SPIRIT LAKE - More funding to help restore the 102-year-old Woolen Brown Center may finally be on its way.

The Spirit Lake City Council is exploring whether to amend the existing urban renewal district - which expires next year - or create a new one to generate funds to preserve the historic former elementary school.

"Our goal is to put the former grade school back into use," said Joy Porter, a city council member who also serves on the historic preservation commission and historical society. "It's a good, sturdy building."

The 10,000-square-foot brick building between the Spirit Lake Library and the community center has been vacant for about 15 years. The building is also referred to as the Civic Center.

The council has asked consultant Nancy Mabile to look into which option - amending the district or creating a new one - is the best route.

Before Mabile left Panhandle Area Council last November, she was administrator for the Spirit Lake Urban Renewal Agency and secured an Idaho Community Development Block Grant to fund the town's downtown revitalization project.

Mabile, who attended last week's council meeting to answer questions, referred to the city attorney for questions on URD law.

"Pending the attorney's opinion, I told them they might be able to extend the life of the existing district by 10 years and possibly change the boundaries, keeping the district value at less than 10 percent of the entire city," Mabile said. "Or they can go ahead and close this district and go to the voters to create a new district for up to a 20-year life."

Porter said volunteers have been cleaning the Woolen Brown Center as the preservation commission explores possible funding sources.

"It will be a while before someone can move in," she said.

Porter said urban renewal funding would open the door to finding matching funds for grants.

"When you don't have money, you can't look for a match," she said.

In most urban renewal districts, a proponent or developer will use its own funds to install public infrastructure or make improvements to blighted areas. The incremental taxes paid based on the higher assessed values after development are remitted to the urban renewal agency and, in turn, are paid back to the proponent/developer as reimbursement for the improvements.

The city, which acquired the Woolen Brown Center from the Lakeland Joint School District, earlier provided the volunteer Woolen Brown Committee $20,000 to find matching grant funds.

Another $9,000 came from the estate of former Spirit Lake resident Jim Brown Sr.

Brown and Mildred Woolen - who the building is named after - were residents interested in seeing the building restored.

The Idaho Historical Society earlier estimated the total cost to restore the building to its original condition would be $1 million. However, architect Dick Prine said he believes $500,000 would make it habitable and "reasonably close" to its original condition.

The building holds a lot of character from yesteryear, including the wooden staircase, blackboards, lunch counter and hallway closets.

The structure was also formerly occupied by a Head Start program, but has only been used for storage in recent years.

Volunteers have said that they hope to get a portion of the building restored so community groups can meet there or special events can be hosted. Fees from such functions could then, in turn, help fund the restoration.

The building was earlier denied admission to the National Register of Historic Places because it has been expanded.

Spirit Lake's existing urban renewal district is funding improvements for the city's new Fireside Park. The soft opening will be June 26. After the Fourth of July Parade, an antique fire truck will give people rides to the park. Construction on the permanent restrooms at the park is expected to start this fall.