Bolster Local Economy - No Deck Plaza !!
Prioritize revitalizing our rich and unique El Paso history promoting small local businesses, residential equality, and a stronger tourism economy.
No Deck Plaza!
The proposal of the Deck Plaza, much like the Park Plaza’s being pushed in other major cities, will at best be a vanity project lacking all local charm and would be difficult to access while creating a bigger traffic and parking nightmare in our downtown area.
Reform
El Paso has a history dating back thousands of years, it has been, and continues to be, a cultural mecca. The revitalization of the city’s historical preservation as well as the investment into its tourism industry, needs to take center stage. It is key to diversify revenue resources for the city, improve the quality of life within the community, and offer financial and job opportunities to El Paso.
The Problem
A large portion of the downtown buildings are in need of renovation, but the cost of having the repairs made largely outweigh the incentive to do so, and in many cases may be too great for the private owners to seek.
A Solution…
1)
A city-run program where current owners are offered the value of their property at valuation or a low interest/investment line of credit, with deferred payments, to repair the property to historical conservation standards.
2)
A city-run loan program, with low asset/income/downpayment requirements, low interests and deferred re-payment, El Paso resident priority, and with a similar guidelines line of credit in the interest of repairing and revitalizing existing down-town residence/commerce. This would provide a lot of borrowing power to a sector of the community that would otherwise not have access and keep downtown in El Pasoan hands, instead of in large chain conglomerates.
3)
Open access to business grants by creating educational programs where the general public can access and request these financial opportunities.