Old high school project underway

A lease agreement was approved for the old high school building during a Libby School Board meeting on Tuesday.

The school board voted unanimously on Tuesday, Sept. 18 to sell the old high school building to a Kalispell developer. The decision was made to sell the building after much discussion by the board.

Eric Berry, the project manager for the renovation project, was instrumental in the successful East Side Brick project in Kalispell. Berry works with DEV Properties in Kalispell.

Berry has begun working on the project and will be fencing off certain areas of the building while demolition work is being completed. There have been problems with individuals around the building site, sitting on steps and smoking near the building, according to Libby Supintendent Kirby Maki.

"We're looking at a lease to keep people away from the building," Maki continued. "We need to ensure liability on both parties."

Currently, the building is undergoing due diligence, with Berry double checking the structural integrity of the building and ensuring the likelihood of the restoration of the building. The closing date on the project is Jan. 2, 2008, Maki said.

The process is still in the design phase and Berry is currently looking at windows and doors.

"We're doing the exploratory stuff in the building right now," Berry said.

One area of the building is currently blocked off with posts, plastic netting and no trespassing signs.

"The old high school is no longer public property," said board member Paula Darko-Hensler during the Tuesday meeting. "It now belongs to a private party."

Construction may begin as early as January or February after Berry has met with the Libby City Council. Berry is currently waiting for preliminary plans before he makes an appointment with the city council.

Plans for the old high school building include first-floor office space with 14 commercial offices. There are also plans for nine top floor condominiums, ranging in price from $129,000 to $209,500. Artists' live/work space and a cafe are also included in the plans.

"This is going to be a wonderful project," Darko-Hensler said. "It's important to maintain a good relationship with the community."