It’s wonderful that Durango is considering improving Camino del Rio. My vision would be widening it and creating wide, curving sidewalks with trees and benches.

Traffic on this thoroughfare is a fact of life because it is the only road through town. Unless a bypass of town can be constructed, the traffic can’t be avoided. The idea of five-story buildings on Camino as suggested (Herald, Aug. 12) is ludicrous. This would do nothing but increase traffic and congestion. Low-income housing is much better placed on the outskirts of town.

Rather than put retail on Camino, consider that the river is largely wasted, currently being used only for rafting. Durango is blessed with this beautiful natural resource. It would be a delightful spot for restaurants, bars and entertainment.

At present, there are only two restaurants in the central area taking advantage of this beautiful setting. As research, I would hope that city officials would visit San Antonio and see how well the river there has been made into a major tourist attraction.

Additionally, it would be advantageous for a design review board to be established to assure that future building and remodeling would adhere to the Old West flavor of Durango and not destroy its uniqueness.

A good example of a building that, although new, still accomplishes this, is the Wells Fargo Bank.

I also would like to point out what a good job Serious Texas Bar-B-Q has done along these lines, although it’s not in the central area of the town. A review board really needs to be established immediately before any more development is allowed in the central city area. It is possible for development to be both beautiful and practical and express Durango’s character.

Marcelle Houston Borgers

Durango