Whitefish stages open house at new park site

The city of Whitefish will hold an open house at 10 a.m. Monday at the James Bakke estate on West Seventh Street to give prospective bidders a chance to inspect six buildings on the property that need to be moved or salvaged to clear space for a city park.

Bakke, a well-known Whitefish artist, died in 2013 and specified in his will that his 4 acres of land be donated to the city for use as a natural park. The property is located at 611 W. Seventh St.

“Rather than just demolish the buildings, we are inviting sealed bids from anyone who might want to purchase any of the buildings and either move them off the property or salvage materials,” Whitefish City Manager Chuck Stearns said.

A barn on the property could yield decorative barn wood with some value, and some of the outbuildings have magazine collections dating to the 1950s.

Among the buildings for sale are a mobile home, the main house, a garage, two sheds and a barn. Two other outbuildings will be kept as storage sheds for the city Parks and Recreation Department.

All buildings will be open for inspection and viewing Monday. City staffers will be on hand during the open house to answer questions about the buildings and the bidding process.

Each bidder must submit cash, a certified check, bid bond, cashier’s check, bank money order or bank draft payable to City Clerk, Whitefish, Montana, for $500 as a good faith deposit. Personal checks will not be accepted. Further details about the bidding process are available by contacting Stearns at 863-2406.

 Bids are due at 3 p.m. Jan. 21. The City Council will make a decision on the sales as soon as possible after the deadline has passed.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.