages for Monterrey visitors that will include bus fare, an overnight stay at a local hotel, shopping and dining, and visits to points of interest.
According to a fact sheet on the construction of El Portal, the City offered the following incentives to the mall’s developers:
- Phase I Grant: A quarterly disbursement to EPC equal to 100% of the City’s 1% Sales and Use Tax Revenues attributable to EPC’s sales at the Outlet Shoppes. Payment over the 12-year period of the grant may not exceed $17,451.09. With the exception of about $5 million, all Phase I Grant funds are expended for marketing and post-completion improvements.
- Phase II Grant: A quarterly disbursement to EPC equal to 100% of the City’s 1% Sales and Use Tax Revenues attributable to EPC’s sales at the Outlet Shoppes. The grant shall not exceed $387,500 during any calendar year with a maximum cumulative amount of $3,875,000 to be paid in quarterly installments over 10 years. Phase II construction will commence within 8 years.
- Through a $500,000 grant, the City will provide half the cost of an LED jumbotron sign.
- Through the Laredo Reinvestment Corporation, an independent foundation, the City has conveyed four lots within the old River Drive Mall footprint and an additional lot on Zaragoza Street.
- The 100 block of Juarez Avenue between Zaragoza and Water Street was closed and conveyed to EPC as part of the project’s development.
- The City will equally share the cost of improving parking lots adjacent to the project and will lease them for an initial term of 25 years for $1 per year and two additional terms of 25 years each.
- In support of the mall, the City will continue to open and operate 167 metered parking spaces in proximity to the mall.
- The City gave license for EPC to allow portions of the project to encroach on adjacent City rights-of-way to clear a height of 6’8” above the sidewalk surfaces and/or in accordance with ADA standards.
- The City will provide off-site landscaping, irrigation, and street improvements to enhance the development within the project area.
- The City waived permit fees for demolition, building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical permits, fire review, and plan review.
- The City replaced and installed a 12” water and 8” wastewater line around the development and provided a fire protection system that included a 24” water transmission main from the Jefferson Water Treatment Plant to the project. The City’s investment was supported by a Letter of Credit and a Corporate Guarantee provided by EPC.
EPC is obligated to continuously operate El Portal as a first class retail outlet center of predominantly nationally recognized tenants. It’s developers will also provide the City with State of Texas Comptroller’s sales and use tax information for the sale of taxable items by retailers.
EPC will provide at no cost to the City an informational kiosk at El Portal to promote City events and facilities.
Negotiations for El Portal began in 2002, but a peso devaluation put the project on hold until market conditions improved. The project became viable again in 2012. Demolition of River Drive Mall began in the spring of 2015.
Among the tenants of El Portal are Nike, Michael Kors, Under Armour, Guess, Brooks Brothers, Banana Republic, Abercrombie & Fitch, H&M, Tommy Hilfiger, Puma, Fossil, Aeropostale, A’gaci, Anne’s Pretzels/Cinnabon, Columbia Sportswear, GNC, Levi’s, Loft Outlet, Nine West, The Limited, and Toys’R’Us. Among the restaurants that have leased space at El Portal are Taco Palenque, Johnny Rocket’s, Italia Express, and China Express.
