Historic Libby High School to be sold to Developer Eric Berry
School Board votes unanimously for sale
by KLCB 1230 AM Libby News Radio
September 20, 2007
The Libby School Board has voted unanimously to sell the Historic Libby High School to Kalispell developer Eric Berry. Berry had presented the board with a buy-sell agreement to purchase the structure for $150-thousand dollars.
Berry plans to renovate the long-empty building on Lincoln Boulevard into nine high-end condominiums, professional office space, and artist live-work suites. The plan includes a restaurant.
Berry is the most recent of developers sought out by the Friends of Historic Libby High School to put forth a similar redevelopment plan for the Libby icon. Previous developers were Conover Bond of Spokane, Bryan Scott, an investor with Berry in the Kalispell East Side Brick redevelopment of the former Kalispell Hospital and East Court House building into high-end condos, and now Berry.
Reportedly, one of the condominiums is already spoken for, as is at least one of the professional spaces. It is expected that the space will sell out before completion, as did the Kalispell East Side Brick redevelopment. According to Berry, urban living facilities, such as this, are in demand in Montana.
60 percent of the redevelopment work is expected to be done by local contractors and tradesmen. Work is to begin following a ninety day due diligence period, which will begin immediately.
The Friends of Historic Libby High School had offered the schools $100-thousand dollars for the building years ago. The price became one of several sticking points. The schools had wanted $350-thousand initially.
In other action, the school board appointed Paula Darko Hensler to the board filling a seat left vacant by the resignation of Kate Huntsberger. Hensler, a former teacher in the Libby Public Schools and former State Legislator, will serve until May, when she will have to run for election to hold the seat.
There will be two additional seats open on the school board in the spring election.
Story by KLCB 1230 AM Libby News Radio, www.todaysbestcountryonline.com
|
