Lower Valley Neighborhood To Receive Millions In Improvements

No sidewalks or drainage, paved roads, curbs or gutters – and no lighters, either.

For more than 50 years, residents in the Pasodale neighborhood in the Lower Valley have been living without some of the things others might take for granted.

“When I was walking the district when I was running for office, it was the worst neighborhood in terms of infrastructure,” said City Rep. Steve Ortega.

Norma Montoya said her neighborhood gets flooded every year and she’s noticed it’s different from other subdivisions.

“Yeah, they had said that a long time ago, but they had no action,” Montoya said about the neighborhood’s infrastructure.

“Sometimes it gets muddy or we have to jump through water, or put some boards on the streets just to go inside the houses,” Montoya said.

The neighborhood is set to be improved with the project to begin this month and cost $10 million – most of it being paid for with federal grants, storm water fees, and certificates of obligation.

The City of El Paso annexed Pasodale from the County, which had lax infrastructure requirements in 1959, according to Ortega

“The county at that time did not require streets, sidewalks, even pavement,” Ortega said.

And for more than 50 years, Pasodale has been stuck in the past with a sort of sub-standard community – not even a basic drainage system exists.

“The neighborhood was ignored for many years and I’m glad that they’re finally getting the proper infrastructure that they deserve,” Ortega said.

“There will probably be more kids outside with the bike now,” Montoya said.

Some neighborhood residents wonder why it took half a century for the city to step in.

“When you buy a new house in the City of El Paso, you are going to have streets, sidewalks, curb and gutter,” Ortega said. “You, the homeowner pays for that. So it’s hard to make the argument to a city council: let’s pay for curb and gutter drainage, sidewalks, when usually it’s the homeowners that takes on those costs.”

Montoya said, “I guess they thought about us last, I guess because we need it. It’s about time.”