This week’s gathering of about 100 that included numerous downtown business owners, almost all in person, to hear advocates for one side and the other and to question city staff members, changed no minds about Downtown Durango’s Next Step. Following presentations by a few business owners and questions answered, polling delivered roughly equal results compared to the results produced (by many but not all of the same individuals) earlier this summer, somewhat more than half in opposition.
The reduction in parking, the loss of space to open a parallel parked driver’s door, a narrower center lane that could make truck unloading dangerous, the corner bulb-outs that put pedestrians next to traffic (to shorten the distance to cross the street) and a general it’s-not-broken-don’t-fix-it attitude, continued. There was a claim that the historic appearance of downtown will be lost, while another said that, no, the ambiance will remain and be better taken in by slow moving pedestrians enjoying the wider sidewalks.
Did we mention the loss of parking? The loss of parking that would deter shoppers and push more parking east onto residential side streets and the Boulevard? That eventuality returns again and again, even though city staff says usage percentages show available parking spaces on and near Main Avenue and a significantly underused Transit Center lot just two blocks distant.
The young ages of two advocates for Next Step was noticeable, second generation owners of Maria’s Bookshop and the Carver Brewing Co., both highly successful businesses. Could both have a better sense of what an appealing retail and restaurant environment will look like in the near future than those decades older?
Looking back, a strict signage code and tree planting dramatically changed Main Avenue’s appearance for the better. At the time they were not universally embraced.
If Next Step is not adopted, that would mean that only resurfacing Main Avenue – which is badly needed – after reconstructing water and sewer lines below would have downtown Durango at a disadvantage to other communities.
As to options, we did sense during Tuesday’s information session that planners might now be thinking about reducing the extent of the sidewalk expansion as they consider changes to the widths of the parking and center lanes. If accurate, that would be welcome. We tend to believe sidewalks might need an additional foot or two, but no more.
As to construction disruptions, which are short-lived but valid concerns for businesses with limited resources, we have confidence that the city will do all it can to limit their negative effects. Targeting only a couple of blocks at a time, avoiding the peak summer weeks, applying plenty of signage and more.
Back to parking. The reductions on Main Avenue might be able to be at least partially offset by multiple small additions elsewhere, and perhaps by creating more no-charge spaces as has been done on a few streets between Narrow Gauge and Main avenues.
Next Step marches on. We look forward to subsequent sessions, likely effectively hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, the Business Improvement District and Local First, as was this week’s.
