Transforming Durango’s historic high school into a new city hall will be no easy feat.
The former high school, most recently used as the Durango School District 9-R administration offices, has undergone numerous changes since its days as an educational facility. Ceilings were lowered, carpets were installed and new offices were constructed to accommodate the school district’s needs.
Now, with most of the furniture removed and the hallways empty, the building has a patchwork quality – a blend of old and new that feels both nostalgic and disjointed.
Reminders of the building’s past are apparent throughout. A grandfather clock from 1916 stands on modern carpeting, while graffiti-covered doors left behind by former students lean against the walls. In the stairways, the original brick peeks through, revealing the building’s bones beneath layers of renovations.
Beginning next week, Durango voters will weigh in on whether to extend a half-cent sales tax that would, in part, provide the necessary funding to convert the 109-year-old building into a new city hall. The tax would also be used to build a new police station, according to the city. Half the tax would go toward parks, open space, fire mitigation and trails, according to the ballot language.
The city anticipates spending $60 million to $80 million on the city hall and police station conversions, according to a city spokesman.
The city says it is in desperate need of a larger city hall. Renovating the former high school for that purpose would solve the space problem, bring essential operations under one roof, make services more convenient and accessible, and provide other public amenities.
Opponents say Ballot Issue 2A amounts to a blank check. They say the city purchased the building with its “backs to the wall,” and renovation plans “are like a snowball rolling down hill.” The city should consider other, less expensive options, they say.
Built in 1916, the building at 201 E. 12th St. will require a significant overhaul to address structural concerns, maintain its historical integrity, and ensure it complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“The hard part is going to be the ADA side of it,” said Durango City Manager José Madrigal while touring the building.
The main entrance is accessed by an imposing flight of large stone stairs, and there is no ramp or accessible pathway.
Madrigal said the city is exploring options such as creating an entrance under the existing stairway or adding ramps to the sides.
It will be a challenge. The building’s facade is protected by its historic status, and Madrigal said the city will need to work closely with the Durango Historic Preservation Society to maintain the historic integrity of the building.
Although the building has elevators, they are outdated and unable to accommodate larger wheelchairs or gurneys. Upgrading the elevators is a key priority, Madrigal said.
Even the balcony of the old amphitheater – most recently used for school board meetings – poses accessibility issues. The seating is sectioned by tiered steps and the original tandem seats are narrow and well-worn.
“If we’re going to keep the balcony, we’re going to try to keep as much seating as possible, but it may look different than it did in the 1920s,” Madrigal said.
“The school district actually had this blocked off because of structural issues,” he said, gesturing around the balcony.
The amphitheater itself is a unique blend of past and present. Modern presentation screens and tables sit beneath intricate crown molding, and a decorative Durango High School emblem remains embedded in the wall.
Madrigal said the plan is to try and keep as much of the historical feel as possible when redesigning the space for city council meetings. However, the student graffiti covering the exposed red brick in the wings of the amphitheater will likely have to go.
Plans also include restoring the original ceiling height, which was lowered when 9-R converted the building into office space. Many of the partitioned offices will be removed to create open workspaces, said Tom Sluis, spokesman for the city.
“There will be significant tear out,” Madrigal said. “We really want to open it up.”
Safety hazards are also a concern, particularly in the gymnasium, which sits on the east side of the building and spans three floors. A rickety track with dangerously short railings sits high above the gym floor, adding to the structural challenges.
Accessing the main area requires descending into the basement level and navigating hallways that feel significantly mustier than those upstairs. Upon entering the gym, the groaning floorboards and suspended radiator system make its age immediately apparent.
Madrigal said the plan is to convert the gym into office space. A swimming pool that has floored over by concrete, along with locker rooms behind the gym, will be demolished to make room for additional parking.
“It’s not historically significant. It wasn’t part of the original building, and there’s not really a way you can easily utilize this for something else,” Madrigal said.
The faint smell of chlorine still lingers in the humid air trapped between the concrete walls of the pool and locker rooms.
The proposed parking lot would include underground parking for the Durango Police Department, with extra parking above for city employees – expanding the number of spots to around 188, according to Bob Brammer, assistant city manager.
Sluis said outdoor restroom facilities adjacent to the new parking lot are also being discussed, along with the possibility of using the expanded parking lot as space for weekend farmers markets.
Asbestos remediation throughout the building will be necessary before construction can begin. Madrigal said the city has already received a grant that would fund those efforts.
The transformation is an ambitious project with a lengthy timeline. Madrigal anticipates it will take about three years to complete once the final designs are drawn up.
He said the city would sell the existing City Hall at 949 East Second Ave. and police station at 990 East Second Ave. to help offset the costs of renovation by about $10 million.
“It’s prime real estate,” Madrigal said. “It definitely will help revitalize and reenergize Second Avenue,” he said.
jbowman@durangoherald.com
