Ann Marie Swan leaves editor position and no longer has potential conflict of interest

Ann Marie Swan left her job as the Durango Herald Opinion Editor for undisclosed reasons following revelations that she received a thing of value when acquiring a home on a lot that was developed using city of Durango tax dollars.

Ann Marie Swan had a potential conflict of interest when she received a thing of value from the city while employed as Durango Herald Opinion Editor.

Another employee at the Durango Herald told me at the end of August in 2024 that Swan had resigned, but they would not elaborate further other than to say that it was a complicated story.

Swan’s acquisition of her home raised questions as to how it could create a conflict of interest in how she writes about city officials and policies given that the developer, ACPO, LLC, received reimbursement from the city for improvements and costs associated with the project.

Durango Herald Opinion Editor Ann Marie Swan applied for the privilege to purchase the deed-restricted workforce housing unit.

A lottery was held to determine which pre-qualified candidates would receive the privilege to purchase one of the homes. Swan’s application and lottery for all of the applicants was handled by Homes Fund, a non-profit organization that helps people obtain homes.

Ann Marie Swan’s home.

Homes Fund Director Lisa Bloomquist drew Swan’s name.

After Swan’s name was successfully drawn in the lottery, Swan purchased the home for $550,810 dollars.

Historically, Durango City Council planned the project since it achieves several of their strategic goals, including increasing inventory for the local workforce by establishing public-private partnerships and incentives.

What was valuable to buyers like Swan was that the developer, ACPO, LLC received reimbursement for improvements and costs associated with the project. Here’s a partial list of some of the cost-containment measures that may have made the closing costs of the homes more favorable for buyers:

1. Costs related to utility upgrades and connections (water tap fees) including the labor to install.
2. Costs associated with improving, widening and repaving the alley to the west of the subject property including concrete for curb and gutter, asphalt for the driving surface, and labor to install
3. Costs related to relocation of existing utility infrastructure including but not limited to natural gas, electric, and communications facilities.
4. Costs related to sidewalk construction, curb and gutter installation, and planting of street trees.
5. Costs related to stormwater management including but not limited to cobble, plantings, and construction of the central greenscape amenity insofar as it relates to stormwater detention and treatment.
6. All Fair Share program costs ($21,175)
7. All building permit costs ($34,036.17 for the triplex A4 where unit 901 is located)
8. Durango Fire Protection District Impact Fees ($819 dollars per kitchen).

Swan’s new home was located on a lot with several other homes that were developed with funding from city of Durango’s Urban Renewal Partnership (Urban Renewal Authority) to create deed-restricted housing for qualified residents.

The Urban Renewal Authority is a taxpayer-funded board of the city of Durango.

Overall, the payments from city government to the developer of Swan’s home raises questions about the potential conflict of interest that the thing of value created for her.

Swan refused to answer my questions about her potential conflict of interest.

Originally, I broke the story on July 11, 2024 about Swan receiving a thing of value from city government with her home purchase. The last time that I saw Swan’s byline in the Durango Herald was August 11, 2024.