El Paso stormwater project bulldozes homes, displaces lifelong residents - KFOX El Paso

El Paso stormwater project bulldozes homes, displaces lifelong residents

EL PASO, TX (KFOX14) — An El Paso Water project has led to the demolition of multiple homes in Central El Paso.

The project is set to transform an entire city block, sitting near the corner of Mobile Avenue and Myles Street, into a stormwater pond and conveyance system.

Many residents now have to say goodbye to the homes they've lived in for decades.
It’s really sad because my parents have been here for so long," said Grace Carter, whose parents have lived on the block for over 50 years. "I think that’s the hardest part, everything we remember as children is going to be dirt.

Carter is upset that this project has driven her parents out.

"My parents are the ones who really have to pay the price for this," Carter said. "And they’re elderly, they thought this was going to be their forever home. And for them to have to start all over somewhere else, at their advanced age, their comfort zone is shot."

A former resident has come around to say goodbye one last time.

"This is where I was born and raised," said Michael Ramirez, whose grandparents used to live on the block. "I come every day, I’ve been posting on Facebook, I’m sad. You’d think, it’s just a house, but it’s not."

Another resident outside the block said they were offered money by the agency to leave, but were able to deny the offers.

"I grew up in this neighborhood and for quite some time this area’s been a flood zone," said Ray Huerta, whose family has lived in the same home for decades. "The first offer was $125,000. The housing market is not looking too good. It’s expensive for the first part. $100,000-$200,000 is not going to be enough to buy another house."

KFOX14 spoke with the Public Affairs Officer for El Paso Water Denise Parra who said, "EPWater has maintained a positive track record of reaching mutual agreements with property owners."

Adding, that for the stormwater project, "there is no design in place yet," Parra said.

RECOMMENDED: El Paso Water urgently needs 30 workers for system maintenance roles

Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox.