A petition has been started to save the old home of the Museum of North Idaho, which is scheduled to be demolished early next year.
“We lose not only a historic building, but a financial and cultural opportunity for our community,” said Brianna King, petition organizer.
She told the City Council on Tuesday that turning the structure at 115 Northwest Blvd. into more green space, “may seem appealing, but it does not have long-term value.”
King said if the 4,000-square-foot building was preserved and repurposed, it could become a nonprofit children’s museum, attracting guests year-round, adding beauty and character to the city, boosting visitor spending and providing the city with steady income.
“People don’t want this building torn down. They want it to be preserved and put to work for the community,” King said.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the petition on change.org had been signed by 57 people.
The MONI’s former home by City Park has been vacant since last year when a leaky roof problem worsened and high levels of mold were detected in walls.
It was built in the 1960s and was a Cenex gas station for several years. The museum was incorporated in 1968 and in 1979 moved into the remodeled city-owned building, acting as a gateway to downtown.
MONI, seeking a new home, saved the 1902 J.C. White House from demolition six years ago. It raised money to move it to McEuen Park at the base of Tubbs Hill, where it now operates following a renovation.
The chances of saving its old home seem slim.
City Administrator Troy Tymesen said all utilities have been removed, it is set up for any asbestos remediation and it is being used for training by firefighters.
“We plan to take it down in March, weather permitting,” he said
Tymesen said the building was uninhabitable due to mold from water getting through the roof.
“We did our best to keep it operational. Mold is very bad for humans and thus we condemned the building on that front,” he said.
Tymesen said North Idaho College’s maintenance people also inspected the building.
“The cost to remediate the mold, the roof, HVAC, was greater than any kind of return on investments,” he said.
“We gave it a really good look, a thorough analysis for the ‘what ifs,’ but it is well past its prime,” Tymesen said.
Councilor Dan Gookin said per the city’s Four Corners Master Plan, the site would become a parking lot. He credited King for her efforts.
“I do appreciate her passion. We’ll see what comes out of that given the condition of the building. If they wanted to approach council with a bunch of money and keep the thing around that would be up to us,” he said.
Walter Burns, chair of the city’s Historic Preservation Commission, previously told The Press the building “has no historical significance” and considering its age and structural problems, “it needs to come down.”
According to the online petition at change.org., the building is a landmark and could still serve a purpose.
“A children’s museum would provide a safe, fun, and educational space where kids can explore science, art, history, and creativity. Families would have a place to gather year-round, schools could bring students on field trips, and the museum would attract visitors — helping our local businesses thrive,” it said.
“By repurposing this building instead of demolishing it, we can preserve a piece of our town’s history while building something that invests in our future. This is not just about saving a structure; it’s about creating a space that strengthens families, inspires children, and benefits the whole community.”
King said they want the City Council to pause the demolition and give the community time to present a detailed proposal for a children’s museum.
“With your support, we can show that there is strong public interest in making this vision a reality,” the petition said.
Councilor Dan English said he liked the idea of a children’s museum.
He said if it cost as much to remodel the building as it would to build a new one, he would like to see if it could be restored.
“We’ll go for the best use we can,” English said.