My wife and I have been losing sleep over the monstrous four-story development proposed at 564 East Second Ave., which impacts Amaya Natural Therapeutics and other neighbors (“
Amaya provides several thousand massages a year to our community, supporting 20 employees. Many come to relax and enjoy the outdoor sanctuary, which includes a hot tub, cold plunge and sauna. People will be dissuaded from coming in during a loud, ground-shaking construction process.
Beyond this, the drastic change in view, sunlight, noise and privacy affects the beauty of Amaya. The financial loss could be devastating.
We understand that the city has zoned this block for future growth, generously permitting developers to pursue expansive projects in line with the desires of elected officials. However, we feel that sensitivity to the existing property owners and established businesses is appropriate.
By placing this large development in the middle of the block, Reynolds and Associates is dramatically affecting the values of neighboring properties, overshadowing them. It may desire to undermine property values in hopes of developing the entire block, and is applying aggressive strategies to this end. This feels unethical.
For the city to not carefully represent the concerns of citizens relative to such behavior seems incredibly distasteful.
If our elected officials are creating wide zoning permission for future development, who represents those in the community with historical interest in their properties?
Approaching such blatant gentrification with care and consideration seems the ethical responsibility of our city government.
Don LewisDurango
