One of the most exciting things about living in Durango is how deeply our community cares about preserving what makes our city special while planning for the future. In April, the citizens of Durango overwhelmingly approved the city to build a new Police Department and City Hall. The bond funds have been received, and we are required to fulfill our commitment to build this community centerpiece within three years.
Last week, City Council received an update on the Police Department/City Hall project. When voters approved the bond for this project, they sent a clear message:
- Preserve the historic high school building.
- Create a state-of-the-art police facility.
- Ease parking pressure by removing city-related parking from public streets.
- Preserve Buckley Park and its beloved sledding hill.
- Preserve as many trees as possible.
- And most importantly – be fiscally responsible.
I’m proud to report that we are doing exactly that. Our conceptual design has been updated to reflect available funds, and we’re moving forward with a plan that meets all these priorities. This spring, we’ll begin landscape design and outreach to discuss connectivity through the new campus. Later in the spring, we’ll invite your feedback on the exterior of the police facility and on the community spaces inside the police facility and City Hall.
Here's what's changing – and why:
We changed the layout because of the need for Category 4 construction. Category 4 construction is a code requirement that ensures public safety portions of buildings are built to withstand natural disasters. Upon evaluating the costs, it became evident that upgrading the existing Big Picture building to Category 4 standards would be as expensive as constructing a new police station. Building a new station, specifically designed for police functions, proved to be more advantageous than retrofitting an existing structure not intended for such use. Additionally, the underground parking would also require Category 4 standards, as well as a second exit and entrance, which would incur further costs and pose design and accessibility challenges.
To keep this project within budget, a layout change was necessary. The new police station will be built behind the historic high school, on the north side of the lot facing 13th Street. The former Big Picture building will be removed and replaced with secure, surface parking for the police department.
The site layout change does not impact the historic high school, and it preserves Buckley Park – including the sledding hill – and saves additional trees in the area. These are community treasures, and we’re committed to keeping them intact for generations to come. We stand committed to meeting all city codes, including parking, by using the current police department and city hall sites as off-site parking for the new City Hall and Police Department.
What’s next? Community involvement
In the coming weeks, we’ll be reaching out to stakeholders and community groups to share updates and gather input. We’ll also host an Engage Durango forum Feb. 24 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Durango Public Library. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and learn more about this project. Please join us – we want to honor the trust and responsibility the voters have placed on us to complete this project.
Thank you for your continued support and involvement. Together, we’re building something that reflects the best of Durango: a community that values history, natural beauty and collaboration. I look forward to seeing you at upcoming forums and hearing your ideas as we move forward.
Mayor Gilda Yazzie is a longtime Durango resident and Fort Lewis College graduate with a degree in business administration. Durango’s first Navajo (Diné) councilor and mayor, she has worked with HUD and other federal, state and tribal agencies, as well as on Capitol Hill on women’s rights and racial equality.
