Longtime project coming to fruition
It’s been a long time coming — 17 years to be exact — but it looks as though the commercial and residential community planned so many years ago for the area north of West Reserve Drive is poised to finally materialize.
The 485-acre block of agricultural land between U.S. 93 and Whitefish Stage started out as the site for Bucky Wolford’s mega-mall, a proposal that raised eyebrows and drew a legal battle. Later, Wolford and his development company reinvented the project as a “lifestyle community” called Glacier Town Center. Had the national recession not happened in 2008, and had the bottom not fallen out of the Flathead Valley economy, too, it’s possible Glacier Town Center would have been developed. The project was scrapped, though, and in 2012 ownership of the property reverted to Roger Claridge.
Next month the Kalispell City Council will be asked to give its blessing to the first of nine phases planned for what’s now called Kalispell North Town Center. Since much of North Kalispell already has been built out with commercial development, it stands to reason this area will be Kalispell’s new frontier for commercial growth. Kalispell wisely annexed the property in 2008 to assure orderly growth of its northern border. Kalispell North Town Center has the potential to be the lifestyle community envisioned so long ago. We’ll be anxious to see how it’s developed.
A historic occasion
History will be made today when Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States.
The number of ways that Trump is an historic first as president will probably be the topic of hundreds of books in the near and distant future. But suffice it to say that his like has never been seen before.
We suspect the same will be said of his Inauguration Day, so we encourage everyone to pull up a chair and enjoy the spectacle, the splendor and the splash as the former reality-TV star begins the most difficult role of his life.
The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to kick off at 9:30 Mountain Time, with Mr. Trump scheduled to take the oath of office around 10 a.m., followed by his inaugural address. A parade and protests will follow, as the United States celebrates its vibrant and vital constitutional republic as only we can do.
We pray, as we know our readers do also, for a peaceful and solemn transfer of power. President Obama has had his chance to serve and shape the nation for eight years. Starting today, President Trump will have his chance, and we encourage everyone to give him a chance. As should be obvious from the arc of his rise to power, he should not be underestimated.