Members of the Library Neighborhood Association and residents of East Third Avenue and surrounding blocks were “elated” Friday upon leaning the city of Durango is honoring their request to split a proposed child care and workforce housing development into separate proposals.
Mary Ellen Finley, speaking on behalf of residents living near the Durango Public Library who object to the city’s process in selecting a project for the development of a parking lot at 1917 East Third Ave., said the development was a victory for the democratic process.
“I would like to praise Mayor Jessika Buell, councilwoman Gilda Yazzie and all the city council, Jose Madrigal and multiple city staff for listening to the concerns of the community regarding the proposed projects on E 3rd Ave and being willing to take action on these concerns,” she said in an email to The Durango Herald Friday. “I imagine the process was uncomfortable for them and acknowledge the maturity and dedication it took for them to be able to listen and change course.”
The project in question concerned the relocation of Tri-County Head Start, an early child care and preschool center at 2019 East Third Ave., to 1917 East Third Ave. just across the street. Workforce housing that would be built at Head Start’s current site was also part of the proposal.
Two developments in one proposal irked residents, who felt the city had already made up its mind about the project and was pushing full steam ahead with it, throwing residents’ concerns to the wayside.
On Thursday, Mayor Jessika Buell held a neighborhood meeting at the parking lot at 1917 East Third Ave. where about 40 residents gathered. Some held signs that read, “Honor the neighborhood and community request: One lot, one proposal; two lots, two proposals.”
Residents participated in a “revolving conversation,” with six people seated in a circle at a time to speak their opinions before the mayor and the crowd.
Buell then addressed some residents’ concerns before inviting them on a walk around the library, Durango Botanic Gardens and past the proposed development sites to have direct, face-to-face conversations.
Resident Mary Kay Stewart said she is a fourth generation resident of the neighborhood and has a big stake in it, but she recognizes workforce housing and infill is needed. However, Stewart also said the city’s process was “weird and bad,” despite residents’ openness to having child care and housing, under the right conditions, in their little neighborhood.
“None of us are against affordable child care and appropriately planned and executed work force housing,” Finley said.
She said residents’ objection has always been the lack of appropriate public input on Head Start’s current lot at 2019 East Third Ave.
“If and when this tract becomes available in the future, I am thrilled that the community will now be able to have input into the best and highest use for this wonderful public property,” she said. “My hope is that with the talent, creativity and dedication of the community, we will be able to put forward a plan that will serve the citizens of Durango for decades to come.”
A city news release on Friday said that Tracy Reynolds, founder of Reynolds, Ash + Associates, the architecture firm that would have helped with the Head Start project, feels the best course of action is keep proceeding with the Head Start development at 1917 East Third Ave., which is a city-owned parking lot near the library.
“Reynolds is working with a group comprising his firm, Head Start and Agave Group. A separate part of his group's proposal was to build workforce housing at 2019 East Third Ave. … but Reynolds now wants to remove that from consideration. The lot at 2019 East Third Ave. is also owned by the city and leased to Head Start,” the release says.
The city will issue a new request for proposals for the 2019 East Third Ave. lot, according to the city. Although that won’t occur until Head Start secures funding for potentially moving to 1917 East Third Ave.
Durango City Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on whether to introduce an ordinance detailing a lease between the city and Head Start for the parking lot at 1917 East Third Ave.
“The lease would not approve development or design on either tract or otherwise advance the other concepts in the selected bid, which would come at a later date to be determined,” the release says.
cburney@durangoherald.com
