District 5 gets its asking price for Laser School
By NANCY KIMBALL
The Daily Inter Lake
Kalispell's school board voted during a special noon meeting Tuesday to accept a full-price offer to buy Laser School.
The school had asked $550,000 for the building, formerly an elementary school before Edgerton was built on Whitefish Stage. It now houses one of the district's two alternative high schools.
The offer was made contingent upon a 45-day due diligence inspection.
The buyers, Arizona developers Chuck and Denise Trayer, have until 4 p.m. today to sign papers making official their intent to purchase the building.
Corey Salois, the Trayers' agent with Dean and Leininger Real Estate of Kalispell, said she does not know how they will develop the property.
"I don't think they have a whole lot of plans there now," Salois said. A fast-food restaurant and car wash now operate directly behind the school.
If, after 45 days, the Trayers still are interested in buying the property, their $20,000 down payment will be transferred to the school. The school had asked for $50,000 down, but accepted the lower amount on the advice of Kits Smith of Prudential Glacier Real Estate, the school's agent.
Smith explained the buyers would be spending considerable money to carry out an inspection, particularly for asbestos assessment. Also, Smith said, they are investment-minded and did not want to tie up that much money for the 8 1/2 months before the real estate deal would close.
The school also must declare the building and land surplus property, an action that probably will be taken in October.
The property is zoned B-3, community business.
That zoning is designed to provide community shopping areas and retail service centers.
A long list of permitted uses for B-3 zones includes such businesses as a bakery or deli, bank or finance company, hotel, day care center, department store, liquor store, houses and apartments, supermarket, library, professional office, clinic and theater.
Conditional uses - those which require special permission to operate - include a tavern, casino, community athletic center and light assembly plant.
Under the agreement approved Tuesday, closing would come 30 days after the end of the school year. That would allow the Laser alternative high school program to finish out the year in its present quarters. Closing would be scheduled around the first week of July 2007.
After that date, the Laser program would be transferred to the current Linderman School. According to current plans, Bridge Academy also would be housed at Linderman.
This is the final year that seventh-graders will be schooled at Linderman. Next fall, all seventh-graders will attend the new middle school. Kalispell Junior High is in the construction and curriculum development process to become a middle school for sixth, seventh and eighth grades.
The Laser School building on East Washington Street was one of three properties considered for sale as the district shifts to two high schools, a middle school, and reconfigured elementary schools beginning next fall.
No decision has been made on selling or leasing the central administration building which also houses the Flathead County Public Library.
Reporter Nancy Kimball can be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at nkimball@dailyinterlake.com