Community Makeover

It's time----for historical purposes----to note the progress in Sandpoint's extreme makeover.

Nobody that I know of filled out an application to ABC Network for this to happen to our town, and we're not being on a week's vacation to paradise while it all occurs. But it's happening so quickly, I'm sure if I were gone for just one week, the transformation would be very dramatic upon my return.

So, here's what I've noticed.

• The barn at the Upper Tibbs place is slowly disintegrating in a north-to-south route. About one fourth of the aluminum roofing and the boards beneath have gradually disappeared. I've not yet seen anyone performing this methodical roof-ectomy, but it's becoming more and more invasive to the grand old structure.
  
• Those ugly piles of muck at the place across from Roberson's on Boyer have been spread out like cake frosting across the former hay field. A roadway through the center of the field is taking shape, and a sign in the construction pen reads "Grand View Estates," promising 12 new homes.
  
• The Roberson's new, tall red fence at their home across the road from the developing subdivision should now shield them from having to look at it all.
• Yesterday two cranes hung out behind our barn, and they weren't birds. They're the kind with tall towers and cable. They started work at about 6:30 a.m., and when they shut down about 12 hours later, a series of metal trusses for the south half of Quest's 56,000 square foot building had been locked into place. By tomorrow evening, we'll know just how much of our Cabinet Mountains view will be forever obstructed from the kitchen window.
  
• The Louisiana Pacific Mill on North Boyer has been completely cleared to the pavement. Now when we drive down Boyer, we can see the backs of the Quality Inn, Serva Burger and several other businesses lining North 5th Avenue. Speculation still abounds around town about who will assume ownership of this huge expanse of prime commercial property inside the city limits.
• I'm guessing that by May the Panhandle Milling elevator on Fifth Avenue will be but a memory. They're still disassembling the lower part of the building. A large office building is springing up behind the old grain store. I've heard it's for an insurance agency.
  
• Several tall, skinny box houses in the north part of town are now completed and occupied.
  
• The only remaining vestiges of the Lakeside Motel are several slabs of concrete.
• Harold's Super Foods still has doors open, but they're getting down to 50 percent off on everything in the store. I heard there will be an auction in the next few weeks to clear it all out. Then, Panhandle State Bank will be able to start its new office complex on that spot. Gail Lyster, a local tile artist, has done several works and prints in honor of Harolds. She told me she'll be unveiling them April 29 at the Pend Oreille Winery.
  
• I heard yesterday that the lady who owns Trinity, where Bill and I went to lunch, purchased the 219 Lounge.
• I also heard that three individuals purchased the Pastime Cafe and are turning it into a high-end nightclub.

There's much more, but these are the sites I keep a close eye on. I try not to blink for fear of missing segments of this metamorphosis of our community, but sometimes I don't like what I see.