Lakefront condos planned for land west of City Beach

A triplex is set to be built on the lakefront lot just west of City Beach.

Trees have been cleared from the wooded corner at Oregon Avenue and Woodland Place, and building plans have been submitted to the city by local developer Rob Pero.

Plans are to construct three condos on one lot and a single-family residence on the other.

The city of Whitefish has eyed the land for many years as a way to expand City Beach and ease congestion at the popular city park.

In 2007, Whitefish voters rejected a $3.2 million bond election to purchase the 0.44 acres with 100 feet of lakeshore. The bond was turned down with a 3-2 margin.

The city had no tax-increment financing funds available at the time, so it proposed a 13.94 mill levy to pay for the property. That translated into about $93 per year on a median-priced $325,000 home.

In 2008, former city attorney John Phelps again brought up the possibility of buying the property after the real estate market softened, but city councilors voted against exploring the option.

The city discussed buying the land again in 2010 when the property was listed at $2 million. At the time, some councilors thought the price might drop even lower.

Pero purchased and subdivided the land last year. He says he presented the city with an option to buy a portion of the lot for added parking or more park space.

“They said they had no interest,” Pero said.

City Beach is the second most used park in Whitefish according to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The plan notes a lack of parking and park overuse as two areas of concern at City Beach.

The new condos are planned to be about 1,700 square feet each, and are priced from $599,000 to $895,000. Each condo has large windows facing the lake and access to a boat dock.

Construction is slated to begin this summer.