Caboose update

In response to those who are concerned about the Red Caboose diner, the city's architectural review committee has told me the caboose is in substantial compliance with the design plans the city approved.

I arranged a meeting with Richard Kramer, the builder of the caboose, and Scott Elden, who designed of the exterior of The Wave, and Richard Smith, a Whitefish architect.

Mr. Kramer was gracious and cooperative in explaining his vision of what the building will become, and in listening to the concerns that citizens have expressed to me regarding the final look of the diner.

The diner will have a canopy out to the curb, making it look more like a railway car than it does now. Railway memorabilia, some of it donated by the Stumptown Historical Society, will decorate the building inside and out. The light-colored portion of the building to the north of the caboose will be painted a color that will better blend in with surrounding buildings.

Mr. Kramer intends to operate the diner 24/7 and will be providing his employees with medical benefits and paid vacations. He was open to the design ideas suggested during our meeting.

Also, he agreed to hold off on painting the final coat of paint on the exterior until the last, and use professional assistance in selecting a final color. Hopefully, it will be a toned-down red, which both gives the feel of a railway car and yet blends in with the Central Avenue color scheme.

Nick Palmer

Whitefish city councilor