The first sections of Alamo School were built in 1899 and 1907. Despite being boarded up now, Central El Paso resident Omar Silva believes it is a city treasure.

"I really do believe that Segundo Barrio does need to protect its assets, not just for this neighborhood but for the entire city," Silva told KFOX.

El Paso Independent School District administrators want to reopen Alamo and they said it's cheaper to raze the building and create an entire new school rather than renovate; up to $2 million cheaper. Plus, the current school sits away from the property line.

"It's a very, very small site, and we need every inch of that land to make it a usable facility for elementary kids of the future. Playgrounds, larger classrooms, all of those things," said EPISD board president Patricia Hughes.

But City Council chose history, paving the way on Tuesday to give Alamo School a historic designation in a 6-1 vote.

"We want to find ways and mechanisms to where the school can meet their needs at the same time retain the historic character of what's currently there," said Tony de la Cruz with the city of El Paso Planning Department.

The district must go back to the drawing board, and find more funding.

"We are disappointed that they didn't agree with building a brand new school for that neighborhood," Hughes told KFOX.

But for Silva and the City Council, something very old is better than brand new.

"The central neighborhoods define what is El Paso," said Silva.

In order for the building to actually become a historic landmark, there is a very lengthy process the city has to go through, but they took the first step on Tuesday.