El Paso Redevelopment Plan

In El Paso, Texas the issue of the imposition of eminent domain has created a huge controversy. El Paso is a city with a population of approximately 736,310 and only the Rio Grande River and tall fences separate it from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Its proud history dates back to the 1600’s,  when these lands were claimed by Spain; but its current reality is that it has one of the lowest per capita incomes in the nation.

City officials and visionaries want to implement the  “2015 Plan: The El Paso Downtown Redevelopment Plan” that will require the imposition of eminent domain in order to renovate the downtown area, create jobs, develop high quality housing, and promote the city’s culture and historic heritage.

Currently, the downtown businesses mostly cater to the customers who cross over from Ciudad Juarez. Most of them are privately owned businesses that look like mini-warehouses, have very little upkeep, and sell cheap goods. The plan is to build new businesses where old and abandoned houses and buildings now stand. New housing will also be built; modernized housing that has air conditioning for the summer and heating in the winter. There are also plans under way to celebrate the city’s rich and diverse culture with the building of public entertainment spaces and art centers.