SANDPOINT - Panhandle State Bank announced last week it will demolish the final two structures on its leased property on the corner of Fourth and Oak streets.

The land originally housed two residential structures and several restaurants, including Bab's Pizza and Cricket Original BBQ. Three buildings have already been taken off the site, and the remaining two structures will be disposed of by the middle of December, leaving open space between the alley and PSB facilities, said the bank's senior vice president Travis Kaul.

Kaul said the buildings will be removed because they constitute a public safety hazard.

No plans have been made for the vacant land, and Kaul said there is no timetable for a decision on how best to use the property, though he said nothing will happen this year.         

A number of community activists have argued that trees located on the site - specifically a large red maple - constitute historical landmarks and should remain standing. At least five area residents spoke at November's City Council meeting about adopting a heritage tree program in the city, which would help keep the trees in place. Kaul said every effort will be made to safeguard the trees during the deconstruction process and with any future projects.  

The lot next to the vacant land is currently being used for employee and customer parking,  but Kaul said that does not necessarily mean the newly-vacated land would also be used for parking.

A proposed ordinance making its way through city government aimed at doing away with parking requirements for downtown businesses would likely affect the number of spaces PSB is required to offer, but Kaul said the ordinance will not factor into the bank's decision about how best to use the property.

"That is not weighing into our decision at this time. Right now our decision is to make that area  as beautiful as we possibly can," Kaul said. "There's not a value in those buildings, so let's clean it up and, depending on what we want to do, that aspect is out of the way whatever we decide to do with that area."

Any salvageable material will be donated to Habitat for Humanity for resale at Sandpoint's ReStore.