Kern Place residents to voice concerns about Robinson Avenue project

Residents from Kern Place and west El Paso voiced their concerns about Phase II of the Robinson Avenue Construction Reconstruction project on Sunday afternoon.

“They seem to want to do what they want to do,” said Lola Rodriguez of the Kern Place Neighborhood Association. ”

More than fifty residents of the area stated their frustrations with Phase II of the project and the continued delay of the completion of Phase I.

“When they showed how many changes they wanted to make, more walls, asphalt, walkways on the edge of a nature preserve, the residents became very upset,” Rodriguez said.

“I think the project needs to be addressed from the arroyo out, rather than from the street level down,” said Robert Ardovino, who has called the neighborhood home for his whole life.

The $2.7 million project affects Robinson Avenue from Piedmont Drive to Ochoa Street. Residents said the first phase of the project added construction projects that threatened wildlife. Ardovino said there wasn’t enough communication between residents and the city.

“I haven’t seen much of that communication; I haven’t received much of that communication,” Ardovino said.

“There were numerous meetings before – I think there was five different community meetings before I was ever elected into office,” said Peter Svarzbein, who represents district one.

The councilman said both phases of the project are necessary.

“This project was there because there was tremendous issues with drainage. Anytime it rained, the water would run down Robinson and rip up the street and throw a lot of boulders and debris into people’s front yards.”

Nothing is solidified in Phase II of the project, Svarzbein said. The city’s legal team is investigating the delay in the completion of Phase I.