I'm confused: If the land belongs to ASARCO, can the city really decide what to do with it? Is it part of the bankruptcy dealings? Does anyone know?
City to review plan for Asarco: Total cost of growth guide is $2.6 million
Posted: 04/06/2010
EL PASO -- The city government is poised to create a new comprehensive plan that would examine what to do with the shuttered Asarco smelter and other land that the company owns near the University of Texas at El Paso.
This plan also would guide growth and development in El Paso for the next 15 years.
This plan also would guide growth and development in El Paso for the next 15 years.
In addition to Asarco, the first phase would look at development around three transportation corridors.
The City Council today will consider awarding a contract worth up to $606,000 to Dover, Kohl & Partners of Coral Gables, Fla., for the first part of the study. Completing this part of the study would take about six months.
The city and state would each pay $150,000 for the Asarco portion of the study. Federal grants would cover the remaining $306,000.
El Paso last updated its comprehensive plan in 1999, said Mathew McElroy, the city's planning director.
"This is the most important planning document we have. It sets the long-range vision for the city," McElroy said.
Mayor John Cook also said an update was in order.
"Otherwise, it becomes stale," Cook said.
Two more phases are planned and would cost $2 million. These would look at zoning and what to do with undeveloped land. The final two parts of the plan would be paid with federal grants but still need to be approved by the City Council, McElroy said.
The first phase would examine what to do with 50 acres around Asarco and another 70 undeveloped acres north of Interstate 10 near the University of Texas at El Paso. Possible uses could include commercial development, manufacturing or even residential development near UTEP, McElroy said.No uses have been determined for the Asarco land, he said. Twelve public hearings will be part of the planning process.
The first part of the study will also look at development around the Five Points transit terminal, Remcon Circle and Oregon Street between Downtown and UTEP.
McElroy said the idea is to create a plan that encourages pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly development and supports the use of public transit.
David Burge may be reached at dburge@elpasotimes.com; 546-6126.
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City can dream just as well as you or I; it certainly isn't unprecedented. Among other things, City has developed a master plan for the University Medical Center area, they are waiting for an architectural firm to provide a plan for Northgate Center before beginning construction on the new Northeast Transit Center, read between the lines and you'll see they already have a plan for the Asarco site. They have no qualms about telling other people what to do with their property.
ReplyDeleteYou might want to check out the website by the clean-up project site custodial trustee (http://www.recastingthesmelter.com/) for additional information that may be helpful to you.
ReplyDelete