A 2-acre tract of county land north of the Flathead County Fairgrounds is the best option for construction of a new Agency on Aging facility, a preliminary architectural report has recommended.

The report was completed by Kenneth Huff of Architects Design Group and is a requirement for a $450,000 Community Development Block Grant the county is pursuing to help pay for a new building to house services provided by the Agency on Aging.

The commissioners will meet with county grantwriter Debbie Pierson at 9:30 a.m. today to go over the architectural report that studied two county-owned sites: The property north of the fairgrounds and a dozen lots south of the Flathead County Courthouse.

The total cost to build an 11,000-square-foot building would be $2.28 million for the lots south of the courthouse and $2.37 million for the site north of the fairgrounds. Most of the cost difference is due to higher estimated site development costs at the fairgrounds-area site for infrastructure such as asphalt, sidewalks, curbs and a water main.

The county is using the city of Kalispell’s slot for the block grant application due May 17. The Kalispell City Council will hold a public hearing on the grant proposal on May 6.

The preliminary architectural report sets the stage for determining the need for a new Agency on Aging facility. It addresses health and safety concerns, facility operation and maintenance, growth projections and an evaluation of the existing facility.

For the past 10 years the county has rented a building on Kelly Road and in recent years has paid Alpine Business Center $52,000 a year.

“From the moment the AOA moved into the building at 160 Kelly Road it was assumed the location would be temporary while a better location was developed,” the report notes. “Multiple investigations were conducted over the years while looking at a dizzying array of options. Therefore, AOA finds itself in a building that is too small and ill-suited to its current and future mission.

“The mounting safety and health code issues can no longer be ignored,” the report further said. “It is critical that AOA move forward with a new facility.”

The lots south of the courthouse are clustered in an L shape, with eight lots along South Main Street and four along First Avenue West. The property fronting Main Street has been proposed for the building, with the other lots for parking. The site — slightly less than 1 acre — falls within the special parking zone for the city of Kalispell and is eligible for a 50 percent reduction in the amount of required parking.

Preliminary site plans show 53 parking spaces for the courthouse-area lots and 85 spaces at the property north of the fairgrounds. 

While the courthouse-area lots are capable of supporting the building proposed at this time, future expansion will be limited by the ability to purchase and demolish adjacent buildings for additional square footage and additional parking, the report said.

The site north of the fairgrounds is outside the special parking zone and is required to provide parking at 100 percent of the requirements. It’s located near several assisted living communities and the Gateway Community Center that houses many community service organizations such as United Way, Flathead Food Bank and Summit Independent Living, the report said.

The fairground-area site offers ample space for this proposed building as well as future expansion, including required parking, the report stated.

The commissioners have yet to decide where to build the new facility.

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