Parkline Towers apartment project underway in Kalispell

Jun. 22—Developers broke ground on the Parkline Towers apartment complex in Kalispell on Tuesday, the project promising to add much-sought multi-family housing when completed.

The development's two buildings, located at 820 E. Idaho St., will each stand four stories tall and contain an expected 224 apartments between them. Developer Brent Brown hopes to be renting them out by 2025.

The buildings will feature 122 one-bedroom, 86 two-bedroom and 16 three-bedroom rental units. Brown believes the apartments will be ideal for young professionals and families.

Brown touted planned amenities like a dog park, fitness center and co-working space on the site as well as its proximity to other benefits such as the city's multi-use Parkline Trail.

"There are a lot of people who work from home and if you can work, exercise and do it all from here that's ideal," Brown said.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Kalispell Chamber of Commerce President Lorraine Clarno celebrated the project, citing the need for housing in the area.

"Affordable and attainable housing is so important to our community," she said in front of a row of shovels and earth-moving equipment.

Brown would not estimate rental rates at the complex, saying that it's too early in the construction process to say. He did point to the Meridian Apartments, also owned and operated by his companies, as a comparison, though the apartment complexes differ in layout and size.

Located on Meridian Court on the city's westside, Meridian Apartments rental website lists one-bedroom apartments from $1,250 per month and two-bedrooms starting at $1,650.

Parkline Towers will be connected to the city sewer system under Seventh Avenue East North and a water main under East Idaho Street, according to Doug Peppmeier, civil engineer with TD&H Engineering. There will be street access from both sides, and the Seventh Avenue exit will be a right-turn only access point.

The work may require some traffic rerouting, Peppmeier said, though he didn't expect either street to close during construction.

Brown said he had hoped to begin construction about this time last year, but that redesigns were necessary to comply with city design standards and the Planning Department's vision for the site.

Reporter Adrian Knowler can be reached at 758-4407 or aknowler@dailyinterlake.com.