When the planners created the New Main Avenue, Outdoor Restaurant Boutique project, they talked of wonderful afternoons wandering the concrete, eating and drinking in restaurants, places to lounge and relax, and play areas for children.
No one mentioned winter. Downtown is popular with Durangoans and tourists during the winter. Since November, parking spaces on both sides of Main Avenue and the side streets have often been filled. During evenings and holidays, there is very limited parking available.
This “remodel” will make it difficult for people to visit downtown because 40% of parking places will be bump-outs. And what do we do with those curving sidewalks when they are full of snow?
It’s hard to plow snow off of a straight street, let along a curved wonder that wanders through town like a serpent.
What about safety? Two of Durango’s worst downtown fires occurred in the winter when there was snow on the ground. Firefighters had to throw everything they had at them. Two first responders lost their lives.
How would these first responders get to those fires down a snow- filled, snake-shaped Main Avenue?
The city is budgeting some $200,000 for an engineering study, then plans to spend millions on this boondoggle.
Honestly, doesn’t the city have more important priorities? Most Durangoans could give the City Council a good list. Main Avenue works as it is. Now is the time to abandon this idea and spend the money on real problems.
Jackson Clark II
Durango
