16 months after the Fiesta Mart on site was torn down and 11 months since Heights-area voters approved a modification to longstanding local dry-zone prohibitions to allow alcohol sales for off-premises consumption, H-E-B at last appears ready to begin construction of its store at 2300 N. Shepherd. This week fencing went up around the site, which stretches between W. 23rd and W. 24th streets — and a couple of trailers have rolled onto it. An official groundbreaking is scheduled for October 24th.

The store will sit on the east side of the site but up one level, on top of a concrete parking deck. Here’s a view looking east along 23rd St. toward that part of the site and Lawrence St. beyond:

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And a view to the west, toward the corner of N. Shepherd and 23rd St.:

Except for delivery access along Lawrence St., the entire bottom level of the block will be covered with parking. Additional parking spaces will be on top of the deck, on the side facing N. Shepherd. A variance allowing the parking deck to sit closer to N. Shepherd than the standard 25-ft. setback typically allows was approved by the city’s planning commission in January.

Photos: Brandon DuBois