Looking Back: New Downtowner building soars to 45 feet

A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler 

50 Years Ago 

Jan. 22, 1976 

The City of Whitefish is out of the “cemetery business” following a 3-2 vote at the City Council meeting. As City Engineer Dennis Carver presented drawings and costs of a proposed cemetery next to the city Armory, Councilman Roland Newton introduced a motion that the city go out of the “cemetery business.” Alderman Fred Stacey seconded the motion. The prohibitive cost of developing a new cemetery, the cost of actual burial, and the cost of maintaining a cemetery were given as reasons for getting out of the “cemetery business.” 

40 Years Ago 

Jan. 22, 1986 

A request was made by Sterling Investments, Inc. to allow them to build a seven-story convention center on the site of the former Viking Lakeshore Inn instead of the first proposed three-story structure. Hank Starno of Pioneer Venture Group in Whitefish, who was representing the owners, made the request to the city last week. City Manager Jack Arnold forwarded it to the city's planning board. Arnold explained that the height restriction in that resort zone is 35 feet, effectively keeping buildings three stories. Starno said the corporation's designers believed that a seven-story, 72-foot structure is a much better option than the earlier, low sprawling design. Starno explained that with the old design, only about half of the rooms looked over the lake. He said the new taller concept gives all rooms a good view and pulls the building together, allowing more parking on the site and buffering from neighbors. 

30 Years Ago 

Jan. 18, 1996 

The Whitefish City Council narrowly approved the 45-foot height of the proposed new Downtowner building. The 3-4 decision, with a tie-breaking vote cast by Mayor Gary Stevens, ends a month-long debate over whether the proposed four-story building was worth bending Whitefish’s 35-foot building height regulation. All proposed buildings taller than 35 feet must receive a conditional use permit from the city before being constructed. At one point, designs for the Spokane Avenue Condominiums were for a 65-foot structure. Earlier, the building was rejected by the Whitefish City/County Planning Board on the advice of the Whitefish Volunteer Fire Department that said its ladders could only reach 31 feet. 

20 Years Ago 

Jan. 19, 2006 

Two items on the Whitefish City County Planning Board agenda drew attention from Cairo Ave. residents concerned about higher density development in their neighborhood. A subdivision near Seventh Street would bring 10 new homes to the area, and a zone change further south would increase the allowable density on attractive. Land between Karrow Avenue add Lost Coon Lake. In an e-mail to the city planning department, resident Dee Blank described “a long, tired history” of efforts to protect the Karrow Avenue area. "In the 1970s, the neighbors stopped a 72-unit development at South Karrow Estates Road,” she said. “Citizens at the south end of Karrow instituted their own zoning. Starting in 2002, people turned out in large numbers to fight a 57-unit subdivision. We started neighborhood planning meetings in 2003.” 

10 Years Ago 

Jan. 20, 2016 

Plans emerged to resurrect an old favorite Whitefish watering hole. Reisch Family Partnership was seeking a permit to open the Montana Tap House on Wisconsin Avenue in the building that once was home to the popular Dire Wolf bar and restaurant and before that, The Place. Dale Reisch, who owned Marcus Foods, said that Tap House would offer fifty different tap beverages, including a selection of Montana beer, seasonal beers, some wines and even soda. A food menu would be available, with entrees prepared next door at the Alpine Market, which was owned by Reisch's son.