(EL PASO, TX) Monday, June 21 — On Saturday, June 19 more than 150 citizens, city staff, ASARCO Custodial Trustee Project Navigator, Senator Eliot Shapleigh, and City Council members Susie Byrd and Beto O’Rourke gathered at Mesita Elementary School to participate in two scheduled hands-on design sessions to plan the future of the ASARCO site. The events opened with presentations on the site analysis and remediation underway by Project Navigator, followed by an inspiring speech by Senator Shapleigh, who, encouraging everyone to “Dream Big.” Senator Shapleigh reminded the group of the hard work of El Paseños to close the ASARCO plant and looking forward, he described the potential development for the site in the future. Dover, Kohl & Partners described general urban design considerations and introduced basic site analysis. Afterwards, participants were given maps of the study area, and drawing in teams for over two hours, formed a series of ideas regarding future redevelopment. Over 18 different table groups of approximately 8-10 people worked together throughout the day.
Participants were asked to consider the numerous physical and environmental constraints on the site as well as its prominent location within the city of El Paso, its position along the border, and its connection to other sites along the City of El Paso and SunMetro’s planned transit routes. Following individual table discussions and illustrations during both the morning and afternoon sessions, a representative from each table presented their table’s ideas. The collaborative visual design approach revealed a number of common themes among the 18 tables. These shared goals will help share the creation of the master plan.
Some of the urban design suggestions for the ASARCO site were:
- Memorialize ASARO’s storied past and those who worked and lived there
- Create a pedestrian-only international bridge and free zone
- Incorporate solar energy
- Provide civic uses, such as museums, as well as supportive Retail and Office Space
- Preserve certain historic buildings and the arroyos
- Create numerous recreational opportunities, such as an arena or amusement park
- Establish better connections to surrounding neighborhoods and University of Texas El Paso (UTEP).
- Provide a mix of uses in the developable areas
- Design for multiple modes of transit, including bike and walking paths and light rail
- Create well designed open spaces
- Reconnect the City to the Rio Grande
Interested citizens are encouraged to stop by the Design Studio at 2400 North Oregon (behind the McDonalds on Mesa) to review the evolving drafts of the plan and to provide additional feedback throughout the coming two weeks. Citizens are also equally encouraged to attend next week’s hands-on design session, also led by Dover, Kohl & Partners, which will focus on three Transit Oriented Development (TOD) sites – the Oregon Corridor between UTEP and Downtown, Remcon Circle and Five Points. The event will take place on Wednesday, June 23 at the Memorial Senior Citizen Center at 1800 Byron Street from 5:30 – 8:00pm. Other opportunities for public participation will be held throughout the next two weeks.
For more information about the plan and upcoming events, please visit www.planelpaso.org.
