El Paso County leaders took a key step in the controversial effort to build a park over Interstate 10 in Downtown El Paso, as the Texas Department of Transportation prepares to rebuild the highway corridor in a way that could determine whether the deck plaza can ever be built.
County commissioners have approved a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, tied to the proposed Downtown I-10 Deck Plaza.
The agreement is nonbinding and would not commit any funding right now. It includes El Paso County, the city of El Paso and the Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation, and is intended to keep all three working together on planning and funding options.
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County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said staying part of the agreement keeps the county involved in decisions about the project.
“If we weren’t participating in the MOU, the city could decide everything on their own, so we want to be at the table,” Samaniego said.
The timing is tied to TxDOT’s plans to rebuild a stretch of I-10 through downtown, from UTEP to just east of downtown.
If leaders do not plan for the deck during that construction, it may not be possible to build it later.
Samaniego said the MOU is a chance to pursue funding, including private dollars.
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“So this is an opportunity to really go in and look for the funding that is necessary to push hard on trying to get as much of the private money,” Samaniego said.
The proposed project would create a 6 1/2-acre park over I-10 from Kansas Street to Santa Fe Street, including green space, playgrounds and an outdoor amphitheater.
Emily Schmalz reports on El Paso County signing a nonbinding MOU to stay involved in the I-10 deck plaza project
The Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation estimates the project could cost around $207 million.
Supporters said it could help reconnect neighborhoods and bring new economic activity to the area.
“You have to create revenue and I think this is a great opportunity. It’s going to be beautiful is going to connect to the neighborhoods that were divided at one time by having that trench right down I-10,” Samaniego said.
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Not everyone supports the plan.
During public comment, several residents raised concerns about how the project would be funded.
County Commissioner Iliana Holguin said taxpayers should not be responsible for a project of this size.
“I don’t think the taxpayer should be responsible for financing this project,” Holguin said.
Holguin also said:
Even though there are no funds being asked for right now eventually, we know the county is going to be asked to contribute more money.
The next major decision point is funding for the “future-proofing” phase, which would prepare I-10 now so the deck plaza could be built later.
The future-proofing phase could cost over $30 million.
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