The proposed configuration of the mixed-use buildings include: 

• Total Area of Block (approx. 80,000 sq ft)
• Open Space Planned (approx. 30,000 – 35,000 sq ft)
• Retail/Office Planned(approx.10,000 sq ft)
• Residential Planned (approx. 116,000  sq ft)
• Condotel Units
• Fractional Vacation/Condo Units
• Penthouses
• Brownstone Style Permanent Residence Homes
• Employee Housing
• Parking (approx. 100+ spaces underground and on grade)

Project goals include:

• Remediation – In cooperation with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and the Petroleum Tank Release Fund Board, approximately 10,000 yards of contaminated soil has been removed from the southwest portion of the site and replaced with clean fill.  Additional remediation on the western and northwestern portion of the block is expected to begin in late summer.  To date, three sub-standard residential rental properties have been removed.
  
  Recycle – Block 46 will move and donate three houses to the Whitefish Housing Authority Affordable Housing Program.
  
  
• Restoration – We anticipate that project components will utilize green building practices including storm water management, grey water systems, rooftop gardens, solar power units, biofiltration and others wherever and whenever possible.

Principals
Great Northern Ventures, LLC consists of three members:  

• Paul Johannsen is a fourth generation Montanan with 25 years experience in the financial services industry, most recently as President of First Interstate Bank. Paul is on the board of the Whitefish Community Foundation and the North Valley Hospital Foundation Board, as well the Bulldog Booster Board and past Chair of Montana Community Finance Corporation. Mr Johannsen lives in Whitefish with his wife and two children.
  
  
• Mark Kvamme has been a part-time Whitefish resident for nearly ten years. He is currently a partner at Sequoia Capital as well as a Director of Cast Iron Systems, EMN8, Mark Logic, LinkedIn, and StrongMail Systems. He has been active in the Whitefish community serving on the Board of the Whitefish Community Foundation, as well as philanthropic contributions to the Whitefish W.A.V.E., the Bissell/Olney School, Shepard’s Hand Clinic, North Valley Food Bank and Habitat for Humanity. Mr. Kvamme resides in the Bay Area.
  
  
• Richard Fuld Jr. is currently the Chairman and CEO of Lehman Brothers Holding, Inc. He is also chairman of the Lehman Brothers Executive Committee. Mr. Fuld serves on the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of The Partnership for New York City. He is a member of the International Business Council of the World Economic Forum and The Business Council. In addition, he serves on the Board of Trustees of Middlebury College and on the Board of Directors of the Robin Hood Foundation. Mr Fuld resides in New York City.

The Project Planning Team:

Local consultants have been working together since December 2006 on the planning phase of the Block 46 design. They include:

• Paul Johannsen – Manager
  
• Lisa Horowitz/LH Land Use Consulting – Land Use Planner
  
• Eric Mulcahy/Sands Surveying – Land Use Planner
  
• David Koel/CTA Architects and Engineers – Architect
  
• David Mitchell/CTA Architects and Engineers – Architect
  
• Chad Grover/Grover & Company, PLLC – Architect
  
• Ian Collins/Grover & Company, PLLC – Architect
  
• Lisa Jones/LJ Communications, Inc. – PR and Community Outreach
  
• Tom Courtney - Consultant

Community Outreach:

Public outreach has included meetings and request for feedback from residential neighbors, downtown business owners, Heart of Whitefish Board, City of Whitefish Planning and Public Works staff, Whitefish Housing Authority, Whitefish Middle School, 4 Square Church, Whitefish Chamber Board, Whitefish Rotary and the Architectural Review Committee. This public outreach has been a valuable and positive experience as the team evolves in the design planning process.