Durango Fire Protection District Chief Hal Doughty extolled the virtues of housing his main station, EMTs, Durango Police and 911 operators in one building during Durango School District 9-R’s PR Zoom three days prior to purchasing the historic high school. Not once did he reference the impact that will occur from foisting this extraordinary industrial use upon our downtown streets and neighborhoods, above its one peaceful green space.
Truth be told, he doesn’t know. No one knows. Those “in the know” seem not to care, while the rest of us know it needs addressing.
Nor did 9-R mention the unavoidable, irreversible damage coming to the thriving neighborhood where they’ve nestled like a jewel for over 100 years. There was nary a nod toward inevitable detractions to Buckley Park itself, which they are selling to the city at a pre-HUB valuation. 9-R took the position that it went with the highest bidder in the interest of students and staff. The district sold its city-gifted home without enduring historic preservation for $5 million and a guarantee of 9-R parking spaces for a decade.
Had Durango known that was the price on the head of our dear downtown quality of life, we might have started a GoFundMePage.
Public safety has long been ensured from DFPD’s current location without neighborhood degradation. A new build, not a $17 million retrofit two blocks away, is the right fiscal community choice.
There is another buyer for 9-R and another more appropriate location for DFPD.
There is no other Buckley Park or downtown Durango.
Once gone, they are gone forever.
Speak out, please!
Robin Wiles
Durango
