Durango City Council is in a unique situation regarding locations to ease the crowded spaces for City Hall and the police department. I encourage council to pause and look at their options, now that new possibilities are available.
When the 9-R Administration Building was originally for sale, there seemed to be no interest from the city in purchasing this building. I assume that their fiduciary responsibility to residents was their main reason for this. Then circumstances beyond council’s control forced them into a corner and with backs to the wall there was no other option than to purchase this building. But this building is a money pit.
They now have the opportunity to examine real estate options again now that the historic Old Main Post Office is for sale. This building would make an excellent City Hall and would not require the extensive and extremely expensive remodel we currently face.
An architect, who did previous feasibility studies on each of these buildings suggested these solutions:
- Purchase the Old Main Post Office and move City Hall there.
- Move Police Department to the current City Hall.
- Bulldoze the current police department building, converting it to a police department parking lot.
There are probably other options available too, so why go into $61 million of debt with a repayment cost of $123 million when there are other better and much less expensive options available?
Send the message to City Council that their fiduciary responsibility to us should always be a priority.
Residents need a financial break.
Barb Bell
Durango
