Busy year for development in Kalispell

Kalispell is seeing a fairly strong array of development projects that will account for tens of millions of dollars of investment this year.

“There’s energy out there, there’s enthusiasm,” Kalispell Planning Director Tom Jentz said. “It’s been a busy year at a time when expectations were low.”

Just how strong a year it has been should become much clearer with the official release of the city’s annual construction, subdivision and annexation report later this winter.

“We’re still a few weeks away from finalizing that,” Jentz said.

Several major commercial projects have been announced or broken ground this year in north Kalispell.

At the Mountain View Plaza shopping center, Natural Grocers by Vitamin College announced last week that it’s planning a $452,000 remodel of the former Borders bookstore to open a 20,000-square-foot grocery there next spring.

In the Hutton Ranch Plaza shopping center, Sportsman & Ski Haus plans to start building a 25,000-square-foot addition sometime next spring.

Construction is well under way on a 100-room Hilton Homewood Suites that should be open in Hutton Ranch Plaza by June 2013. It was estimated to be an $8.5 million project.

On the other side of U.S. 93 in the Spring Prairie shopping center, Cabela’s said it plans to open a 42,000 square foot retail store. Construction should start next spring with the store opening in fall.

It remains to be seen what will happen at Victory Commons, 28 acres of school trust land just north of the Kidsports youth athletic complex at the corner of Reserve Loop and U.S. 93.

The state of Montana recently selected Goldberg Properties and The Kroenke Group to negotiate a commercial lease and develop the site, which sits right in the middle of one of Kalispell’s busiest commercial and recreational areas.

Announcements and activity have not been limited to commercial areas of north Kalispell.

After a large private donation and successful fundraising campaign, Flathead Valley Community College broke ground in May on a new, $5 million nursing and health sciences building.

On Buffalo Hill, work continues on a $42 million surgical services tower at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Immanuel Lutheran Communities opened Retreat at Buffalo Hill, “a getaway” for recovery and therapy services. The nonprofit also added 14 apartments and a community center to Buffalo Hill Terrace. The projects totaled nearly $6 million of construction.

In downtown Kalispell, a building permit was issued last week for a new brewery at Main Street and Fourth Street West. Sweet Peaks, a new ice cream shop, opened on Main Street this year. So did Big Bear Firepower, which sells guns and ammunition.

Over on Second Avenue West, Sykes’ has a completely renovated neighborhood diner, grocery and pharmacy with upscale apartments upstairs. Just north of there, Rising Sun Bistro underwent a two-day makeover in September and will star in a Dec. 19 episode of “Restaurant Impossible” on the Food Network.

Around the corner on First Street West, the historic Boyd’s Blacksmith Shop reopened as the Forge, a new coffee shop, restaurant and music venue.

A Jimmy John’s restaurant and Auto Zone parts store both opened on West Idaho Street.

Kalispell’s railroad corridor has seen a flurry of development, even as city officials continue to put the finishing touches on a major, long-term revitalization plan for the area. Factoring heavily into that plan is the Flathead County Rail Park that Montana West Economic Development is working to develop at the former McElroy and Wilken gravel pit.

On West Center Street, Hagestad Painting and Coatings completed an expansion.

East Center Street near Depot Park has been a flurry of activity. A renovated Loading Dock now houses Brannigan’s Irish Pub, Brix Bottleshop and Off Center Salon. A2Z Engineering opened some new professional offices in that area.

And just up the street, construction continues on Depot Place, a $3.2 million residential project that will offer affordable apartments for seniors and open by next June.

“Taken as a whole, there are a lot of things happening,” Jentz said. “Could there be more? Yeah. But it’s spread all around and that’s the nice thing.”

Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.