Durango City Council took its first step toward finalizing a much anticipated land swap between the city and Durango Fire Protection District on Tuesday that will pave the way for a brand-new downtown fire station.
A contract for the swap was detailed in an ordinance that requires one more vote by City Council before it is passed. The vote is scheduled Aug. 1 during City Council’s regularly scheduled meeting.
Final approval will secure River City Hall for the fire department and the former Durango School District 9-R administration building for future use as a city civic center and police department. Currently, the city leases River City Hall to the fire department, which purchased the 9-R admin building in December.
City Council voted 4-1 to approve the first reading of the ordinance. Councilor Olivier Bosmans voted against it. He said he is not opposed to keeping the fire department at its River City Hall location on Camino del Rio, but the city should explore more options for a downtown fire station before committing to a site.
Mayor Melissa Youssef said the search for a suitable site for a downtown fire station has been a yearslong process, dating back to well before she was elected to serve on City Council in 2017. She said it would be a shame to pass on the opportunity.
City Manager José Madrigal reviewed the agreement, which will allow the city to maintain ownership and control of the Animas River Trail, Iris Park and parking areas stationed at River City Hall.
He said the fire department agreed to dedicate the single road leading to and from the fire station and the Powerhouse Science Center to the city as a right of way to preserve its access for the public.
Dividing the property is expected to be completed in mid-November, he said. The official property swap must occur within 10 days of the subdivision completion.
If the contract, which has already been approved by the fire department board, receives final approval by City Council, the city would pay $3.6 million to DFPD, Madrigal said.
The city and DFPD consulted Bob Allen, of the appraisal group Allen & Associates, to determine fair market values of the properties.
“(Allen) did see the DFPD owned 9-R property at $6.9 million, which represented what they purchased the property for,” Madrigal said. “And then the River City Hall property at $3.9 million, which correlated with the recent CDOT appraisal of the River City Hall property.”
The ordinance was reviewed at a public hearing during City Council’s regular meeting, where several Durango residents congratulated the city and fire department on reaching a deal. Officials from the Powerhouse, which neighbors River City Hall, expressed concern about parking, and some residents expressed interest in a long talked about underpass crossing on Camino del Rio near 12th Street.
Tim Walsworth, Durango Business Improvement District executive director, asked the city to consider issuing a public statement in support of the underpass project.
“As this land swap concludes, BID would like to request some type of public statement in support (from) both the city and DFPD for the Camino del Rio underpass project,” he said.
He said the BID has advocated for a Camino underpass for years and the project is included in several city documents, including the 2017 comprehensive plan, a document concerning the Camino del Rio character district and the 2016 multimodal master plan.
A feasibility study in 2020 identified 12th Street as the best place for the proposed underpass crossing because it would connect downtown to the Animas River Trail while letting pedestrians bypass traffic. He said the underpass would result in fewer cars downtown because of increased pedestrian connectivity, and would bolster economic activities by letting more foot traffic access shops and restaurants.
“Consider something like this: ‘The city of Durango and Durango Fire Protection District both strongly value an underpass at 12th Street and Camino del Rio to connect three of Durango’s best assets: downtown, the river trail and the Powerhouse Science Center. We pledge to work together to see this long-needed project become a reality,’” Walsworth said.
Bill Carver, a Powerhouse founder and city resident, said the city has a fiduciary responsibility to protect access to its properties and an easement is needed to preserve the road access to the Powerhouse. Such an easement would also be necessary for an underpass at 12th Street.
Madrigal said DFPD is open to working with the city on installing an underpass and its site plans for the new downtown fire station would not interfere or prohibit such a project.
The city is evaluating Camino del Rio with its transportation department and multimodal division to determine the feasibility of an underpass, he said.
Randy Black, DFPD deputy fire chief, said the fire department has met with a number of advocates for the Camino underpass.
“We plan on partnering with you (the city) to work on that. That’s obviously a large valued item to the community. We don’t want to stand in the way of that, that doesn’t make any sense,” he said.
He said the public is also invited to attend a public input meeting about design elements of the new downtown fire station, which is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. July 26 at the Powerhouse.
Councilor Jessika Buell said according to DFPD’s preliminary site plans, which will be publicly revealed at the July 26 meeting, there will be more shared parking space than currently exists at the Powerhouse and River City Hall
cburney@durangoherald.com
