We found out recently that, according to certain experts, the West Wing of the historical Archuleta County Courthouse is in relatively good shape. That’s according to an article in the weekly Pagosa Springs Sun, written by reporter John Finefrock. In his April 4 article, Mr. Finefrock quoted local architect Brad Ash:
“Phase one was this forensic study of the structure, so now [the Board of County Commissioners] know the structure is in reasonable condition. The next part would be — We’re actually going to do some planning and do what we call a schematic design to see how the courts could fit in that building, and then from that schematic design, we’re going to provide cost estimates for construction. Basically, to fit the courts in there and then from that cost estimate, the County can determine if that’s an avenue they still want to take, if they want to reinvest in that building or if they potentially want to sell it,” said Ash…
The idea to completely remodel the inside of the West Wing dates back to 2016, when the Archuleta Board of County Commissioners were looking at facility costs and options for a new Sheriff’s Office, new detention center and new Court facilities for the Sixth Judicial District. Architects Bob Johnson and Brad Ash came up with one proposal that showed all of the new facilities in one single location, adjacent to and within the existing West Wing. In this 2016 drawing, the existing jail and Sheriff’s offices would be gutted, to house the Courts, and the jail and Sheriff’s office would be built on the currently-vacant lot west of the historical Courthouse.
The BOCC didn’t pay much attention to this option in 2016, because Commissioners Steve Wadley and Clifford Lucero had their hearts set on a totally new facility on Hot Springs Boulevard, priced at about $28 million. (Plus interest on the loan.)
In his April 4 article, Mr. Finefrock quoted Republican Commissioner Ronnie Maez, talking about the possibility if converting the West Wing into court spaces.
“What I’m looking at is longevity at what we do. Are we just throwing our money into another spot where we’re going to have to revisit this in 15 to 20 years and yet we’re still stuck with a building downtown that we’re not recouping any property tax or sales tax revenue from?” said Maez.
Maez said it will be a critical decision by the BOCC to build something from the ground up or to renovate the courthouse on San Juan Street.
Maez added, “Parking, congestion, there’s gotta be a lot of things that we need to think about and address before we start throwing money into this pit…”
Here’s a photo of the historical building Republican Commissioner Maez describes, dismissively, as “a pit.”
So let’s talk honestly about “pits.” And about the prospect of “reinvesting or potentially selling” property.
Below is a photo of the vacant lot next door to the Courthouse. Like the Courthouse, this property overlooks the beautiful San Juan River and the new agricultural facilities recently erected by the Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership. 13 years ago, this property accommodated four thriving businesses that were paying property tax and sales tax to the Town and County. (Something Commissioner Maez’ organization has never done.)
13 years ago, a wealthy and experienced developer from California, David Brown, bought this property and demolished the four successful business structures on this property.
These were not the only structures that David Brown bought and demolished between 2005 and 2008. Mr. Brown bought up a dozen or more active, downtown, commercial and residential structures and demolished them. His activities earned him the nickname, “Tear-down Brown.”
As mentioned, Mr. Brown was an experienced developer, and his stated goal in removing old historical buildings throughout the Pagosa Springs downtown corridor was to ‘revitalize’ our community. He intended to build shiny new buildings on the now-vacant lots — new buildings that would contribute property tax and sales tax. Unfortunately, David Brown was also struggling with cancer, and was never able to see his plans realized.
Here are a few of the large vacant lots created by Mr. Brown… which still sit vacant more than a decade later:
Below is the vacant lot created by the Adobe Building fire in 2017. That historical business building housed a dozen active businesses, include the famous (or maybe infamous) Bear Creek Saloon.(You can view photos of the fire in this Daily Post photo essay by photographer Jeff Laydon.)
The site of the Adobe Building is for sale. It has all the necessary infrastructure available for a thriving business or residential development. It’s located in the heart of Pagosa’s historical commercial area, close to a busy highway, a stone’s throw away from a beautiful riverside park. It could be generating property tax and sales tax.
Apparently, this vacant property — like the half dozen commercial and residential vacant lots created by Mr. Brown a dozen years ago — has attracted no interested buyers yet. You probably could, if you wanted to be dismissive, use the word “pit” to describe its current weed-covered condition.
But for an elected Republican leader to refer to our County Courthouse as a “pit”? Especially, perhaps, for an elected leader who has thumbed his nose at the voters and who is now promoting a very large and very expensive jail, and an equally large public debt yoked around the local taxpayers’ shoulders, after the voters twice turned down a very similar project?
This is leadership?
If you wanted to be dismissive, you could, I suppose, mention that Republican Commissioner Maez has been a professional hairdresser for most of his career. We’ve elected him to make some very complicated and very expensive decisions about the future of our community. Perhaps that wasn’t such a smart move, on our part.