The ASARCO Proposal

by Richard Sapien
April 11, 2009

Although the former ASARCO bankruptcy/remediation process has yet to begin, Senator Eliot Shapleigh believes that we must discuss the opportunities that will present themselves in the future with the ASARCO site. If the community does not make an earnest attempt to dictate the eventual trustee of the property, the land will eventually become the home of another plant or smelter.

With that said, lets look into one potential use of land at the ASARCO site: a massive expansion of the UT (UTEP) system (assuming that it is cleaned up greater than the proposed industrial standard).

REDA Proposal for the future of the ASARCO site

Senator Shapleigh requested that the Regional Economic Development Assocation drafts their own proposal for the future of the ASARCO site. REDA is currently working with engineers and architects to map and model the proposal below, in line with future site restrictions (water pumps, soil crypt, etc.).

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions of this document are solely those of the Regional Economic Development Association and are not endorsed or advocated by the University of Texas System or the University of Texas at El Paso. May it be noted that extensive scientific research and investigation has not been done in determining the policy proposals and their practicability. The objective of the proposal is to stimulate discussion and explore creative possibilities.

Assuming the ASARCO-site is purchased by the University of Texas (UT) System following full remediation to industrial standards by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ); The Regional Economic Development Association (REDA) proposes that the ASARCO-site is developed by the UT System to integrate 1) student housing complexes, 2) a research park, 3) a light-rail system connecting El Paso to Juárez, 4) a student community/commerce center, 5) a soccer stadium/event venue, 6) and a “peace park” along the United States (US) / Mexico border.

We will outline the predicted economic and social benefits (and their implications) of our proposal under the assumptions that 1) the necessary agents have properly remediated the land for its projected use(s) and 2) the necessary agents have secured external permissions and methods to operate the proposal to its fullest stated extent.

Student housing complexes

As the University of Texas El Paso (UTEP) grows in prestige and population, it is necessary that it accommodates for its growing populace of students- specifically in regards to housing. As it stands, UTEP’s only formal housing arrangement, Miner Village, hosts less than 500 students- the majority of whom are student athletes.

UTEP is commonly labeled unfavorably as a “commuter college.” In order to help dissolve this notion, UTEP must stimulate its student community with a vibrant on/near campus student district- made possible only with the massive addition of student dormitories and Greek houses. A larger, more active student community in the vicinity of the main campus will help improve campus and student life, student activism and involvement, and UTEP recreational and athletic events.

With UTEP competing for Tier1 status, and as the demand for more prestigious Texas research universities grows larger, UTEP has the potential to tap into the market of students seeking a higher class educational experience. Academically, UTEP can be discussed in the research ranks of the University of Texas Austin and Texas A&M; however, without the necessary lodging to attract and accommodate students, UTEP will never evolve into a competitive prospect.

Research Park

In order to help acquire/maintain Tier1 status, UTEP must provide the infrastructure and apply the innovation necessary to distinguish their campus, faculty and students. A research park in the center of the current ASARCO site would be a mixture of both infrastructure and innovation and would benefit UTEP by its prestigious draw, source(s) of income, and industrial partnership opportunities. Additionally, a research park would benefit El Paso’s economy as it presents a higher demand for higher-skilled jobs and industry.

According to Peter Golding, Associate Dean at the UTEP College of Engineering, due to the proposed park’s proximity to the adjacent mountains and its 360-day a year exposure to the sun, it would sit in an ideal location for wind and solar energy research.

The research park would consist of two buildings; one building would contain the facilities necessary to host equipment and experiments, and the other would primarily consist of (leasable) office space for professors and industrial/engineering firms. The two buildings would be a tremendous opportunity for industry to collaborate with education, not only resulting in a mutually-beneficial relationship for employers and prospective employees, but for the city of El Paso.

Light-rail system

In order to lessen El Paso’s dependence on vehicular transit, it is proposed that we develop a transnational light-rail system on the eastern perimeter of the site. Ideally, the preexisting rail structure can be utilized for the new system.

The light-rail system would make El Paso transportation more efficient, and could serve as a great passage to campus for Mexican UTEP students.

Student community/commerce center

In an effort to help bolster young El Paso entrepreneurship and student activism, it is proposed that a student community and commerce center is developed with the resources and facilities necessary to support necessary projects and businesses. The community and commerce center can include art and music studios, publication offices, and general office and planning space.

A student community and commerce center would attract out of city/state students who are looking for a program in which they can apply their talents and fields of study to creating a product, service or program for a low cost. A student community and commerce center would aid in the transformation from college students to working professionals. Additionally, a student community and commerce center would provide an outlet for UTEP students to reach out to the public and positively influence local business, social services, and/or public policy.

Soccer Stadium/event venue

UTEP’s long wish to create a men’s soccer team can be made possible with the creation of a new stadium. Projected to seat roughly 12-15,000, the proposed stadium would be in perfect vicinity to the UTEP main campus, the border (proposed light-rail system), and I-10 to draw large crowds. The stadium would result in large revenues as a soccer stadium and as a event venue for the cities of El Paso and Juárez.

In order to use the stadium in the most practical way, it would sit on the most northern area of the ASARCO-site, on top of the future crypt of polluted soil and contaminants. The cemented stadium foundation and parking lots would seal the land below and would not provide a risk to the environment or visitors.

“Peace Park”

Adjacent to two countries and three states, the true “Paso del Norte” rests on the western edge of the ASARCO site. In order to recognize this historic passageway, it is proposed that a peace park is adjoined with the existing Juárez peace park. Not only will the park serve as a green, beautiful, publically accessible monument to the Paso del Norte, but it will honor the victims of the Smelter town pollution.

The park would be a tribute to the devoted relationship between El Paso and Juárez/United States and Mexico- a stark contrast to the border wall that now lines much of the El Paso border. Practically speaking, the park can serve as barbeque/recreational grounds for the stadium- or as quiet study space for UTEP students (especially those at the site student housing) during non-eventful days.

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Richard Sapien

Sapien is a senior Economics major at the University of Texas at El Paso. He is the President of the Regional Economic Development Association and Vice President of the Business College Council. He plans to attend law school after receiving his BBA.