Asarco (El Paso, Plainview, Fort Bliss: townhouse, bankrupt, school)

[ocean2026]

Rescue I was one of the volunteer attorneys in the 1980 trials - i represented 24 community groups and my neighborhood Sunset Heights. I wrote a column in the EPTIMES about it Nov 2007.

After the media got bored with the trial ( it went forever) they freely admitted to 22,000 Tons of sulphur and 30 tons of lead - put into the atmosphere each year- along with arsenic and some other nastys.

We won the trial but they used all sorts of excuses for non-compliance. They spent more on big law firms then it would have cost to put scrubbers on the smokestack.

[kidicarus89]

Thank God that ode to early 20th century obsolete industry is not being revived. Keep the tower up because it's somewhat of an icon (and pilots like to use it as a navigation aid when crossing over the city) but raze the buildings around it and leave it as parkland for all to enjoy. Or let Asarco sell the property to another business entity.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

This was discussed last year as someone had created a thread as to what to build there, and I said that the place was too contaminated, it would be a liability for anyone who purchases it because at some point, someone will file a lawsuit because they, or someone related to them, will fall ill and blame it on the site. 'Not that they would be wrong either.

To clean it up would be expensive, and it is already registered as a toxic 'superfund' site by the EPS (TXD990757668). It is like kryptonite for businesses.

[smguy101]

I think they should actually clean it up not matter how much the cost is and make a nice amusement park, but not sad like Western Playland, more like a Six Flags style amusement park.
That would deifnately make El Paso's tourism boom.

[lipbalm]

To me the problem with that site is that it's not exactly in a "nice" part of town. The view accros the river of Juarez is not exactly easy on the eyes. I always thought it was interesting that on the U.S. side the houses by the mountains were the most expensive/exclusive, but on the Mexican side it's the poor that live on the hills.

[alucard]

I think it would be nice to make it into something recreational. Maybe a skatepark? Not sure. I'm glad to know that it will not be re-opening. But I do hope that they keep the smoke stack. Although it is an eye sore for some, it's also a part of our history. I personally would miss seeing it there. Lipbalm is right about the view though.

[br7or13]

Originally Posted by alucard

I think it would be nice to make it into something recreational. Maybe a skatepark? Not sure. I'm glad to know that it will not be re-opening. But I do hope that they keep the smoke stack. Although it is an eye sore for some, it's also a part of our history. I personally would miss seeing it there. Lipbalm is right about the view though.

I agree with you about the smoke stack. In a distorted way, there's a certain iconic quality about it. It's a landmark and you always know where you're at when you're near it. I think pretty much everyone else would disagree and want to see it razed.

[Caltep]

I thought I read $25 million to clean up the site. Given the economy, shopping is not good. Amusement park? I don't know about that...especially with traffic. For some odd reason, I agree with keeping the smokestack, but how much fun would it be to see the bugger get demolished? If an amusement park went in, what a hell of a bungee/parachute drop tower!!! Maybe the 101st can relocate to Bliss and use that as a training tower!

[fakeguy]

I never really decided which way to go with this issue but if I were them and people asked to keep the smokestack after all they put them through I would be upset. Shut us down then say "Oh but can you leave us the smokestack?" I would crumble that thing into dust and kick it up into the air...

[br7or13]

This is the ONLY use for the two towers:

Girl in human sling shot