Comments on: What’s Next for Kalispell?
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By hotfishmt on 09-05-12 @ 6:45 am
Morbid….MORBID…is a great name for the “Mission Mountain Railroad”. Given the pitiful little under powered diesel black smoking old worn out thing called a engine. Early this week…..poor
thing came chugging up the tracks about as fast a riding mower. It was puffing for all its worth,and
pouring out LOTS of black smoke from both exhause stacks….and to make things worse….the
OLD ENGINE….was pulling some 35 cars.
I can only guess what a nightmare it was in town, when the poor little over worked under powered
caused when it came crawiling through downtown Kalispell. I watched it go North on the tracks to
Columbia Falls….and I am sure it caused a large delay in C. Falls too. The MMR is pulling way too
many loaded grain cars for the “downtown area”.
I see no reason for the hand me down railroad NOT TO USE….LESS CARS,
...... given the condition & speed of the small black locomotive…..IT NEEDS THE REBUILD
SHOP…...real bad. Its plain an simple a HAZARD & SAFETY RAILROAD.
By hotfishmt on 09-05-12 @ 6:46 am
OOPS…just read what I posted…made some spelling errors…sorry.
By MontanaTrace on 09-05-12 @ 7:47 am
Seen it happen. When the shopping moves outside of town, downtown dies. Revitalize it or loseit. Bring interesting, specialty shopping to town, with a unique and an inviting look. Make it
fun and pretty. Kalispell is losing downtown business. Businesses are closing and/or relocating.
If the mall is ever a subject again, downtown is doomed. Wanna stop a new mall from killing the
City? Beat ‘em to the punch, while there are at least still some downtown shopping draws. Then,
find incentives to bring in specialty shoppes, bistros, music, entertainment arcade….....build
an outdoor mall. Create night shopping, shoes, fashion, wine bistros, deli dining with
entertainment. Lots of unique lighting. Even Whitefish will come down and so will the Canadians.
By brokenbutcher on 09-05-12 @ 12:02 pm
upon re routing traffic with the 93 by pass, downtown has been robbed of the traffic thatbrought folks in. and until you somehow remove this drunk driving epidemic so pedestrains dont
get picked off one by one downtown and the youth there find something else to do besides shop
lift,any revitalization is just another way to put pretty wrapping paper on an all ready tainted
gift.
By Mtlocal on 09-05-12 @ 12:50 pm
I agree that Kalispell needs revitializing but spending tax money to do it is a step in thewrong direction.
Why not make it a place where business can afford to have their business on main street.
When I drive down main and see all the closed shops makes me think this town is dying.
This isnt helped by the high taxes they have to pay for being in Kalispell. I thought Kalispell
is broke…
Is this how they want to spend their money?
The truth is the enocomy is changing look at Costco and walmarts parking lots. How does a local
business compete?
They have to inovate. Loved the article
http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/time_to_recognize_who_creates_jobs/29438/
There are still some great shop on main but how can people find out about them? Is there a
place to park? Do they know about great places like RMO, Sweet Peaks, Wheat Montana, Colters
Coffee, Jack and Jills, etc. Why not use this money advertising
for these businesses on the enroute to Kalispell(billboards)?
By mttvguy on 09-06-12 @ 11:18 am
Missoula, Bozeman, Helena, Livingston, Whitefish, Bigfork, to name a few…. All of these places have vibrant downtown areas. They all figured it out, why can’t we?
By MontanaTrace on 09-06-12 @ 11:55 am
Last time I was in Great Falls, it was having a Kalispell like problem. That was some years ago.Have they turned it around? If so, how?
By Am Trans on 09-07-12 @ 6:30 pm
I tried the whole Shop Local thing for a few years but recently when one of my favorite stores closed I realized it was futile. It has to get more popular. Since I still hate the huge box stores and won’t go to
most of them most of my shopping is online now. Kalispell just doesn’t have what we need anymore,
selection is dismal at the specialty shops that used to be my favorite. I agree with those who say that
part of the downtown revitalization has got to include a sports center. Let’s get the YMCA going!!
By hotfishmt on 09-10-12 @ 11:10 am
Going back to my statment about the “sorry” locomotive engine pulling very long trains through Kalispell….it would help downtown a lot…IF…the sorryful railroad pulled less car inside the city
limits…and make for less hangups while shopping downtown…for sure.
One day a fire or accident on the wrong side of the East & West tracks & a long, slow moving,
snails pace of a train will make for nasty results….when no fire or related agencies need to get
around the “SORRY TRAIN”. Maybe a new name for the “railroad”...like Mission Snail Pace
Railroad.
The views expressed in the comments section do not reflect those of the Beacon.