Dover Kohl team members Pam Stacy, Megan McLaughlin, Steve Price with elpasonaturally author and Tommy Young at top of Ann Morgan Lilly Arroyo 41A. Picture by Judy Ackerman.
On Wednesday evening the Dover Kohl team of consultants gave a summary of their work so far regarding ASARCO and three transit corridors: Five Points, Oregon and Remcon Circle. You can read their post about it here.
There were a number from the open space/environmental community among the 80 or so attendees at the Main Downtown Library auditorium. The City Council members present were Susie Byrd, Beto O'Rourke, Steve Ortega and Ann Lilly. Conspicuously absent was Mayor John Cook. City Manager Joyce Wilson was there as were Debbie Hamlyn, Pat Adauto and Lupe Cuellar. Of course, Matt McElroy and Fred Lopez (the two unsung heroes for getting Dover Kohl to El Paso) were present.
DK's values of infill, preservation of natural open space, community building, walkability, understanding of peak oil and sustainability are enough to make one stand up and cheer. I cannot wait to see these people back in El Paso. I'm already missing them. I wanted to shout "Bravo" just to see their vision of Five Points which is walking distance from my Newman Park neighborhood. Obviously the team's knowledge of zoning laws and economics will help guide El Paso.
I asked Karen Peissinger-Venhaus for her comments and she replied:
"I have to say that the engaging streetscapes depicted during last night's WIP [Work-in-Progress] presentation were a sight for sore eyes. And, the whole Dover Kohl team was a breath of fresh air that El Paso has so desperately needed. I am so very glad City Council spent the (our) money to bring the team to El Paso to show all of us what is possible."I was especially encouraged to hear Peak Oil mentioned during the presentation, that it is being taken seriously.
"However, from what I heard and saw, my concerns are these: focus on consumption as a form of leisure, and the potential for displacing low-income people from their neighborhoods. My mantra is, 'design to include, not exclude.'"
Read Karen's blog, The Adventures of Pei. She is particulary interested in the issue of environmental racism which is particularly germane in this region. Also check out the blog where Karen was a guest author: Cheap Like Me.
Wow, you posted the whole comment; thank you for thinking it worthy of including in your post! And, I really appreciate your support of my blog!!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, it was probably hard to see that Jane Shang, Deputy City Manager for Mobility Services, and Michael Herrera, Sun Metro Asst. Director of Planning were in the audience because they were in the front rows. I'm glad both were in attendance because there were some great transportation and transit ideas shared that evening that I am glad they both had a chance to see.
The Dover Kohl presentation was enlightening and fun. For the next one, lets all bring 2 friends and triple the number of attendees.
ReplyDeletejudy