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County on hunt for office space

Ex-commissioner likes frugality of buying existing buildings
The old Vectra Bank Building at East Second Avenue and 11th Street underwent significant remodeling in its conversion to office space for La Plata County.

La Plata County commissioners heard a mix of opinions Tuesday on whether the county should buy new office space, including a multi-million-dollar building for the Department of Human Services.

Some said it would be wise to invest in existing buildings, while others said commissioners have not yet considered all the variables associated with county departments leaving downtown Durango. Many of the estimated 30 people who attended are involved in economic development, real estate or local government.

“We have quite a star-studded cast of La Plata County residents in the audience (Tuesday),” said Chairwoman Gwen Lachelt.

The county is in the process of remodeling and purchasing new buildings for various departments. Earlier in June, the county opened the remodeled County Administration Building, 1101 East Second Ave., the old Vectra Bank building.

The county is now contemplating buying 10 Burnett Court in the Durango Tech Center from ENV LLC for about $8 million – or the appraised value of the building. The county agreed in April to lease about 28,000 square feet at 10 Burnett Court through 2018 for human services employees. These departments are currently housed in the basement of the La Plata County Courthouse, 1060 East Second Ave.

State-budget guidelines prevent the county from making a decision to buy the property until January 2016, said Sheryl Rogers, county attorney.

In April, the county also agreed to buy 211 Rockpoint Drive for about $1.97 million from the Gorton Family Partnership for the county building and planning departments. The closing will likely happen in early August.

This building is currently occupied, and the county departments can’t move in until 2018. These departments will be housed temporarily at 135 Burnett Court.

Former county Commissioner Bob Lieb, who served until 2007, applauded the county for buying property that already exists because it is far more expensive to build it.

“I think you’re doing the right thing with regards to those purchases,” he said.

The current tenant of the third floor of 10 Burnett Court, Wade Rosenburg, was among the dissenters. He currently operates Integrity Health Plus, a laboratory-services company.

If the county purchases the building for long-term use, it would block tech companies from using the space, Rosenburg said.

He said he didn’t think the county had considered the effect of taking that space away from employers, and he asked the county to support him in his search for an alternative location.

“The county is happy to be at the table to help identify options,” said County Manager Joe Kerby. But the county cannot offer Rosenburg any incentives.

District Attorney Todd Risberg called on commissioners to look for a new home for his office, which is currently in the Old Post Office building on Main Avenue.

“The space in which we work is embarrassing,” he said.

On a macro-level, by moving into 10 Burnett Court, the county absorbs a large chunk of the available office space in the county, said Roger Zalneraitis, executive director of the La Plata County Economic Development Alliance. There are very few office spaces available with more than 5,000 square feet of space.

He urged the county to adjust the local planning process to help make building commercial space easier and more affordable.

“We’re all in this together,” he said.

About 15,000 to 20,000 square feet of new office space is needed annually to meet the collective needs for growth of businesses in Durango, he said.

Commissioner Julie Westendorff agreed working on a larger solution to the need for office space is a good idea. She said before the county took interest in moving into the buildings, Durango had an overabundance of office space.

“In an instant, it’s a crisis,” she said.

Purchasing the new county office space is part of a larger plan that will help meet the needs of the 6th Judicial District and the federal courts.

Planning, building and human-resources departments need to move to make way for the courts. The county will be leasing space to the federal courts after the courthouse is remodeled.

mshinn@durangoherald.com

Oct 5, 2016
County discusses sale of Old Main Post Office


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