Dear Action Line,
Some of us have been around long enough to remember when the Robert E. DeNier building actually housed people in need of services. Since closing the youth center years ago, various public entities have set their sights on this facility, yet nothing of obvious substance has occurred. Would you please clear up this mystery and help the public to understand why such a large building is apparently not being fully utilized – or if it is holding secret raves at night, set us all straight so we can join the party. – Signed, Looking for a rave
Dear Looking for a rave,
I’m pretty sure the Robert E. DeNier building is not being used for secret late night raves. However, I might not know the right person to get an invite, so that one might require further investigating.
Unused buildings make for great newspaper column fodder. Does anyone know what’s in store for the former Stephanie Morris Nissan property? That might make for a future column.
For those unfamiliar, the DeNier building is located on Turner Drive in Bodo Park across the street from the La Plata County clerk’s office and near the La Plata County Jail. It was formerly used as a youth detention center and went through quite the saga in the past decade.
In 2018, the corrections facility was operated by a contractor called Rite of Passage when it was abruptly shut down by the Colorado Department of Human Services, which alleged inappropriate treatment of detainees and possible child abuse.
Fast forward to 2020, and the building still sat vacant. The state transferred the property to La Plata County, and one idea was to move Hilltop House, the community corrections facility located west of downtown, to the facility in Bodo.
That didn’t pan out, but La Plata County has a new plan.
La Plata County spokesman Ted Holteen said that most uses of the building would require extensive, and expensive, renovations. One use that doesn’t require too much trouble is use by the County Clerk and Recorder for records and archival storage as well as a future elections center, which is the county’s plan going forward.
The county archive is currently located in the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office evidence storage, said Tiffany Lee, La Plata County clerk and recorder. “Upon record requests, my staff retrieves the record if it is not electronic and provides to the public,” she said. “The DeNier building will be excellent space for this use.”
The building will also be used for processing ballots and other election services, which prevent overcrowding of the Clerk and Recorder’s office across the street.
The reconfiguration work is nearing completion, Holteen said, and the election space will need to get state approval before use.
So, there’s your answer. I’ll work on finding the best secret rave spots around town.
Submit questions and rave info to actionline@durangoherald.com or mail questions to Action Line, The Durango Herald, 1275 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
