Panel begins narrowing list of potential library sites

The winnowing of potential new Flathead County main library sites has begun -with mostly central Kalispell sites as the front-runners.

The 14 potential sites have been divided into two lists.

The "A" list contains what a library building advisory committee believes are the best candidates.

The "B" list consists of six least-preferred sites, essentially being kept on a back burner unless something happens to make them better candidates.

The advisory committee did the list-splitting Tuesday. The committee's next step is to research acquisition costs of the eight "A List" sites by its April 14 meeting.

The "A List" sites are as follows:

n The land once designated for a proposed Glacier Performing Arts Center -which never materialized - just north of Kalispell Center Mall.

n The two-acre former Manion car dealership site on East Center Street, north of where Second Avenue East dead-ends into it.

n Three-quarters of a block north of the railroad tracks that holds Flathead Industries' main facility and administrative offices.

n Expanding the downtown Kalispell branch by buying neighboring buildings, including Central Christian Church.

n Thirteen county-owned acres north of the Flathead County Fairgrounds.

n The north end of city-owned Woodland Park.

n Flathead Valley Community College.

n The old Dollar Store on 1.38 acres next to the former Tidyman's grocery store. The committee thought this is the weakest candidate on the A List.

The committee eventually will recommend a small group of sites to the Flathead County Library Board. The board will make a recommendation to the Flathead County commissioners, who have the ability to call for a bond referendum.

The advisory committee is concentrating solely on sites, delaying discussion on building designs and costs until the potential locations are narrowed down.

The county library system has five branches, with the main library occupying 23,250 square feet of leased space in a 29,250-square-foot, 92-year-old former post office building on First Avenue East in Kalispell.

The Kalispell library has five parking spaces. The library board believes a roughly 52,000- to 55,000-square-foot building is needed with more meeting spaces, more room for books and at least 200 parking spaces.

A preliminary architectural study estimated that it would cost $16 million to $19 million for a new library.

The county commissioners are making two library-related requests for federal stimulus money -$18 million to build a new main library and $2.4 million to move and remodel the Columbia Falls branch in the former Glacier Bank building.

Meanwhile, the library has approached Montana's congressional delegation with separate requests of $1 million to buy land for a new main branch and $600,000 for the Columbia Falls branch.

The "B List" of sites is as follows:

n Maurice and Peggy Eddie offered to donate 3.25 acres of land in Evergreen northwest of the intersection of Reserve Drive and U.S. 2.

n Two city-owned acres on Airport Road.

n The former Eisinger car lot at 1000 W. Idaho St.

n The former Gateway Cinemas.

n Almost four acres on Financial Drive just north of the Gateway complex.

n A site north of the Cenex elevators along the railroad tracks.

Reporter John Stang may be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at jstang@dailyinterlake.com