On Wednesday, June 23,  area citizens gathered at the Memorial Senior Citizen Center for a third hands-on design session to plan the future of three Transit-Oriented Developments in El Paso.  Susie Byrd, City Council member whose district includes the Five Points area, opened the meeting, while Dover-Kohl project director Jason King and principal Joe Kohl gave an overview of the study areas and urban design considerations for each.  Also presenting was Jacob Riger, Senior Transportation Planner of the transportation planning firm Charlier Associates, Inc., who explained and illustrated the concepts of Transit Oriented Development and the role of various transit options within the community. A registered translator was also present throughout the evening for Spanish speaking participants.

Working side by side in small table groups, neighbors, business owners, City Staff and public officials used base maps of Remcon Circle, Five Points and the Oregon Corridor as an underlay to draw their ideas.  With over 50 people in attendance, the community generated consensus around several ideas regarding future growth and redevelopment, which became evident as representatives from each table presented their group’s ideas.

Some of the concepts that emerged from the hands on session included:

FIVE POINTS:
- Establish shared parking
- Increase the density with a greater mix of uses, including housing
- Add more windows along the street for added safety
- Enhance character of the neighborhood
-Create a gateway into the area
- Use the existing alleys for trash pick-up
- Create complete, pedestrian-friendly streets with wider sidewalks, trees and underground utilities
-Provide multiple modes of transit, including both local and commuter service and bike lanes
- Establish Elk Street as a pedestrian-only thoroughfare

OREGON CORRIDOR:
- Create higher density along the corridor with additional housing and a mix of uses
- Create public art and public spaces along the border
- Create pocket parks
- Use the architecture of historic buildings as local precedents
- Include a grocery store and open air market
- Take advantage of the existing grid pattern
- Use the SmartCode as a tool to provide a mix of uses along Schuster
- Consolidate parking near UTEP, take advantage of shared parking, and limit on-street parking to
   increase BRT usage
- Incorporate a “Night-Rider” transit route to connect the main entertainment areas after business hours
- Provide wider sidewalks and street trees

The young members at the children’s table also offered insight into the Oregon Corridor, suggesting hotels, safer sidewalks, a skateboard park, additional bus stops and a dog park near the hospital so that patients could enjoy the animals.

REMCON CIRCLE:
- Preserve arroyos, improve their quality, and build up the edges to take advantage of views
- Create a green network
-  Create a 24-hour destination with a mix of uses, plazas and outdoor spaces
- Create additional connections throughout the area, including a west-bound on ramp to I-10
- Provide regional, commuter and local transit
- Design an amphitheater

Interested citizens have additional opportunities in the coming week to participate and to provide Dover, Kohl & Partners with feedback on evolving master plans.  An Open House will be held on Saturday, June 26 from 9:00 -12:00 pm at the design studio located at 2400 North Oregon, behind the McDonalds and adjacent to Chubby’s Bronx Deli.  A Work-In-Progress presentation will also be held on Wednesday, June 30 from 5:30-8:00pm at the El Paso Main Library Auditorium at 501 North Oregon.