Whitefish is seeking bids to purchase and remove up to six buildings and other material on a piece of property donated to the city for a future public park.
City Manager Chuck Stearns said the city is inviting sealed bids from anyone who might want to purchase any of the buildings and either move them off the property or salvage materials, such as barn wood, from the buildings and salvage the contents.
Last year the city received a generous donation of a 4-acre parcel of land on West Seventh Street from the estate of James Bakke. Bakke donated the land hoping it would remain as a “natural park” close to its current condition, Stearns said. The city is removing buildings on the property to make it more like a park. There are also materials on site, such as magazine collections dating back to the 1950s.
Bids are not due until Jan. 21. On Monday, Jan. 11, the city is hosting an open house at the property, 611 West Seventh Street, starting at 10 a.m. Prospective bidders or other interested people are invited to attend the open house so they can see the inside of the house and the trailer. All buildings will be open for inspection and viewing. City staff will be present to answer questions about the buildings and answer questions about the bidding process.
There are eight buildings on the property, but only six are being sold. Stearns said the city plans to keep two buildings as park sheds.
There are no minimum bids on each building. The city desires prompt payment and may take into account promptness offered by each bidder in determining the highest and best bid.