Railroad District neighbors air concerns

Several residents and property owners addressed the Whitefish City Council on April 6 about their concerns over the future of Whitefish's downtown Railroad District.

BNSF Railway's talks with property owners in recent months has raised speculation about whether real estate in the up-and-coming neighborhood may be impacted by an underground plume of spilled diesel fuel possibly migrating from the adjacent railyard.

Jan Metzmaker said Conductor's Row, the new mixed-use development where the Whitefish Convention and Visitor Bureau and Whitefish Housing Authority share an office, could be threatened.

Lisa Jones, whose public relations office is located in the Railroad District, said she was concerned about "missing facts' and pollution lawsuits elsewhere in the state involving BNSF Railway.

"Is this just the beginning?" she asked. "Will BNSF buy up downtown?"

Craig Prather, whose Great Northern Cycles shop is located inside the Railroad District, noted that the city's Downtown Master Plan includes promoting development in the neighborhood between Baker Avenue and Whitefish River.

Prather said 34,000 square feet of mixed-use space was recently built in the Railroad District, along with a lot of remodeling. He said 13 new businesses have come to the neighborhood, and erosion of the area will impact city tax revenue.

Although BNSF Railway has only contacted a few property owners, their action has created fear and could bring development to a standstill, Prather said.

Henry Roberts, of ZaneRay Group, a Web design company with offices and several rental properties in the Railroad District, asked the city to form a committee to look into the matter.

Roberts said BNSF Railway contacted his company about one of their properties but wouldn't say why they wanted to buy the land.

Councilor John Muhlfeld said he wanted to get involved and see what he could do for Railroad District businesses, property owners and residents. The council gave him the go-ahead.