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Business owners urge El Paso council to pause Piedras Street reconstruction project
Summary
Multiple small business owners from the 5 Points/Piedras area told the council the proposed reconstruction—expected to close Piedras for months—threatens livelihoods and asked for clearer communication, timelines and mitigation before work proceeds.
Several long‑time business owners from the 5 Points/Piedras corridor asked the City Council on June 23 to halt or rethink a planned street reconstruction that they said would close Piedras Street for up to 10 months and risk shuttering small businesses.
"This bottlenecking project will create congestion, confusion, unsafe merging, and will close Piedra Street completely for 10 months to accomplish it," said Fred Evans, president of the 5 Points Development Association, summarizing concerns about access, lost customers and prior extended construction elsewhere. Several owners described falling sales, heavy debt and a lack of transparent timelines or accountability from city planners.
Rico Velez, owner of Dewey's Corner Pub, said owners have invested their own money and need stronger leadership and communication from the city. "We support progress, not this organization," he told the council, asking officials to pause the project until businesses have clearer information and protections.
Other business owners described having loans and employees at risk and urged the council to work with the neighborhood to find alternative designs, staging or delay.
Council members did not reverse the project during public comment. The remarks were entered into the record for further discussion in subsequent staff briefings and agenda items.
