First Best Place looks to buy old First Citizen's Bank

By HEIDI DESCH / Hungry Horse News

The First Best Place Task Force is looking at purchasing the old First Citizen's Bank building on Nucleus Avenue.

Barry Conger, Task Force organizer, said the group expects to close on the purchase in early 2008.

Glacier Bank Corp. announced plans in 2006 to purchase Citizen's Development Co., which was the holding company operating First Citizen's Bank. Since the purchase, the First Citizen's building has not been in use.

"We've been in negotiations to purchase the building," Conger said last week. "We have a tentative agreement."

The building, tentatively being called the "Gateway Center," could be open as soon as spring of next year.

"Our goal is to have a world-class interactive facility," Conger said.

He said the group is looking at a number of options for the building with the plan of having it open year round.

"We plan to establish an education, visitor center focusing on Glacier National Park and outdoor recreation," Conger said.

The hope is that it might house a number of Glacier National Park non-profit organizations, including the Glacier Park Fund, the Glacier History Association or the Glacier Institute.

Conger said there will also be the possibility of having historic displays and educational classrooms.

There would be static displays and also interactive computer kiosks.

Conger said a tentative agreement and financing package on the purchase had been reached.

He noted that the Task Force is also looking at getting the city or Flathead County involved in the building through public ownership or participation.

Several organizations have discussed purchasing the building.

Conger said the feeling is that with the Task Force owning the building, a number of groups could all come together under one roof.

A meeting for further discussion on the purchase was held early this week.

Dave Renfrow, who co-chairs the Task Force with Conger, said the meeting was positive.

He said County Commissioner Gary Hall and State Sen. Dan Weinberg both attended.

"Having their input was great," he said. "Public-private partnerships are a success today."

The Task Force organized last spring. A number of people are involved in the group which has several goals, one of which has been to create such a visitor center. The group also has plans to create a trail system and market Columbia Falls.

For more information on the Task Force contact Conger at 250-6100.