What Are They Building on the West Side by Alamo Drafthouse Cinema?

If you’ve driven down North Mesa between Castellano Drive and Festival Drive you've probably noticed there is a lot of dirt being moved around on the big piece of land where Alamo Drafthouse sits, and maybe you’ve wondered what the construction is all about.

It’s called The Town Center at Montecillo, and it’s the next phase of development for the Urban community.

Years in the making, Town Center at Montecillo has been in the planning stages since the theatre opened in 2018. A post on the Montecillo’s social media describes it as “a 20-acre mixed-use development that will include multi-unit housing, retail, and entertainment” designed for walking.

Per their social media, the "blend of commercial and residential spaces will have a smart, modern twist."

The ‘town center’ in the development’s name is a reference to the planned plaza that its shops, offices, bars and restaurants will be clustered around.

The 188-unit multi-family portion of the Montecillo Town Center is now under construction. This phase of the project includes an apartment complex and a parking garage.

Architectural drawings posted to Facebook show apartments with first floor storefronts and commercial areas plus a parking garage below Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. It appears from the images that the buildings will obscure the theater and you will not be able to see it from North Mesa once construction is complete.

There is no word on which retailers are being targeted to set up shop there. Let’s hope there’s not another nail salon, dollar store, or cell phone provider in the mix. I think we’re good already.