Casa Auto Group put serious money on the table Tuesday, pledging $1 million to the Downtown Deck Plaza project, organizers said. It is the first private philanthropic commitment publicly announced for the plan to cap I-10 with a 6.5-acre park in downtown El Paso. The family-owned dealership rolled out the gift at a downtown gathering that featured employees, their dogs, and Chico the El Paso chihuahua, the project mascot. Supporters say the pledge pushes disclosed public and private commitments to about $74.5 million as the city and state prepare major work on I-10.
The pledge was announced in partnership with the Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation, according to KTSM. Casa Auto CEO Ronnie Lowenfield told the station the investment is about "the future of El Paso and the kind of city we want to leave for the next generation." Tracy Yellen of the Paso del Norte Foundation described the donation as "a transformative gift" at the event, KTSM reported.
Funding snapshot
Backers say the Deck Plaza effort is piecing together a mix of state, regional, federal, and philanthropic funding while racing a tight construction schedule. They report roughly $74.5 million committed so far, including $10 million from the Texas Legislature, $25 million from the El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization, $3.15 million in federal community project funding, and $1 million from El Paso County, according to El Paso Matters. Organizers still project that hundreds of millions of dollars will be required to complete the full deck and surrounding development.
Economic case and the timing squeeze
An economic-impact analysis commissioned by the foundation and conducted by HR&A estimates the Deck Plaza could generate nearly $1 billion in total economic output over 30 years, according to a release from the Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation. The City of El Paso's feasibility study puts the cost of the 6.5-acre park and amenities at about $207 million in 2027 dollars and outlines plans for features such as an amphitheater, field house, playgrounds, and a dog park with separate areas for large and small dogs; the City of El Paso study includes additional design details. Supporters say timing is crucial because TxDOT plans major reconstruction of downtown I-10 in FY 27-28, a window they hope to use to build the deck while highway work is already underway, according to the project's Downtown Deck Plaza overview.
Reaction and next steps
Project leaders cast the Casa pledge as a turning point. In a statement to KTSM, Tracy Yellen highlighted that the donation is the first funding commitment from a multi-generational El Paso family and said it should help draw more private contributors. The Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation has committed to raising at least $35 million in private philanthropy and said the Casa funds will support design and amenity work.
City and county officials say coordination with TxDOT and regional partners will continue, but the current Memorandum of Understanding is non-binding and does not commit any construction funding, according to KVIA. Critics and some City Council members have noted that most early money is public and that the project will still hinge on securing major private gifts and additional grants to be fully financed, as reported by El Paso Matters.
