'Bathtub' parking could be ideal for downtown

The four finalist architects in the City Hall design competition each has their own merits. But the most interesting and most original is the concept presented by CTA of Kalispell.

It proposes a standalone City Hall, which was favored by several members of the City Hall planning committee, together with surface parking, the concept I advocated early on.

The most interesting feature though is the idea of one level of underground parking. As Mike Jenson pointed out, this level could handle the parking needs of City Hall staff as well as leased spaces for Central Avenue business employees, leaving surface parking for shoppers and diners.

Known as the “raft” concept, or more popularly as the “bathtub” foundation, it may just be the ideal solution to the parking problem rather than a massive, obtrusive structure.

It will be important that the new members of the city council include this idea in their decision making. After all, it was a tie vote by the previous council when the plan for the parking structure was voted upon many months ago. It would present a friendly, open space as a fitting setting for our new City Hall.

— George S. Gardner