El Paso Businesses Marked Safe From Piedras Construction

Great news - Planned construction projects in the 5 Points area of El Paso had area business owners sweating bullets but now it looks like they're going to be ok.

The city of El Paso has voted against going ahead with planned projects for the 5 Points area, much to the relief of business owners who were facing about a year and a half of construction that would have crippled, if not completely shut down, their businesses.

I wrote about the city projects and the effect they would have on businesses in the area back in June, urging folks to take that extra minute or go that extra mile during construction to help local businesses stay afloat.

Why El Paso Scrapped The Piedras Street Projects

El Paso City Council voted 7 - 1 NOT to proceed with planned improvement projects, pretty much, solely because of the huge impact it would have on local businesses.  Here's what Toni Assael from Morra Mia had to say back then:

When the owners of businesses like Morra Mia, the House Of Rock Early Bird Cafe, Dewey's and others spoke, city council actually listened. Street repairs will continue but other plans tp upgrade the area are off. For now.

READ MORE: Check Out The House Of Rock Early Bird Cafe

The plan would have rebuilt Piedras between Yandell and Montana with wider sidewalks, new lighting, landscaping and crosswalks. But business owners said the construction could have cut off access to their stores, restaurants and bars and created a disruption they could not afford. - kfox

Businesses all over El Paso suffer, to some degree, because of construction or road work and city "improvements" among other things. The next time you decide not to visit a local business because of one of those inconveniences, go anyway.

El Paso Strong

It's just a few extra minutes or a slightly longer walk or wait for you. For them, it's their livelihood. As I mentioned in my other article - when you shop local, you're not buying some zillionaire a new jet. You're putting food on your neighbors table, funding a kids sports team or helping a fellow El Pasoan pay bills.