La Plata County commissioners gave staff direction to sell the Old Main Post Office building in downtown Durango, ending years of discussion over the historic building’s fate.
Ted Holteen, spokesman for the county, said the decision to sell was made after the Board of County Commissioners determined it was not in the public’s interest for the county to maintain ownership of the building.
He said that without any future plans to put the building to public use, holding onto it did not seem to make any sense.
“The most responsible thing we can do for our residents is to liquidate it and let someone else take a shot,” Holteen said.
The building’s 440-square-foot basement serves as a carrier-neutral data center for various internet providers that have leased the space until 2033; whoever buys the building will be required to honor the lease, Holteen said.
He said the county will ensure that the sale process is as transparent as possible.
In the event of an offer, two out of the three BoCC members must agree to the sale and the vote would be held at a public meeting.
The Old Main Post Office, located at 1060 Main Ave., was built in 1929 and served as Durango’s Post Office for 49 years. It is listed on the national registry of historic buildings.
Any buyer hoping to renovate the space would need their plans approved by the city of Durango’s historic preservation officials.
With 22,931 square feet of office space spanning four floors, the Old Main Post Office is a giant of a building. It takes up five lots, covering 21,000 square feet of the Durango Business District and comes with 23 off-street parking spaces.
The county will host walk-throughs of the building for potential buyers on Feb. 14 and Feb. 24.
Additional information about the sale of the Old Main Post Office can be found on La Plata County government’s website.
jbowman@durangoherald.com
