Moving to Durango or Bayfield? (Center: for rent, condominium, homes)

[I_LUVNM]

Originally Posted by SweetSister

The hispanic aspects are not what concerns me ( one of the reasons that I was initially looking at New Mexico) I want her to be immersed into the language. We lived on a small island in Peurto Rico for a little while, although she did attend a more charter like outside school, more like a one class schoolhouse. She did have a hard time going into the public school system. But I wonder if more of that was because of the strict enforcing of uniforms and such. What about pagosa Springs ,been thru there? What is your opinion? Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs, HUh? i will definitely look at those. But being further north the loss of distinct seasons becomes more prominent doesn't it?I would still love to find a nice area in NM but seems the public school systems are not up to par and we do not have the money for private. I dont know ...have been researching places for awhile , have been to many places also (more so on the east) and sometimes it seems a little overwhelming. I fiqure if anything maybe take a road trip that way over the summer ,ride around see what feels right and plop down when I do.

Pagosa Springs is a pretty pine and mountain town. It probably doesnt have the immersion that you are looking for, it is mostly White people. Some Spanish families but not many. I dont know much about Manitou but been through there, it is artsy. Colorado Springs is a big city so I am not sure if you are looking for a city that big or not but it is a nice city especially as you go over toward Pikes Peak. Weather wise, most all of southern and southwest Colorado has four mild seasons, summers are great. Speaking of New Mexico, you might look into Aztec. It is a small town and has great schools.

[SweetSister]

Aztec...Hmm Seems it is northern Nm also,which is great . Great schools, meaning alternative schooling also? I will check it out. Does housing (rentals) seem to be fair?BTW thanks for helping out .It has been absolutely overwhelming trying to narrow down the multitude of options ,as I am sure many other will agree.

[I_LUVNM]

Originally Posted by SweetSister

Aztec...Hmm Seems it is northern Nm also,which is great . Great schools, meaning alternative schooling also? I will check it out. Does housing (rentals) seem to be fair?BTW thanks for helping out .It has been absolutely overwhelming trying to narrow down the multitude of options ,as I am sure many other will agree.

I know Aztec has Vista Nueva High School an Alternative High School. I heard it is pretty good but dont know much more about it than that. I wouldnt mind living in Aztec myself. I am in Farmington now but would move to Aztec over Farmington since I like smaller towns. What is great about Aztec is it is close to Durango for arts and entertainment but close to Farmington for shopping. Rentals are cheap but not many there. There are alot of houses out around in the country around Aztec and they arent bad at all in prices.

[Kaptain Karl]

Wow! retrocarnation offered his own POV -- which is just as valid as anyone else's -- and a few of you really let him have it(!). Geez.

I know I *like* knowing the "other side's* opinion on a place. You can learn a lot about a location, both from those who love it ... and those who do not.

- KK

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by Kaptain Karl

....I know I *like* knowing the "other side's* opinion on a place. You can learn a lot about a location, both from those who love it ... and those who do not. - KK

Both sides. Any & all sides. That's what we're after with this site. Nowhere is perfect, mostly trade-offs, some places are dreadful, some places are great.

Anyone is welcome to state their opinion, we hope they do, but as the moderator for this state, every posting here in the Colorado Forum must avoid advertising, name calling, attacking other people, etc.

No matter how bad someone's opinion is of a location, if they say it in a decent manner they are more than welcome to say it.

That other fellow wrote an entertaining and pithy counter view of Durango, and that's fine.

We don't need to discuss him or any other poster, we want to help someone choose between Durango or Bayfield....

When the original poster says they have all the info they need, I'll close this thread....a housekeeping sort of thing...

Thanks to all....
s/Mike

[I_LUVNM]

You are right Mike. This should be about Durango and Bayfield info. Sorry for anything on my part. The Hispanic "Latino blood" comes up sometimes!

So about Durango, I found out they are building a multi-million dollar library that is really going to be nice. Durango's schools have really good reports coming out about their students. My Durango friends wanted me to convey to anyone coming to Durango to NOT park on 2nd Avenue in any parking lot. You could end up paying for a boot to be released from your tire for parking there. Many people in Durango are furious over it. Some private lot taking advantage of people so park on Main or the side streets with the parking meters. You can park free after hours at the parking meters. Read on the meter the hours that are in effect. They didnt want to see anyone paying unfairly for parking on 2nd Avenue.
About Bayfield, I met someone from Bayfield when I was in Durango and they moved to Bayfield a few months back and love it. They have kids and just relayed to me that Bayfield is a great little town. Confirmed the schools were great too.

[dgoboy204]

Hey ILUVNM:

Do yo know where the library is gonna be?

Parking in Dgo downtown (as retrocarnation said) is often a challenge. Unfortunately, I had a personal (though short-term) relationship with "the boot"! I think I've paid enough in parking tickets that I should have a free lifetime pass on all city busses and trolleys ... Shoot, I might have paid for the city to buy them!

I have heard people suggest over the years that the city should close main ave downtown to cars - make it a walking, "historic/business district" - and set up parking lots further from town with shuttles to the downtown area (did I dream this ... ). Have you (or your Dgo friend) ever heard this? What do you think? Would this help or hurt?

Hey KK: just wanted to make sure that you understood that my previous post to retrocarnation was intended with sincerity and respectfulness only. I most definately was not trying to "let him have it for expressing his pov" - I hope I didn't come off that way - wasn't trying to be a smart-alek at all. PM'd retro to try to make this clear, too.

In fact, I agree with some of what he said - I've been trying to find a new place to rent for a while - no, my "lifestyle" does not include renting his pad for $1400 - at least not without say 3 roomies . Retro is right - rent is expensive here. Further, Durango is growing so fast - it seems like every time I visit my family in Farmington, when I come back, there are some new condos ... I really do wish the best for retrocarnation and I truly am sad to see Dgo lose a 20+ year resident.

Thanks once again Mike!

sincerely dgoboy

[I_LUVNM]

Originally Posted by dgoboy204

Hey ILUVNM: Do yo know where the library is gonna be? Parking in Dgo downtown (as retrocarnation said) is often a challenge. Unfortunately, I had a personal (though short-term) relationship with "the boot"! I think I've paid enough in parking tickets that I should have a free lifetime pass on all city busses and trolleys ... Shoot, I might have paid for the city to buy them! I have heard people suggest over the years that the city should close main ave downtown to cars - make it a walking, "historic/business district" - and set up parking lots further from town with shuttles to the downtown area (did I dream this ... ). Have you (or your Dgo friend) ever heard this? What do you think? Would this help or hurt?

Hi Dgoboy, the library is going to be where the Old Mercy Hospital was located. They are tearing it down now and will build it there. I think that is on Park Avenue? I agree, parking is a challenge in downtown Durango. I have heard of the city talking about building parking garages to making Main one way and 2nd Avenue the other way so it would have vertical parking instead of parallel parking, so more spaces. I like the close Main to cars idea but it is not popular so probably wont happen. It would be nice to walk all over downtown and not have all that traffic. I think maybe the parking garages would help and then maybe the one way thing might help too. I do know one thing for sure and my Durango friends all agree, when they build any large building, they should make it manditory to always include having a parking garage in the basement. It isnt right to have a big building built and not have parking for it.

[wanttoretire]

I have been researching the Durango area and have tried to find out what kind of major stores are there but am not coming up with much. Where would the major malls be for shopping. It appears that there is only some locally owned stores and a Walmart SuperCenter in Durango and my curiosity is getting the best of me as to where one would go for major shopping like around Christmas time?

[I_LUVNM]

Originally Posted by wanttoretire

I have been researching the Durango area and have tried to find out what kind of major stores are there but am not coming up with much. Where would the major malls be for shopping. It appears that there is only some locally owned stores and a Walmart SuperCenter in Durango and my curiosity is getting the best of me as to where one would go for major shopping like around Christmas time?

Hi. There is the Super Walmart, Home Depot, Office Depot, a mall with Pier One Imports, Linen N Things, Sam Goody, Penneys, Dunlaps and some other stores. There are alot of mom and pop stores especially downtown. Most people go to Farmington, NM an hour away which has about everything you need - Dillards, Sears, Super Target, Beals, TJ Max, Family Dollar, Dollar Tree, Biglots, Hobby Lobby and more. Durango-Farmington-Cortez-Pagosa are kind of like one metro family, everyone from one city usually goes to the other and vice versa for stuff. Like Durango is the entertainment mecca, Farmington the store mecca, Cortez the cowboy and western things to do mecca and Pagosa for the springs and up to Wolf Creek. All kind of like one big family.