Clearing the Way for a Trail on the Bay

We've been getting a lot of questions about the recent real estate deal involving the trail.

Some folks think that the shoreline trail is now, and always will be, public. Others have heard that the purchased property wasn't appraised, or that the property doesn't even have the trail on it!

Here are a few facts: 

• The recent purchase of 200 feet of waterfront by the City of Sandpoint was the first of four parcels to be sold over four years by the Hall family. Altogether, the property stretches across nearly a mile of waterfront in Sandpoint and Ponderay. Each parcel is a different length and size, but each was priced the same, at $400,000.
• The purchase of the first parcel included a lease/option to buy the remaining parcels. That means they are now open to the public, though still privately owned. The intent of the agreement was to transfer the option to buy to Ponderay in 2013 for the purchases of the third and fourth parcels.
• The Friends of the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail has agreed to raise the money for the fourth parcel and kicked off its three-year capital campaign at the Sip ‘n Shop on Nov. 30.
  
• If the parcels are not purchased, the deal is off, and the remaining parcels may no longer have public access.
  
• The waterfront purchased by Sandpoint was appraised at more than $500,000 by a reputable local appraiser.
• The Concept Plan approved by the cities in 2010 didn't show the trail along the recently purchased parcel only because the Hall family at the time planned to build on the property and had no intention to sell.
• The existing trail crosses all four parcels that are included in the deal, as well as some railroad right-of-way. Getting a permanent easement across that right-of-way is a priority for the community partners in this project.
  

After four years, this spectacular length of waterfront will be secured and momentum created for the final push to connect the trail into Ponderay's neighborhoods.

The purchase of waterfont property for a shoreline trail is an investment in the future of Bonner County. Not only will the eventual trail be a draw for visitors and transplants alike, but a recent study shows that trails improve the property value of land around them.

If this didn't answer your questions, give me a call at (208) 265-9565!