First Best Place buys former First Citizens Bank building

By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News

Discovery Square. No, it's not something you'll see on the Discovery Channel. But Glacier Discovery Square can now be found here at home as the First Best Place Task Force continues its effort to revitalize "uptown" Columbia Falls.

The Task Force closed escrow on the purchase of the former First Citizens Bank building from Glacier Bank. The facility is located at 540 Nucleus Ave., where Glacier Bank still uses the drive-up facility for convenient banking.

According to FBPTF Executive Director Barry Conger, the group plans to create a community center in the building. It will facilitate a new home for the Columbia Falls branch of the Flathead County Library, currently located at City Hall. The building will also incorporate historic displays, highlighting the community's connection to the outdoors, and housing an archive "aimed to protect, preserve and share the area's colorful local history," Conger said.

The Task Force has been working with Glacier Bancorp for several months on the acquisition, entering into a contract in October of 2007.

"Glacier has been a wonderful partner in this effort," Conger said. "They have been very generous in the purchase terms. They have been patient and flexible as we built our fundraising and put our offer together, and they have mentored us in many instances along the way. This would not have happened without their commitment, support and generosity."

Glacier Chief Executive Officer Bob Nystuen has played an important role in the deal.

"One of the most important things to us when Glacier purchased the First Citizens group of banks was that building to remain open and part of the community," Nystuen said. "We are thrilled to be able to be part of this effort. This is a great use of this property, and a great project for Columbia Falls."

"He's had the wisdom in seeing this," Task Force steering committee member Dave Renfrow said of Nystuen.

THE TASK FORCE HAS raised about $500,000 to go toward the purchase of what is now Glacier Discovery Square.

"We have been overwhelmed by the support for this project from many levels," said Eileen McDowell, Task Force treasurer. "Whitefish Credit Union has been incredibly helpful with financing terms, and people from all over the Valley have willingly offered their financial support. We are now moving into the next phase of our fundraising campaign to raise funds for development of the Center."

City Manager Bill Shaw, the Task Force's vice president, was part of the acquisition team — with the purchase price in the neighborhood of $465,000.

Conger said the county library system has pledged a portion of its building fund toward the building, with assistance from county library director Kim Crowley. The local library foundation, headed by director Stewart Harvey, is also supporting the purchase. Relocation of the Columbia Falls branch library to Glacier Discovery Square is about a year away, he said. It will be called the Library at Discovery Square.

There are 8,600 square feet of space in the Discovery Square building — 6,100 upstairs and 2,500 on the lower level. The library will encompass the entire ground floor, allowing the library to expand from its current 4,300 square feet of space to 6,100, according to Conger. He said there is discussion of expanding the content of the library.

Another advantage of the relocation is that the current site has no private meeting space, and there will be lots of community space on the lower level at Discovery Square.

"We are willing to host events over the next few months," Conger said. "We'd like to keep the facility vibrant."

Conger said there is plenty of room to grow at Discovery Square, and that growth will be in phase two. FBPTF is leasing the banking drive-up back to Glacier Bank for its use over the next two to three years.

DISCOVERY SQUARE WILL PROVIDE a Glacier National Park connection, with "bits and pieces" of nature's wonderland in the facility. There will be some elements involving technology, some of them relating to the Park.

The building has long been considered the "center" of the community, according to Conger. The townsite of Columbia Falls was founded around the block upon which the building stands. For many decades is served as a gathering place, a venue for music and other events. The Bank of Columbia Falls building continued to function as the default community center after its construction on the square in 1965 by the Edmistons. Darrell Olson with the Bank of Columbia Falls and later Don Bennett with First Citizens Bank continued the tradition. Glacier Bank vowed to ensure the continuance when it took ownership of the building in 2006.

The Task Force will be unveiling the overall plans for Glacier Discovery Square during the Heritage Days festival the weekend of July 27-29. In the meantime, Discovery Square will be the site of a Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours on Thursday, July 10. The event begins at 5 p.m.