Kalispell awarded grant to showcase historic district

The city of Kalispell was awarded $15,000 last week to create historic district design guidelines through the Montana Department of Commerce’s Main Street Program. The program awarded a total of $118,000 to nine Montana communities for downtown revitalization projects.

The Kalispell Downtown Business Improvement District and the Architectural Review Committee will use the money to develop design guidelines for historic downtown buildings.

“It’s one of the items that we have long wanted to address,” Business Improvement District Executive Coordinator Pam Carbonari said.

She said there are more than 55 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places throughout downtown Kalispell and this is a big step towards preserving those structures. “It is important that we help to give guidance to property owners,” she noted.

The funds will be used to hire a firm to set standards to guide property owners when they are renovating their historic buildings. Carbonari explained these standards have been part of the Kalispell Downtown Plan “for a long time,” and “it was also a priority for the Business Improvement District.” But there were obstacles with budgets and competing priorities that prevented the guidelines from ever being set.

The Main Street Program will finally pave the way for this development for the downtown Kalispell area. Carbonari expects the guidelines to hopefully be set sometime in 2020, and the district likely will add contributions in addition to the grant funding.

She said the earlier they can get this framework in place, the better, since construction is only increasing around the valley. “The more assistance we can give will be a benefit to everybody,” she commented. She said it would be especially helpful if they can provide guidelines at the beginning of the construction process.

Only communities that are part of the Main Street Program are eligible for grants, which are awarded to towns with strong collaborative partnerships and a demonstrated commitment to community planning efforts. Kalispell apparently stood out, since the intention to establish the historic guidelines has been part of the city’s Core Area Plan, Downtown Plan and Growth Policy for a long time. Kalispell also has been a member of the Main Street Program for 10 years and has received previous grants through the program.

“We’re excited that we’re being given this opportunity to get some financial assistance and get this off the ground,” Carbonari said.

The city of Libby was also awarded $8,000 through the program to complete a preliminary architectural report for the historic Libby Hotel.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at bserbin@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.