Downtown Durango

Durango consistently emerges as a model for rural western communities on a number of

fronts, and sustaining its downtown businesses will merely be the latest. With a continuing influx of talented and experienced new residents, and just the right amount of maverick energy in both recently-arrived and long-time locals, Durango is a community to watch.

The ultimate challenge is creation of a comprehensive area plan for the downtown that in essence follows the four components of the statewide downtown revitalization effort, the Main Street Program: a concerted promotional effort, economic restructuring (which involves the work, live and play concept), design development and organizational structure. Durango participated in the Main Street Program in the early 1980s, and has succeeded in or is working on the first three components, though, as mentioned, it never quite sustained an organizational structure.

In part because of the program, the city took the lead on upgrading the appearance of downtown – including new facades, awnings, design codes, period lighting and benches, sidewalk and street upgrades, street tree planting and more that have resulted in the “visually” appealing CBD.