Substantial work needed on donated railway homes

At least one of the Railway District

homes donated by BNSF Railway to the Whitefish Housing Authority is

habitable. The other two will likely need extensive remodels.

Housing Authority director SueAnn

Grogan said the larger house at 26 O’Brien Avenue could be occupied

right away. The smaller homes on First Street need work.

“One of them perhaps substantial work,”

Grogan said. “Some need paint and flooring, some need more

extensive repairs.”

Contractors have estimated remodels to

cost between $35,000 and $75,000. All three of the homes currently

have their doors boarded up.

Grogan says they are considering

renting the homes, but first the housing authority is planning to

bring in a consultant to help develop a five-year plan for

affordable rentals. A major part of that plan will be the future of

the Railway District homes.

“In the short term, is it feasible to

rehabilitate and occupy those homes?” Grogan questions. “Does it

pay back enough to fix them up?”

The long term plan depends on

redevelopment in the neighborhood, she said.

There will be a public process as the

authority decides how to go forward with a rental plan.