{"id":13643,"date":"2026-02-05T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/underground-parking-nixed-from-plans-for-durangos-new-police-station\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T03:38:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T03:38:49","slug":"underground-parking-nixed-from-plans-for-durangos-new-police-station","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/underground-parking-nixed-from-plans-for-durangos-new-police-station\/","title":{"rendered":"Underground parking nixed from plans for Durango\u2019s new police station"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Bob
Bob Brammer, chief of the Durango Police Department, describes some of the plans on Tuesday for the department if it is allowed to move in to the former Big Picture High School next to the current Durango School District 9-R Building on 12th Street. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>Jerry McBride<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

The former Big Picture High School building and a proposed underground parking garage have been scrapped from the city of Durango\u2019s plans for a new joint city hall and police station.<\/p>\n

Durango Police Department originally planned to move into the former Big Picture building at 215 E. 12th St. next door to the historic high school at 201 E. 12th Street that is the site of a future city hall.<\/p>\n

Durango School District relocated its Big Picture High School out of the building at 215 E. 12th St. in 2024.<\/p>\n

Now, according to Artaic Group\u2019s John Usery, senior project manager, the building is planned to be demolished with a new building to be built behind the city hall site.<\/p>\n

In a presentation to City Council, Usery said renovating the former Big Picture building and converting it into a police station would cost about as much as demolishing the building and building a new one, with the cost difference being within $1 million.<\/p>\n

Whether the former Big Picture building is renovated or a new building is constructed, the building would need to satisfy Risk Category IV requirements of the International Building Code, he said. The earlier proposed underground parking garage would be subject to the same requirements, and that would add \u201csignificant\u201d cost to the development.<\/p>\n

Risk Category IV requirements designate facilities such as fire and police departments as essential facilities that must maintain structural integrity in the event of an emergency or natural disaster, according to the International Code Council.<\/p>\n

\"A
A new conceptual design for the city of Durango\u2019s joint city hall and police department eliminates the former Big Picture High School building to make room for surface-level secure police parking. The idea replaces prior plans for an underground secure parking garage for law enforcement. Instead of moving into the former Big Picture building, DPD will be housed in a new building to be built directly behind the historic former high school at 201 E. 12th St., according to the new conceptual design. (Screenshot)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Voters gave their blessing for the new city hall and police station in April 2025 when they approved a 30-year half-cent sales tax extension to fund the project in addition to continuing to fund maintenance, acquisitions and upgrades to parks, open space and trails.<\/p>\n

The measure allows the city to increase its debt by $61 million, with a repayment cost of $123 million, to fund renovation and construction for the new city hall and police station.<\/p>\n

City Manager Jos\u00e9 Madrigal said in a text message to The Durango Herald<\/em> that the key components of the ballot measure remain in place as approved by voters: \u201ca fixed budget, a city hall, police department, and historic preservation of the high school.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said the underground parking garage was not part of the ballot language, and eliminating it doesn\u2019t contradict the language approved by voters.<\/p>\n

How parking would be impacted by moving the city hall and police station to 12th Street was at the top of some residents\u2019 minds during city meetings about the project.<\/p>\n

The underground parking was intended to provide secure parking for police and prevent the need for additional on-street parking. The current police station at 990 East Second Ave. has a row of police vehicles lined up outside the building in on-street spaces.<\/p>\n

Usery said the new conceptual plans include just over 80 parking spaces available on-site \u2013 about half of the total parking spaces needed to accommodate police and city staff.<\/p>\n

Councilor Jessika Loyer asked if the project is still affordable.<\/p>\n

Madrigal said the city had planned to sell the lots containing the current police station and the existing city hall across the street to help offset development costs for the new buildings.<\/p>\n

The lots could be used for more parking spaces, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s how we can solve the capacity issue today. Obviously, we still have more time as we continue to move forward,\u201d he said. \u201cThere may be other options that we\u2019re looking at right now that may solve it and may open up as we go through.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The
The lots where Durango City Hall and Durango Police Department are currently located on are feasible alternatives for parking space once city staff relocate to a new, yet-to-be-developed site at 201 E. 12th St. The city is exploring possible parking options after a proposed underground secure parking garage for police parking was scrapped from the latest conceptual design. (Screenshot)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

He said the city is exploring other financial opportunities to offset project costs as well.<\/p>\n

He told the Herald<\/em> the sites of the current city hall and police station are feasible alternatives for parking once staff relocate to the new site, but the city will continue to explore additional possible partnerships and parking solutions.<\/p>\n

Usery said the surface-level parking now planned for the new police station will still be \u201csecure\u201d and the city hall campus will still include public gardens, interconnectivity with Buckley Park and a public alley with multimodal access.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis design helps with the preservation of a lot of established trees on the site. It still maintains the connectivity through the site. Preserves the sled hill. And overall, integrates that park feeling with the site, incorporating quite a bit of green space and landscape elements,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

cburney@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"The
The city of Durango\u2019s plan to convert the former Big Picture High School building at 215 E. 12th St. into a new police station has been scrapped in favor of building a brand-new station directly behind the historic former high school next door \u2013 the site of upcoming development on a new city hall. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald file)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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