SANDPOINT — The city is moving forward with its plan to expand the Bridge Street sidewalk after reaching an agreement with Bridge Street LLC. 

The project’s future was in doubt following a 4-2 decision by the City Council to deny a land use agreement between the two parties in early January. However, Mayor Jeremy Grimm said he continued to have discussions with the property owner and has come to an access agreement, which will allow the project to begin. 

Grimm said the agreement does not need council approval because it does not encumber any public assets or public property. 

"The access agreement is more of a technicality, which lets us go into the hole in the ground and actually build,” Grimm said. “There’s not land use agreement in the sense that he needs anything from us that would require dedication of land, title or record easements.” 

A significant reason for the council’s denial of the land use agreement was the property owner’s previous request that the city commit to maintaining vehicular access to Gunnings Alley from the north. Grimm said the city will always require vehicular access to the ally to allow firetrucks and utility vehicles to get back there. 

“Having gone over the details on the future and how Farmin’s Landing is going to function, we were able to reach an agreement,” Grimm said. “I think the property owner was relieved to see that, barring some very strange occurrence, vehicles will always be able to access the back of that landing.” 

The expansion work and contract with Big Sky ID Corp were approved by the council in late 2025. During the council discussion at the Jan. 7 meeting, numerous people said the number owed to the contractor would have been a “large sum” although councilors and Grimm avoided giving a specific amount. 

The project will expand the sidewalk from 6 to 12 feet wide by building a retaining wall that pushes the sidewalk back to the property line. The city estimates the project will cost $396,672 and will be funded primarily by a $385,102 performance security given to the city by Bridge Street LLC with the rest of the project being funded by the Resort City Sidewalk Fund. 

In addition to the expansion, Grimm said the city will be pulling up the rusted sheet piling that blocks view of the empty lot and adding a railing to the sidewalk. He added this project was an important one because of the sidewalk’s heavy use during the summer, as the city’s only pedestrian path to City Beach. 

Grimm said the project will start “immediately” and the city has an expectation that it will be completed before the annual “Lost in the ‘50s” event, which is set for May 14-16. 

"It’s been an eyesore since the building burnt down and long overdue to try and improve both our function and appearance of our downtown,” Grimm said. “I’m excited to see the work completed and make sure that our residents and visitors can safely get to the beach.”