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02/27/2026

“Missoula This Week” is reported and written By Katie Fairbanks. Send your Missoula news and tips to kfairbanks@montanafreepress.org.

Policy’s top priority is sustainable revenue for Affordable Housing Trust Fund

The city plans to adequately fund its Affordable Housing Trust fund and support tenant protections, among other recommendations included in its updated housing policy. 

The Missoula City Council Wednesday voted 10-1 to approve the plan, which is an update to the city’s housing strategy, “A Place to Call Home,” first adopted in 2019. The plan aimed to create a cohesive strategy for the city to address housing barriers and provide incentives to produce homes all Missoulians can afford, Parker Webb, a city housing policy specialist, told the council. 

The city has made progress on many strategies outlined in the 2019 plan, including creating the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, implementing voluntary incentives for affordable housing, annually assessing the city’s housing landscape and being involved in several projects to build or preserve affordable homes, Webb said. 

But in the last six years, finding housing in Missoula has gotten more challenging with wages not keeping up with rising rents and home prices, Webb said. 

The new recommendations took into account the city’s budget constraints, lean into what the city is well-positioned to do and are simpler than the lengthy list of strategies in the original plan, Webb said. 

“There is no silver bullet to addressing the housing crisis,” Webb said. “We’re trying to balance simplification with a myriad of strategies to effectively adapt and respond to changing conditions. The strategies presented in this update are not exhaustive, but … we think the following strategies are the best path forward to make sure the next five years have the most significant strides toward providing safe, diverse and affordable homes for all Missoulians.” 

The plan’s top recommendation is to identify an ongoing and sustainable funding source for the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The fund provides grants for eligible housing projects and is currently funded by an annual allocation from the city council and revenue from city land sales.

“It is very well set up for significant impact once it is significantly and sufficiently funded,” Webb said. “However, at this point it is not sufficiently funded.” 

While the trust fund will get a $4 million boost from the upcoming sale of the Riverfront Triangle property, that revenue will not come in as a lump sum, Webb said. It’s difficult to pin down how much revenue would make the fund “sustainable,” but it needs ongoing, predictable funding to address the city’s housing challenges, he said. The plan recommends exploring other funding sources, including a voluntary fee program on certain business transactions, similar to a 1% assessment in Whitefish, or a ballot initiative, Webb said. 

Another high-priority recommendation is supporting anti-displacement initiatives and tenant protections. The city has a role to play in supporting renters, who make up more than half of Missoula’s population, Webb said. This will likely include providing education for landlords and renters and bringing relevant organizations together, he said. While a tenant-right-to-counsel program is something the city could potentially pursue, the city does not have enough money for that program, Webb said. 

The plan also recommends advancing the mayor’s City Lands Redevelopment initiative to explore how the sale or redevelopment of city properties can support affordable housing projects. It also suggests examining opportunities for infill development on city-owned vacant land. 

Council Member Bob Campbell said he thinks the vast majority of Missoulians can get behind a lot of the plan, but he raised concerns that some of the recommendations would burden taxpayers. Campbell said he opposed a mandatory tax for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and that the city should not get more involved in the real estate and development business. Campbell cast the sole “no” vote against adopting the plan. 

Council Member Kristen Jordan said the recommendations will help provide a social safety net that ultimately saves public dollars.  

“Research shows it costs us more as taxpayers to not look after people than it costs to look after them,” she said. 

By the Numbers 

The median home price for all housing types in the Missoula area in 2025, according to the Five Valleys Housing Report published by the Missoula Organization of Realtors this week. That’s a decrease of 2.2% from the $562,400 median sales price in 2024. Last year was the first time the median sales price decreased since 2010, according to the report. 

The number of home sales increased for the second year in a row, and housing supply has improved overall but varies by neighborhood and price, according to the report.  

The Sxʷtpqyen/Mullan neighborhood saw the highest number of sales, an increase over the previous year, along with a decrease in median price, according to the report. The neighborhood has an oversupply of housing, as an area with a large amount of new construction, said Brint Wahlberg with Windermere Real Estate during a report presentation Wednesday. 

Some other neighborhoods where housing prices are at or below the median, including Lewis and Clark and Lolo, had an undersupply as of the end of 2025, Wahlberg said. 

“We have an increase of buyer activity around more affordable, attainable price points relative to Missoula’s market,” he said. “We’re seeing in some of the neighborhoods, supply is tight. People are trying to get in there as a more competitive area.” 

Read more about the report here. 

Public Notice

The Missoula County commissioners next week will hold a public hearing and consider a developer’s request to rezone the Blackfoot Crossing property in Bonner and for a new subdivision. 

The property’s owner, Gregory Morse, plans to convert the 107-acre site to a mix of commercial, residential, industrial and recreational/open space uses, according to the county. Last year, the commissioners approved changes to the subdivision proposal, formerly known as the West Bonner Log Yard, requested by Morse after he bought the property in 2024.  

Most of the site is currently zoned for industrial use. The commissioners Thursday will consider the developer’s proposal to change the growth policy and zoning to: 

• Commercial Center on the west side of the property to allow for a planned travel plaza. The zoning would also allow other retail, service, food and beverage, motel and office uses.  
• Neighborhood Center for about 42 acres in the middle of the property, which would allow housing, retail and office uses at a minimum density of eight units per acre. 
• Resource and Open Lands for the strip of land along the Blackfoot River. The developer plans to include trail easements to connect to Milltown State Park, nearby neighborhoods and public lands.  

The eastern corner of the property would remain designated as Agricultural Working Lands, and some areas would remain zoned for industrial use. Morse is also proposing a new subdivision on 78 acres not including the western portion of the property, which would be developed first under the previously approved subdivision. The developer plans to create a new public water and sewer system to serve the new development and may also expand it to serve the surrounding area. 

Two parcels within the Blackfoot Crossing property are not owned by Morse and are not part of the planned development. That includes the former Harris Manufacturing building on the northwest side of the property and a NorthWestern Energy parcel on the southeast side. 

Some area residents oppose the proposed travel plaza, with concerns about traffic, lighting, noise, pollution, safety and water use. A handful of comments support other parts of the development, while some residents said they would rather see something like a grocery store or another business developed instead of another truck stop. Town Pump operates a truck stop on the other side of Highway 200, across from the Blackfoot Crossing site. 

The meeting begins at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Sophie Moiese Room of the Missoula County Courthouse. The public can also join the meeting online.

5 Things to Know in Missoula

The Missoula City Council Monday approved an amendment to the plan for the Icon Apartment Homes in the Dougherty Ranch subdivision in the Sxʷtpqyen neighborhood, extending deadlines for initial work by three years. The council initially approved the 641-unit subdivision, located south of West Broadway and west of Flynn Lane, in August 2023. The landowner requested more time to complete the infrastructure because the original developer, Bozeman-based Braxton Development LLC, pulled out of the project. The landowner requested new deadlines of January 2029 and January 2035 for the two phases. 

On Wednesday, the Missoula City Council awarded a $989,715 bid to Western Excavating to replace water mains in the Lewis and Clark neighborhood. The pipes on Dearborn Avenue, Livingston Avenue and Lester Street were installed in 1937 and 1950 and are a high-priority replacement because of their type and age, Andy Schultz, a city utilities engineer, told the council. The water main in Livingston Avenue has a history of leaks and breaks, he said. The project will replace 2,000 feet of pipe and reconnect 54 existing water services, Schultz said. Construction is estimated to begin in April and will last about four months. The project will be paid for by a state revolving fund loan, Schultz said. 

The University of Montana Griz Esports team is fundraising for new playground equipment at Hawthorne Elementary School, with a 24-hour esports marathon planned for this weekend. The fundraiser, which kicked off at the beginning of the month, aims to raise the remaining $50,000 of the $150,000 the Hawthorne PTA needs to install a modern and inclusive playground. Donors are entered to win a variety of prizes based on the donation amount. The marathon from Feb. 28 to March 1 will be livestreamed at twitch.tv/umt_esports. More information about the fundraiser and a donation link are available online. 

Missoula Public Health is holding a free screening of “Someone You Love: The HPV Epidemic” at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, at the Roxy Theater. The film follows five women who share their stories about surviving Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), one of the most widespread, misunderstood and dangerous viruses. A panel discussion will follow the film. The event is free, but space is limited. Those interested are asked to reserve their seats at theroxytheater.org. HPV causes nearly all cervical cancers and many cancers of the vagina, vulva, penis, anus, rectum and oropharynx, according to the health department. The HPV vaccine is available at the Missoula Public Health Immunization Clinic at 301 W. Alder St. More information is available on the health department’s website. 

Providence St. Patrick Hospital’s annual Heart Expo promoting heart health awareness takes place Saturday at the Broadway Building Conference Center at 500 W. Broadway. The event will include lectures from cardiac professionals from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and low-cost health screenings from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Screenings include lipid panel, glucose, A1C test, thyroid and prostate tests. The tests each cost $10 to $20, and payment is accepted in cash or check only. 

Might be Fun 

The Downtown Missoula Partnership is holding its 15th annual Winter BrewFest Saturday at Caras Park. The tap list includes more than 40 Montana-made craft beers, ciders and seltzers, along with a wine and mimosa bar and non-alcoholic options. The festival, which runs from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., will also feature local food trucks, burn barrels, axe throwing and music by DJ TRX. 

The event is free, with tasting starting at $20 for three drink tokens and an official 7-ounce taster glass. Additional tokens cost $2 each. A limited-edition 12-ounce stein mug with three tokens is $30. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early for the widest drink selection, drink responsibly and plan for designated drivers.

The post City aims to better fund affordable housing under updated policy appeared first on Montana Free Press.

The Missoula area’s housing market continued to level out last year with a slight decrease in the median home price, but lower-priced homes remain elusive, according to the Missoula Organization of Realtors’ annual report.

In 2025, the median sale price of a Missoula-area home decreased 2.2% to $550,000, according to the 2026 Five Valleys Housing Report. That includes sales of single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and manufactured homes on owned lots. The median sale price in Montana was $460,700 as of Dec. 31, 2025, according to Zillow. 

The number of sales, 1,029, increased 4.6% from 2024, which was the first year of an increase since 2020, said Mandy Snook, broker and owner of Montana Home and Land Company, during the panel presentation at the Missoula Public Library Wednesday. 

“We’re seeing a supply in a more normal range than we’ve seen in a long time,” she said. “Affordability looks a little better this year with a combination of lowering interest rates and, in some cases, lower property taxes. This gives buyers more choices and opportunities to secure housing. We continue to have a lack of usable inventory in the lowest price bands in our area. This leaves many people unable to afford a market-rate home.”

After “bottoming out” in 2020 and 2021, the Missoula area’s housing supply has increased and is within the healthy range of three to nine months, said Brint Wahlberg, a Realtor with Windermere Real Estate. However, supply varies based on housing type, price and neighborhood, with more townhomes and condos available than single-family homes, he said. 

The Missoula area, including parts of the county, had about a 5-month supply at the end of 2025, Wahlberg said. Missoula is nearing an undersupply of homes at or below the median price, while there is a significant oversupply of homes listed for $1 million or more, Wahlberg said. Right now, 22% of active listings in Missoula are in that $1 million-plus range, he said. 

“We see this market where we’ve got heavy, tight activity at, around or below our medium price point, good balance a little bit above it and then once you really start to climb, you start to totally flip the script here,” Wahlberg said. 

The city and county approved fewer subdivisions in 2025 than in 2024, said Paul Forsting, a planner with civil engineer firm IMEG. The city issued 587 building permits in 2025, down slightly from 599 in 2024, according to the report. Missoula County issued 12% more building permits in 2025, bringing the total to 337. 

The numbers fall short of the 1,100 to 1,500 new housing units needed annually for the next 10 years to meet existing and new demand as identified in the Our Missoula 2045 Land Use Plan. 

Missoula County’s housing affordability index score has improved, but still falls short of balanced cost and income, said Matt Gehr, a mortgage loan officer with PrimeLending. A score of 100 indicates that income and cost are aligned, while a lower score indicates that cost is higher. Missoula’s 2025 index score of 65 has improved from the low around 50 in 2022 due to an increase in median income, a decrease in median housing price and decreased and stable interest rates, Gehr said. The decrease in property taxes for most single-family primary residences in Missoula has also contributed to lower monthly mortgage payments, he said. 

“We’re trending in the right direction,” Gehr said. “We’re not there yet, but we’re seeing, like I said, gradual improvement, steady improvement, greater stability and predictability.”

Households that receive federal housing choice vouchers are finding a place to live more quickly, said Julie Pavlish, operations and program director at Homeword, which provides homebuyer education and other services. The Missoula Housing Authority also recorded an increase in the number of households served through the program, she said.  

“Shorter time to find a lease and an increased number of families being helped means a shorter time on the waitlist,” Pavlish said. “So that is a really positive change from the last few years that we’ve been able to see.” 

Community land trust homes also provide a homeownership opportunity for people with lower incomes, Pavlish said. Last year, Front Step Community Land Trust sold three homes with a median price of $257,028. In April, 27 new community land trust homes will be available as part of the Scott Street-Ravara housing development, including 21 income-qualified condos. 

“The interest in these homes is going to far outstrip the available number each year, but we look forward to this meaningful addition in 2026,” Pavlish said. 

Last year, Missoula’s rental market saw increased rents for most unit types and a low overall vacancy rate by historical standards, said Josh Plum with Plum Property Management. 

Two-bedroom apartments saw the largest increase in average rent, up 11.4% from $1,491 to $1,661, Plum said. Rents for one-bedroom apartments increased 5.4%. Rents for three-bedroom, single-family homes stabilized, he said. 

Landlords are seeing more “price sensitivity,” with higher-end one and two-bedroom apartments in the $1,800 to $2,500 per month range leasing more slowly, he said. Units with rents under $1,500 have a low vacancy rate and are leased very quickly, Plum said. 

“The larger amenity packages do not appear to outweigh pricing decisions, and tenants are often choosing the lower nominal rent even when higher rents include utilities and amenities and some additional creature comforts,” he said. 

In-depth, independent reporting on the stories impacting your community from reporters who know your town.

The post Report: Missoula housing prices down overall, affordability still limited  appeared first on Montana Free Press.

Sign up for the free Missoula This Week newsletter and stay in the loop on Missoula city government, public school meetings, business news and upcoming entertainment and events.

02/20/2026

“Missoula This Week” is reported and written By Katie Fairbanks. Send your Missoula news and tips to kfairbanks@montanafreepress.org.

The lodge could open once wastewater storage tank passes inspection

Owners of the Holland Lake Lodge Thursday received permission to use a wastewater holding tank temporarily until the U.S. Forest Service repairs the permanent system. 

The Missoula Board of Health Thursday approved a health code variance for the property, meaning that as long as it follows a long list of rules and conditions, the lodge south of Condon, which has been closed since 2023, could open this summer or next, likely with limited capacity. 

Owner Eric Jacobson, with Holland Lake Lodge Inc., said during the meeting he is committed to moving forward in the safest way possible. Jacobson said he is nervous about exceeding the holding tank’s capacity and wants to “walk not run” into opening the property. 

“The support and love for the lodge is really incredible, and I hope to preserve and protect that,” Jacobson said. 

The wastewater system that serves Holland Lake Lodge and the nearby Forest Service campground was shut down in fall 2023 after public complaints of leaks to the state Department of Environmental Quality. Missoula Public Health forwarded concerns about the wastewater lagoon to DEQ, along with an email showing the Forest Service repaired the lagoon liner in 2022 without a review or permit, according to the staff report. After agency representatives met on site, the DEQ in October 2023 notified the Forest Service that the system was in violation of state laws and told them to stop all flow of wastewater into the lagoon. 

Jacobson purchased the lodge and received a permit to operate last year. The 20-year permit allows operation within the current footprint and does not allow new or expanded activities or facilities. The health department told the new owner that the lodge and restaurant couldn’t be operated until the failed wastewater system was replaced, according to the staff report. Jacobson planned on using a wastewater holding tank until the Forest Service fixed the lagoon system, but holding tanks are not allowed without a variance because they are expensive and require strict guidelines to prevent overflow, said Shannon Therriault, environmental health director for Missoula Public Health. 

The variance request must meet several criteria, including that it is needed due to “extraordinary conditions” that could not have reasonably been prevented, denial would cause undue hardship and there are no feasible alternatives. 

Holland Lake Lodge’s application states the Forest Service is responsible for the wastewater system and the timeline for replacement is out of the business’ control. 

“Without this variance, Holland Lake Lodge would be forced to close indefinitely, resulting in loss of employment for up to 20 staff members, loss of tourism revenue, and economic harm to Missoula County,” the application states. “There is no feasible wastewater alternative available.” 

The health department also requires several conditions for the variance, including that the holding tank is watertight and leak tested, the owners follow an alert and pumping plan, wastewater is disposed of at an approved treatment plant and chemical toilets are available as backup. 

Therriault said there is conflicting information about the tank and concerns about its size, soundness and watertightness. The tank would be leak tested and inspected before use. If a leak is found, Holland Lake Lodge would have to install a new holding tank for temporary use, which is allowed under the variance. That would likely require some level of environmental review from the Forest Service, but it’s unclear what that would be, said Anthony Botello, the Flathead National Forest supervisor. 

Several area residents and frequent Holland Lake visitors raised concerns about the proposal, citing issues with the tank and that the criteria were not met because Jacobson knew about the wastewater situation before purchasing the lodge. A couple of Seeley Lake residents urged the board to approve the variance to allow the lodge to open for the community. 

The board approved the variance with the additional condition that the wastewater collection system is watertight and extended the variance through 2028 or until the permanent system is fixed, whichever comes first. 

Jacobson said he hopes to open for private events this summer, depending on if a new tank will be required. 

“Regardless of the timeframe, I would try to do something, but being open full-tilt would be a ways away,” he said. 

By the Numbers

The increase in spring enrollment at the University of Montana over last year, according to a university press release. The growth was driven by bumps in the graduate program for professionals seeking updated academic credentials and Missoula College, while the number of undergraduate students remained steady, according to the spring census report. 

This spring, 11,123 students were enrolled at UM, up from 10,793 in 2025. That includes 5,771 undergraduate students, up by five from last year. 

The university reported a 5% increase in graduate students, from 2,733 to 2,868. The increase was driven by its partnership programs, with numbers of first-time and continuing graduate students down from spring 2025, according to the census report. 

The partnership programs are for mid-career professionals seeking an updated academic credential, said Dave Kuntz, UM’s communications director. The students, who pay tuition, are typically remote and often foreign, Kuntz said. UM’s largest partnership program, Rehab Essentials, has provided education for physical therapists worldwide seeking an upgraded credential since 2008, he said. The university doesn’t have an enrollment goal for the program, and the number of students varies, often determined by changes in licensing requirements for medical professionals, Kuntz said. 

Missoula College saw an 8% increase in enrollment, from 2,034 to 2,215 students. That includes a record 1,240 high school students in the dual enrollment program, up 113 from last spring. The number of non-high-school students also increased.

While spring enrollment is typically lower than in the fall, UM’s total is higher because the number of dual enrollment students more than doubled from fall 2025 to spring 2026, according to the census report. Kuntz said high school students typically enroll in college courses in the spring because that’s when they have time to do so and are closer to attending college full-time. The state pays for the first two classes for dually enrolled students, giving them a jump-start on earning college credit while saving money, he said. 

This is the fifth consecutive year the university has reported more students than the previous year. 

“The consecutive years of growth at UM are a testament to the aggressive steps we have taken to ensure our campus experience is robust and vibrant,” said Leslie Webb, UM vice president for student affairs and enrollment management, in the release. “We have more work to do, but we are building the infrastructure needed to continue growing for years to come.”

2026 election season kicks off with candidate filing 

Candidate filing for the 2026 federal election opened this week, with several Missoula County elected officials running to keep their seats. 

The filing period opened Tuesday and closes at 5 p.m. March 4. The election includes several county positions, as well as Montana’s two congressional seats, a U.S. Senate seat, dozens of state House and Senate seats and two Public Service Commission seats. 

Missoula County Commissioner Juanita Vero earlier this month announced her campaign for a second six-year term. Vero, a Democrat, was first appointed in 2019 and elected in 2020. Vero is a fourth-generation partner at one of Montana’s oldest family-owned dude ranches in Greenough, east of Missoula, according to a press release. 

Sheriff Jeremiah Petersen filed for a second four-year term. Petersen grew up in Frenchtown and has served in numerous positions at the sheriff’s office since 2002, according to a press release. Incumbents Tyler Gernant, the clerk and recorder/treasurer, and Erin Lipkind, superintendent of schools, also filed for another term. Lester Bracey, who was appointed as interim auditor last fall, filed for the position. 

Justices of the Peace Alex Beal and Landee Holloway and Missoula District Court Judge Shane Vannatta filed for reelection. Three seats on the Missoula Conservation District’s Board of Supervisors are also up for election. No challengers have filed for the county seats as of Thursday afternoon. 

Candidate filing documents and information are available online. The primary election is June 2 and the general election is Nov. 3. 

Comings and Goings 

The LOGE Missoula hotel and its coffee shop, the Dog Wash Cafe, closed this week, due to the financial troubles of its parent company. 

Employees told the Missoulian that Tuesday was the last day of business for the 58-room hotel and the cafe. Washington-based LOGE Camps bought the property at 420 West Broadway in 2023 and renovated the hotel and former dog washing business, the Missoulian reported. 

The company is closing properties across the region, including the historic Izaak Walton Inn, renamed LOGE Glacier, in Essex. 

5 Things to Know in Missoula

The Missoula County commissioners last week canceled several special district board elections and elected unopposed candidates by acclamation. Candidate filing for the special district election closed Feb. 4, and filing for school district elections closed Feb. 9. The May 5 special election will be held for the Seeley Lake Sewer District, Hellgate Elementary school board and Frenchtown School District board of trustees. The county is seeking applications for several positions for which no candidates filed. The full list of candidates elected by acclamation and vacant positions open for application is available online. Eligible residents can apply online by March 19. 

On Thursday, the Missoula Redevelopment Agency board approved the final West Broadway River Corridor Master Plan and $400,000 in tax increment financing for initial project design. The plan includes river restoration, improved river access, debris removal, irrigation ditch removal and improvements to trails and recreation opportunities along the Clark Fork River between the Montana Rail Link railroad bridge and the California Street pedestrian bridge. The city is partnering with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Trout Unlimited on the project. Contingent on city council approval of the plan, the MRA will contract with SWCA Environmental Consultants to complete the designs to prepare for permitting and grant applications. Trout Unlimited will manage the project. The total project estimate is $7.2 million.

Missoula Parks and Recreation is holding an open house Thursday to present a draft master plan for a new park near the Southgate Mall. The city is planning a 1.3-acre public park at Ernest Avenue and Schilling Street as part of the Midtown Commons development. The plan incorporates resident feedback from a design workshop in November, according to the city. The event is from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Sentinel High School cafeteria, 901 South Ave. The Missoula City Council is set to consider the sale of the site to Miramonte Companies in the coming months, Mayor Andrea Davis said last week. The city last summer selected Miramonte to purchase and develop the site, and the company’s initial plan included single-family and multifamily housing and commercial development. 

Front Step Community Land Trust and the Missoula Tenants Union are holding a free event Tuesday to celebrate and build solidarity among renters. Attendees can learn about the organizations’ campaigns to build tenant power and support, take a renter survey and share their love and visions for Missoula’s renting class. The event begins at 6 p.m. at Free Cycles, and food and drinks will be provided. Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by emailing jana@frontstepclt.org. 

If Missoula gets another snowfall this winter, residents might see snowplows named “Bob,” “Betty Whiteout” and “Ctrl+Salt+Delete” clearing the streets. The names are the winners of the city’s second snowplow-naming contest, which residents voted on earlier this month. The city received 132 name submissions, said Gwen Landquist, a communications specialist for the public works department. Only 29 votes were cast, which Landquist attributed to the lack of snow so far this winter. 

Might be Fun 

Montessori Plus International is hosting a free Lunar New Year celebration Saturday at the Missoula Public Library. The event, ringing in the Year of the Horse, runs from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and includes family activities, Gamelan music, cultural performances and food. 

The post Holland Lake Lodge inches closer to reopening appeared first on Montana Free Press.

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02/13/2026

“Missoula This Week” is reported and written By Katie Fairbanks. Send your Missoula news and tips to kfairbanks@montanafreepress.org.

Mayor updates council on several projects tagged for public benefit

Redevelopment of three city-owned properties is set to move forward this year, while plans for other sites, including the former public library, are being sent back to the drawing board, the mayor said this week. 

Mayor Andrea Davis Wednesday updated the city council on the City Lands Redevelopment initiative she launched last year and the status of several projects planned for the 45 acres the city identified as unnecessary for future municipal use. Davis outlined how the city is evaluating the properties and considering how the sale, lease or redevelopment of each would most benefit the public. 

“The way we think about achieving all the community goals is more of a mosaic approach than thinking about every parcel as one-off decision-making and each parcel trying to achieve numerous city goals at once,” she said. 

Last year, the mayor convened an 11-member task force that recommended how the city should proceed with the development of city-owned lands. The sale of two of those 12 properties — the Riverfront Triangle and Midtown Commons — is set to move forward this spring or summer, Davis said.  

At the two-acre Riverfront Triangle site on West Front Street, Whitefish-based Averill Hospitality plans to build a hotel and conference center, as well as a public plaza and riverfront trail extension. The city is preparing to close on the sale, approved by the council in July, and the developer is looking to start construction in 2027, Davis said. Along with the public benefit of a new trail and plaza, the project will also contribute $7 million to the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund from the sale of the property and Averill Hospitality’s donations, she said. 

“We’re really hoping that that will encourage other private developers to do the same,” Davis said. “This is a really great opportunity for us to try something new, get real dollars in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and create more affordable housing opportunities in other places of town.” 

Planning for a public park at the Midtown Commons site near the Southgate Mall is underway, and the city plans to reveal the final design Feb. 26, Davis said. Miramonte Companies’ initial concept for the site included a public park, single-family and multifamily housing for rent and purchase and commercial development. If the sale and development agreements are approved by the council, the company plans to build for-sale housing on parts of the property that have already been platted in the near future, Davis said.  

The city has begun meeting with a developer interested in building on the North MRL Triangle property, the site of the former Johnson Street emergency homeless shelter the city closed in September, Davis said. In 2023, the council directed city staff to plan for the redevelopment of the site, including the deconstruction of the former shelter by September 2026. Last year, design firm GGLO completed a master plan for the eight-acre site that includes up to 250 rental and for-sale housing units, commercial space and green space. 

Davis said the city will reconsider its plans for the old library block at 301 East Main St. later this year, after redevelopment failed to move forward under a previous agreement. In 2023, the city selected deChase Miksis and Edlen and Co. to develop the property, donated to the city in 2019, but that agreement expired in 2025, Davis said. The city “overly prescribed” what it wanted to see on the property, she said. 

“They could not deliver on what we asked them to unless we provided substantial public subsidy that didn’t really warrant the public benefit we wanted to see,” Davis said. 

The city will also reevaluate its goals for the former Sleepy Inn property at the corner of West Broadway and Russell Street, currently listed for sale at $690,000. The city bought the hotel for $1.1 million in 2020 to serve as a shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic. Davis said the property is small and partially owned by the Montana Department of Transportation, making development there challenging.  

The list of properties considered for sale or redevelopment includes City Hall and the city council chambers, both of which will eventually move to the John Engen Local Government Building. In 2023, the city and county took ownership of the former federal building and plan to move most of their offices there after renovation. 

Council Member Mike Nugent said the city council may have to reconsider its rule requiring funds from the land sales not legally obligated for other uses to go to the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. 

“It’s going to be tough for us to find the capital to invest in the Engen Building, that we and our partners at the county all feel could better serve the public, without acknowledging that there could be some of these lands that we need to sell to invest in that,” he said.  

Other city council members said they appreciate the mayor’s review of the properties and new strategy. 

“I do think for quite a handful of years now the city has tried with some of these properties, and we weren’t getting it over the finish line, and a dormant asset is not helping anybody, frankly,” said Council Member Gwen Jones. “If the old formulas and equations don’t work, and we’re asking for too much, we’re too prescriptive, it is incumbent on us to figure out the next steps forward.” 

Public Notice  

The Montana Department of Transportation will answer questions and present early designs for the Russell Street corridor project at an open house next week. The project includes reconstructing Russell Street from Dakota Street to Mount Avenue and West Broadway between Mullan Road and Cowper Street to support increased traffic and growth in the area. 

Last year, the city received a $59.5 million federal grant to complete the project. The grant accounts for 80% of the project funding, with other federal, state and local contributions making up the approximately $15 million remaining of the $74.4 million total price tag. The first phase of improvements along Russell Street from West Broadway to Dakota Street was completed in 2020.

Design and right-of-way acquisition will continue through 2029, with construction tentatively scheduled to begin in the spring of 2029, according to MDT. 

The open house runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, at the Salvation Army at 355 S. Russell St. There won’t be a formal presentation. More information about the project is available online. 

5 Things to Know in Missoula 

The Missoula County commissioners Thursday approved Grant Creek Crossing Missoula LLC’s request for a $7.9 million tax increment financing reimbursement for infrastructure serving future development on the site. In 2024, the commissioners created a targeted economic development district covering the 84-acre site, a reclaimed gravel pit, south of I-90 and west of Reserve Street. Grant Creek Crossing is requesting that the county commit TIF funds to reimburse the developer for the upfront infrastructure costs. That includes traffic signal and roadway improvements to the intersection of Reserve Street and Schramm Street, extending city sewer and water lines, extending electric and natural gas distribution lines and constructing a road through the site to county standards. The infrastructure would support the first phase of development on 39 acres, including a proposed 200-unit apartment building and potential future housing, mixed-use, commercial or industrial development. The county would not reimburse the developer until the district receives enough tax increment revenue to cover costs. Flanna McLarty, a county land and economic development specialist, said the county estimates the district will generate about $1.2 million annually in tax increment revenue once phase one of the development is completed in about five years. Commissioner Josh Slotnick said the delayed reimbursement decreases the county’s risk if the development doesn’t go forward as planned. 

The Missoula police and parks and recreation departments are reminding people to respect seasonal closures on Mount Jumbo after an increase in trespassing. The seasonal closure, from Dec. 1 to March 15 in the south zone and until May 1 for the north zone, is to protect the wintering elk herd and other wildlife. The city is seeing “significant numbers” of people and unleashed dogs trespassing despite closure signs and closed and locked gates, according to a city Facebook post. Despite the lack of snow, the closures remain to prevent the elk from becoming habituated to people and from people and dogs scaring the elk away from their winter range, according to the parks department. Trespassing during wildlife closures may result in citations and fines up to $500. The parks department has installed cameras and is sending reports of documented trespassing to the police department, said Jeff Gicklhorn, the city’s conservation lands program manager. Missoula police officers have asked for help identifying a handful of individuals involved in recent trespassing incidents. Violations can be reported to the Mount Jumbo Tip Line at 406-552-9465. Maps of the closure areas are available online. 

The Missoula County commissioners voted Tuesday to remain in a class-action lawsuit against Republic Services, giving up the right to sue the company separately. The lawsuit alleges Republic breached its contract and misrepresented its services by providing three-yard dumpsters that measured less than 2.6 cubic yards. Republic denied the allegations. Missoula District Court Judge Jason Marks granted the lawsuit class-action status on Jan. 14. Multiple county departments, including Larchmont Golf Course, received the notification of the class-action lawsuit, said Vincent Pavlish, deputy county attorney. Pavlish recommended the county remain in the class-action suit because it does not have separate claims to litigate. 

At least four Missoula County Public Schools board trustees are set to serve another term after no challengers filed for election. The candidate filing period closed Monday, but those interested can file a declaration to run as a write-in candidate until March 2. Five of the board’s 11 seats are up for election in May 2026, including three seats representing elementary and high school districts, one representing high school district D — Seeley Swan, Potomac, Clinton and Sunset areas — and one representing high school district C, the Hellgate area. Trustee Jeffery Avgeris, first elected in 2020, and trustees Leslie McShane, Denise Juneau and London Meservy, appointed in 2025 and 2026, filed to retain their seats. Lisa Davey, who represents high school district D, didn’t file for reelection. Davey told MTFP she wanted to give other people a chance to run since she was appointed, but no one filed for the seat. Davey said she hopes to be appointed for another year. Following the write-in deadline, the school board will elect trustees by acclamation and declare any vacant seats. 

The Missoula County commissioners Thursday adopted the Swan Valley Neighborhood Plan, which outlines a vision for future growth, development, infrastructure and services in the rural area. The plan, an update to a 1996 document, is not regulatory but sets guidance for potential future regulations, said Ian Varley, a county planner. Community objectives in the plan include maintaining the valley’s rural character, protecting the environment and ensuring accessibility to public lands. The plan recommends zoning that restricts certain uses, including large-scale resorts, commercial uses, heavy industry and telecommunication towers taller than 200 feet, Varley said. Some residents raised concerns about adding zoning regulations to the area. Adopting the plan does not create any zoning districts, and any proposed zoning would go through a separate public process, said John Hart, a county civil attorney. 

Might be Fun 

The Montana Repertory Theatre, in partnership with the University of Montana School of Theatre and Dance, is putting on “Can’t Drink Salt Water,” an original play by Missoula playwright Kendra Mylnechuk Potter, starting this weekend. 

The story follows a mother’s relentless search for her missing daughter and the journey of a young woman newly arrived at an evangelical shelter for victims of sex trafficking, weaving together Native identity, maternal grief, contemporary religious faith, humor and a call to action, according to the theater. 

The play is supported by a grant from The Roy Cockrum Foundation. The production includes UM student actors, designers and crew alongside professionals. 

“Can’t Drink Salt Water” premieres at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Montana Theatre in the University of Montana’s PARTV Building near the Adams Center. Evening shows continue Feb. 18 through Feb. 22. Matinees are at 2 p.m. Feb. 15, 21 and 22. 

Tickets are pick-what-you-pay, through support from NorthWestern Energy, with a suggested price of $35. Free tickets are available to any Indigenous patrons by contacting the box office at 406-243-6809 or montanarepertorytheatre@gmail.com. 

An Indigenous art market will take place from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday in the Montana Theatre lobby in tandem with the matinee. The market is free, and attendance to the play is not required but is encouraged. 

The post Redevelopment of city properties restarting, advancing appeared first on Montana Free Press.

When Maria Cassidy received a notice that her monthly rent was increasing by $200 after a Texas-based company bought Harvey’s mobile home park in Bonner, her heart sank.  

“I felt trapped,” she told Montana Free Press. 

Cassidy, who has lived at Harvey’s since 1990, said under the park’s previous owner, annual rent increases for the lot to park her mobile home ranged from $5 to $25. Before Oak Wood Properties purchased the park in 2023 and raised lot rents in 2024, the $420 per month was already difficult for many residents on fixed incomes to afford, she said. The nearly 50% increase was devastating, Cassidy said. 

“It especially impacted our elderly neighbors and those still making payments on their homes,” she said. “It was rather ironic to see the word ‘affordable’ added to the park entrance signage.” 

Cassidy’s predicament is not unique as mobile home parks in Montana have been increasingly purchased by out-of-state investors eager to raise lot rents and recoup their costs. Now, the residents of two Missoula parks have joined forces to push back and keep their housing affordable.

In 2025, after Oak Wood notified tenants of an additional $150 increase at Harvey’s and Travois Village, another Missoula mobile home park it purchased in 2023, residents there began organizing with the Missoula Tenants Union. After pushback, the company lowered the increase for both parks to $50, bringing the lot rent at Harvey’s to $670, according to the tenants’ union. 

To help her neighbors stay in their homes, Cassidy joined the Harvey’s Tenants Union last fall, which organized with the Missoula Tenants Union and union members from Travois Village. The unions are pushing for a new lease with lower rents and other protections for residents.

“Nobody deserves to be exploited by an out-of-state company that is only concerned with profit and with filling the pockets of investors,” Cassidy said during the Harvey’s Tenant Union launch event last Friday.

Dozens of union members and supporters gathered last week to celebrate the Bonner park’s supermajority tenant union. A supermajority union represents more than 65% of occupied units. The Harvey’s Tenants Union represents about 67%, or 26 of the 39 homes. 

Members of the Harvey’s and Travois Village unions have also formed a joint bargaining team and are meeting with Oak Wood representatives to demand changes to their leases. During their first meeting in January, the company agreed to strike a clause from the lease that would give it the first right to purchase tenants’ homes if they decide to sell, said Erik Brilz, a bargaining team member and Travois Village resident. The company also agreed to keep meeting with tenants and visit Missoula in April, Brilz told the crowd.  

“At no point in the history of Missoula have tenants generated such meaningful power and actually won concessions from their landlord in this way,” he said. “These results prove this process is working.” 

Oak Wood did not respond to MTFP’s requests for comment. 

The two mobile home parks purchased by Oak Wood are among a growing number across Montana owned by out-of-state companies. In January 2025, Texas-based Axia Realty Partners purchased Katoonah Lodges Mobile Home Park in Missoula, a 55-plus community located off Mullan Road. Residents of Helena’s Golden Estates Mobile Home Park recently raised concerns about rent increases after a Tennessee-based owner bought the property. 

Brilz said while Oak Wood’s initial response to the union is promising, there’s more work to be done. The bargaining team presented a list of top priority demands to Oak Wood, including that the company walk back recent lot rent increases and cap annual increases at no more than 3% tied to a cost-of-living adjustment.

Shawn Belobraidic, a Harvey’s resident and bargaining team member, said mobile home parks are promoted to out-of-state investors as profitable because they can pass costs onto vulnerable residents who typically don’t push back. Belobraidic said the union knows Oak Wood can afford their demands, while the rent increases have “broken the bank” for many residents. 

“We are going to demand a fair lease that treats us with the dignity and respect that we deserve,” he said. “We are not vulnerable, we are informed. We are not going to be taken advantage of. We are organized. We are not going to back down.” 

Harvey’s resident Jacquie Thompson asked the crowd to support the union’s mission. Thompson said she moved to the Bonner park after retiring in 2019 because it was small, quiet and the $335 lot rent was affordable. Now, with rent and fees more than double that amount and her monthly fixed income at roughly $1,000, that’s no longer the case, she said. 

“If rent increases again next year the way it has the past two years, I will no longer be able to stay in my home,” Thompson said. “I will be homeless. … And I’m not alone. Most of the residents at Harvey’s are seniors or people on fixed incomes. We simply cannot absorb these kinds of increases.”

The unions are also pushing for clauses in their leases that require Oak Wood to notify them if it plans to sell the parks and to grant tenants a first right of refusal, giving them the first shot at buying the parks, Cassidy said. The supermajority of Harvey’s residents favor purchasing the property and forming a cooperative to do so, she said. 

Montana has 22 resident-owned communities (ROCs), including five in Missoula County. The communities are cooperatively owned and democratically run by residents, and the rent goes only to bills and community upkeep, according to ROC USA.

Cassidy, the longtime Harvey’s resident, told MTFP she had contacted NeighborWorks Montana, an organization that helps residents form cooperatives. Adam Poeschl, a ROC acquisition specialist, previously told MTFP that the first step is a willing seller. Cassidy said she hopes the union can convince Oak Wood to sell to the residents. 

“It is the only viable option to stay in our homes, to allow us to continue living here, to keep our neighborhood intact, to provide us the opportunity to make our own choices, to have affordable lot rents, to experience rent security and stability and empower us to live in dignity,” Cassidy said. 

The post Residents of Missoula area mobile home parks unionize, join effort to limit rent increases appeared first on Montana Free Press.

Sign up for the free Missoula This Week newsletter and stay in the loop on Missoula city government, public school meetings, business news and upcoming entertainment and events.

02/06/2026

“Missoula This Week” is reported and written By Katie Fairbanks. Send your Missoula news and tips to kfairbanks@montanafreepress.org.

Fire chief hopes to break ground in a year 

Plans for a sixth fire station in the western part of the city advanced Wednesday after the Missoula City Council approved funding for the initial design of the project. 

Fire Chief Lonnie Rash told the council he hopes to break ground on the station in a year, following the design work and land purchase. The station will be paid for by the 34-mill levy voters approved in June 2024, which also funds 20 new firefighters and the mobile support team. 

“Ultimately, it’s community safety,” Rash said. “We basically are going to fulfill the promise we made to the citizens to provide an additional fire station, reduce response times and locate our mobile support team in a location with the fire department.” 

The council Wednesday approved a $125,000 contract with 45 Architecture to complete a needs assessment and conceptual design for the new station. The Bozeman-based architect will work with Rice Fergus Miller, a firm with experience building fire stations, on the project, Rash said. The assessment will help determine the space, equipment and operational needs for the new station, which will also house the mobile support team, he said. The team, which responds to behavioral health calls, currently rents space off Russell Street. The preliminary design will include conceptual drawings and a cost estimate, Rash said. 

As the design moves forward, fire department officials and staff, city officials, mobile support team members and residents will weigh in on the project, Rash said. 

At the same time, the fire department will work to acquire land in the area identified by the station location study — around South Third Street between Reserve and Russell streets, Rash said. The study found that a station in that area will help reduce the response time for thousands of addresses, he said. 

Council Member Stacie Anderson said she appreciates the department’s consideration of density changes throughout the city and that the new station location makes sense given the growth in the Franklin to the Fort neighborhood.

“The fact that it is an overall system-wide relief is, I think, really important for us who don’t live in the core of the city but want to make sure that we, when needed, have quick response times,” she said. 

After breaking ground in the next year or so, station construction could take 12 to 18 months, Rash said. 

3 Questions For 

The University of Montana recently named Libby Metcalf as the dean of the W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, the first woman to lead the college in its 112-year history. 

Metcalf joined the university in 2010 and was previously the college’s interim dean, the senior associate dean and the Joel Meier Distinguished Professor of Wildland Management. As the dean and director of the Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station, Metcalf will oversee six academic departments and educational and research initiatives. 

Montana Free Press caught up with Metcalf about the appointment and the department’s future. Her comments have been lightly edited for length and clarity. 

MTFP: What do you see as the future of forestry and conservation, and what does that mean for this department going forward? 

Metcalf: In Montana, the natural environment is inextricably linked to our way of life, from all the beautiful, wild places that bring us joy and support our economy, to the wildfires and extreme weather we must navigate as a society. In the college, we seek to understand all aspects of the natural environment so we can help inform complex issues with science, train and educate our future workforce, and be a resource for Montanans all across the state. For 112 years, this mission has guided our work and shaped generations of students who are deeply connected to place, grounded in science, and prepared to meet real-world challenges. This evergreen commitment has ensured our stability and relevance through the good times and the challenging. 

MTFP: Is there anything you would like to see the department do differently or focus on or accomplish under your leadership? 

Metcalf: We have incredible momentum in the college, having recently welcomed Geoscience and Environmental Studies. In the coming years, our focus will be on unifying the college around a shared vision, ensuring we offer the programs our students need to succeed, and meeting the research needs of the state and beyond. With the right investments, we are well-positioned to become one of the nation’s leading colleges addressing environmental and natural resource challenges.

MTFP: There’s been recent federal changes to the Forest Service, other agencies and funding opportunities. Have you heard concerns from students and what do you say to them about future professions in the field?  

Metcalf: Priorities and resources have always evolved over time – what remains constant is the strength of our relationships with federal agencies, Montana’s congressional delegation, state agencies and the many other partners we work with. These connections offer our students meaningful opportunities in research, training and career pathways. At the same time, we are continually adapting our courses and career services to ensure students graduate with the skills, experiences and networks needed to meet current and emerging workforce demands.

Public Notice  

The Missoula County commissioners Thursday are set to consider a request from Grant Creek Crossing Missoula LLC for a $7.9 million tax increment financing reimbursement for road and utility infrastructure to support a proposed 200-unit apartment building and future development at its property off North Reserve Street. 

In 2024, the commissioners created a targeted economic development district covering the 84-acre site, a reclaimed gravel pit, south of I-90 and west of Reserve Street. The site has not attracted private development since the area was reclaimed nearly 20 years ago due to a lack of infrastructure, according to the county. The district allows the collection of tax increment revenue to help pay for infrastructure. As improvements are made in the district and property taxes rise, the resulting increase in tax revenue is collected into a fund for further investment in the district. 

The Grant Creek Crossing owns most of the land in the district apart from the eight-acre Grant Creek Self Storage property at 2405 Michael Road, according to the county’s property information system. John Giuliani and Daniel Ermatinger, who have been involved in other Missoula developments, are registered members of the LLC, according to the most recent filing with the Montana Secretary of State’s office.

Grant Creek Crossing is requesting that the county commit TIF funds to reimburse the developer for the upfront infrastructure costs. That includes traffic signal and roadway improvements to the intersection of Reserve Street and Schramm Street, extending city sewer and water lines, extending electric and natural gas distribution lines and constructing a road through the site to county standards. The infrastructure would support the first phase of development on 39 acres, including the proposed apartment building classified as workforce housing and potential future housing, mixed-use, commercial or industrial development. 

The developer plans to construct the infrastructure this summer. The county would not reimburse the developer until the district receives enough tax increment revenue to cover costs. 

The commissioners will consider the proposal during their meeting at 2 p.m. in the Sophie Moiese Room of the Missoula County Courthouse. Those interested can also join the meeting virtually on Microsoft Teams. 

On Campus  

Grizzly football head coach Bobby Hauck announced his retirement Wednesday, effective immediately. Hauck, who has been the head coach since 2017, also led the team from 2003 to 2009. Wide receivers coach Bobby Kennedy will take over as head coach. 

Hauck said during a press conference Wednesday that there’s never a convenient time in the college football calendar, but he was comfortable with leaving the team in good shape for next year. 

“We’ve had a lot of success here, but I wasn’t going to have them spread my ashes on the practice field because I dropped dead out there,” he said. “There comes a juncture where it comes time to do something else.” 

Hauck said head coaching has become less enjoyable in recent years due to changes in college football, most notably the transfer portal that allows players to move teams more easily and the ability for athletic programs to pay them. 

“The dealing with agents and the transient nature of this and the lack of forward thinking by young people, which has never been a strong suit for centuries for young people, but now when they’ve got adults pushing them and pulling them in different directions, I kinda got tired of all that,” Hauck said. 

5 Things to Know in Missoula 

The Missoula City Council Wednesday approved a resolution to rename the Northside pedestrian bridge for Bob Oaks, who championed the creation of the bridge in the 1980s. Oaks, who died in 2025, was the founder and longtime director of Front Step Community Land Trust and led numerous projects to improve the Northside and Westside neighborhoods. Several Northside neighbors expressed interest in renaming the bridge after Oaks after his death, and Front Step CLT helped organize the effort, according to the staff report. The city’s Parks and Recreation Board in December recommended approval of the name change, which would take effect in July 2027. 

“It’s really great to hear from so many neighbors following his passing about how integral Bob was to improving connectivity from the Northside to downtown and to fighting for working-class people in and around the Northside and beyond,” Front Step’s Jana Richter told the council.

On Jan. 29, local homeless shelters and volunteers conducted a survey of people living unhoused in Missoula as part of the annual Point in Time Count. The voluntary survey included people staying at the Poverello Center and the YWCA’s Meadowlark shelter, as well as those living unsheltered in Missoula. The HUD-required count is used to track trends and inform policy and is widely understood to undercount people, said Jill Bonny, the Poverello Center’s executive director. While the count has always been limited, this year the Poverello is more concerned about undercounting due to the closure of the Johnson Street emergency shelter in September and the city’s camping ordinance dispersing people and making them harder to find, Bonny said. For these reasons, the count should be considered one tool among many to measure homelessness in the community, she said. The 2025 survey counted 567 unhoused people, up from the 449 the previous year. In January 2025, 807 households were enrolled in Missoula’s local coordinated entry database, according to the Missoula Organization of Realtors’ data dashboard. 

The Missoula City Council Wednesday approved a $224,800 contract with Morrison Maierle to design improvements to the sewer pipeline that crosses the Clark Fork River. The pipeline moves sewage from the area of Missoula south of the river to the city’s wastewater treatment plant off Mullan Road, said Andy Schultz, the city’s utilities engineer. In 2023, the city found “significant risks” to that pipe because it is exposed to the river and could be damaged or collapse, he said. The contract will be paid for by a state grant, he said. The city plans to apply for grants for final design and construction, as the total project cost is estimated at $4 million to $5 million, Schultz said. 

On Thursday, the Missoula County commissioners approved $90,000 in Community Park and Recreation Grants for six projects. The awards include $26,985 to improve the Seeley Lake nordic ski trail system; $25,000 for the new Bonner playground and park; $17,000 for a new park pavilion at Clinton Community Park; $11,352 for a picnic shelter at the Potomac School District playground; $6,218 for benches, dog waste stations and trash bins along the National Conservation Legacy Center trail system; and $3,445 for a storage shed at the Ninemile Community Center. 

The Missoula City Council Monday approved the new unified development code, which includes an updated zoning code and map that encourages a wider variety of housing throughout the city. The code reform follows the adoption of the Our Missoula 2045 Land Use Plan, which emphasized the need for housing development to accommodate projected population growth. The unified development code encompasses zoning, subdivision and other development regulations previously separated in different documents. Council members considered dozens of amendments to the proposed code and map in recent weeks and approved changes that remove parking minimums for new development and require larger buffers between marijuana dispensaries, among other tweaks. Read more about the new code here. 

Might be Fun 

The Missoula Family YMCA is holding a Sweetheart Dance Saturday, Feb. 7, for children and their adults. The semi-formal event takes place at the Y’s main campus at 3000 S. Russell St., and includes music, professional portraits, snacks, corsages for every child and raffles. Tickets are available online and cost $32 per couple in advance and $45 per couple at the door.

Tickets and passes are on sale for the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, which runs Friday, Feb. 13, through Sunday, Feb. 22. The 23rd annual festival includes nearly 140 nonfiction films.

In-person screenings will be held at the Wilma, the Missoula Children’s Theater, the Roxy and the Zootown Arts Community Center showroom. The schedule of screenings and events is available online. A selection of films will be available to stream online as part of the virtual festival from Feb. 16 through Feb. 26. The festival’s website has more information about tickets and passes. 

The opening night film, “The Bend in the River,” will be shown at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, at The Wilma for free. A live Q&A with director Robb Moss and the film team will follow the screening. 

The post City advances plans for new fire station appeared first on Montana Free Press.

The Missoula City Council Monday approved a new zoning code, map and development requirements, all aimed at increasing housing throughout the city. 

The code implements the city’s new land use plan, which emphasizes expanding housing opportunities, improving walkability and addressing climate goals. The new rules encourage a wider range of housing types across Missoula’s neighborhoods, marking a significant change for some areas that have been largely insulated from development in recent years. 

“I just hope the community supports this and does not balk at change,” Council Member Gwen Jones said during the meeting. “If we can embrace this change, it will work to keep Missoula vibrant, inclusive, community-oriented, and maybe it’s a place where our grandkids can live.”

The council approved the unified development code at the end of a five-and-a-half-hour meeting, following public comment and consideration of four amendments. 

The unified development code encompasses zoning, subdivision, public works and parks-related regulations that were previously separated in different documents and sometimes conflicted with each other, according to the city. The updated Standards and Specifications Manual includes administrative rules, design standards and details, and clarifies how projects can meet code requirements.

Since mid-November, the planning commission and city council have spent about 75 hours in public meetings reviewing the code, said Council Member Mike Nugent. The council, over the last three weeks, debated more than 50 amendments to the code and zoning map approved by the planning commission in December and proposed by staff and council members. 

“There’s no such thing as a perfect public process,” Nugent said. “Amendments come from elected officials at the end, that’s just the way things go, but it certainly doesn’t dismiss anything that led to that point in the conversation.” 

The code reform began more than three years ago, when the city began collecting public feedback on its new land-use plan. The city’s review of the code found barriers to housing equity, supply, diversity, affordability and infill development, and that it did not support transportation and climate policies and was difficult to navigate. 

The plan and the code include feedback from residents as well as developers, architects and other frequent users of the code. 

The code update followed the December 2024 adoption of the Our Missoula 2045 Land Use Plan, which will guide the city’s growth and development over the next 20 years. The plan emphasized expanding housing opportunities to accommodate the projected population growth of the city and some surrounding county land, which is expected to reach 37,000 people by 2045. The plan called for 1,100 to 1,500 new housing units annually for the next 10 years to address the current deficit and meet new demand. 

The new zoning map would allow apartments in 89% of residential and mixed-use districts, with only rural districts restricted to single-family homes or duplexes, city staff said previously. That’s a significant change from the current zoning, which allows only single-family homes or duplexes in 64% of the city’s residential areas. 

The new land use plan and code also incorporates requirements from the 2023 Montana Land Use and Planning Act, including allowing at least two units per parcel in all residential areas. It also outlines changes to public participation and moves more development projects, like subdivisions, to administrative review. 

The new code has 22 zoning districts, including seven residential, seven mixed-use, and eight special-use districts. The former code included 38 zoning districts, 21 overlays and 95 planned-unit development districts. The new code removes all overlays except the airport hazard area and four historic district overlays, including at Fort Missoula. 

The residential districts are categorized into rural, limited-urban and urban, with more housing units permitted in the limited-urban and urban districts. The rural district is the only residential area that doesn’t allow at least a triplex. 

The code regulates building size through a calculation based on parcel size. The council in January removed the unit cap for apartment buildings in urban residential districts and adjusted the calculation to allow for larger buildings in those districts. 

All residential areas allow small-scale neighborhood commercial development, like a corner store or coffee shop. These businesses are allowed in new and existing buildings on corners and mid-block. 

Mixed-use districts include limited-urban, urban and downtown, where all building types are allowed with no density restrictions.

Special-use districts are transitional, industrial, open space and civic, and allow for a variety of uses. The transitional district was created to provide flexibility to encourage residential, commercial and low-intensity industrial development in areas with industrial lots and block patterns transitioning to mixed-use, according to the code. A handful of areas will have this zoning, including parts of the River Road neighborhood near Russell Street, east of Ryman between the railroad tracks and Interstate 90, and some areas around West Broadway north of Mullan Road. 

The council in January removed parking requirements for commercial and industrial districts. The new state law already limited parking requirements for certain housing, leading the city to eliminate parking minimums for all residential uses. 

Council Member Bob Campbell, who proposed the change, said Monday that landowners and developers know what’s best for their business and should be left to decide how much parking they need. 

The council last month also approved several amendments that adjust requirements for lot sizes, setbacks, entrances, building widths, building transparency, signs, landscaping, activity areas and infrastructure. 

The council also approved a handful of zoning map amendments to “smooth” areas where the same block had multiple zoning districts or to better match surrounding zoning. 

After a lengthy discussion Monday, the council changed the zoning for a proposed subdivision in East Missoula, somewhat undoing the downzoning it approved for the property last Wednesday. The changes follow comments from East Missoula residents concerned that the area lacks infrastructure to support the Aspire Subdivision and higher-density development. 

In August 2024, the council annexed the 35-acre property, rezoned it to include a neighborhood character overlay and approved the preliminary plan for the 250-unit subdivision, located adjacent to the Clark Fork River and Interstate 90. The project has been on hold as a lawsuit over the city’s approval plays out. 

The council Jan. 28, approved Council Member Sean McCoy’s proposal to change the zoning district for the property to a lower density residential district. In a split vote Monday, the council approved a staff proposal to revert to a higher density district because the zone would not have allowed the developer to build the subdivision as planned. Brian Throckmorton, with 406 Engineering, said the developer wants to build what the council previously approved and doesn’t plan to add more units. 

Many public comments Monday focused on East Missoula and sign regulations that concerned billboard owners. A handful of residents encouraged the city council to approve the new zoning code. 

“This zoning code represents a big step from point A to point B,” said Colin Lane with MMW Architects. “Point B, I think our community is largely in alignment on what that looks like. It’s more walkable, it has parks, it has trees, it has housing, housing that people can actually afford, and it has some density, some urbanness to it in the core. …  We may not always agree on how to get from point A to point B, but we do agree generally on what point B looks like.” 

The council unanimously approved the zoning code and amendments to the land use plan. The code will go into effect in 30 days, but development review applications submitted within 120 days of the effective date can choose whether to be reviewed under the new or old code. 

The mayor and council members applauded the city staff’s work on the effort and said they look forward to addressing any necessary changes, including the sign regulations flagged by business owners, and other specific issues as part of the next phase of code reform. 

“Missoula is choosing to meet the urgency of housing affordability and attainability with this follow-through with the unified development code, and we did it with you all,” said Mayor Andrea Davis. “This is not a one-and-done, and this isn’t going to solve every issue. … But we will keep our commitment to keep listening and keep learning, to keep measuring outcomes, reporting that out and keep improving this code so it delivers for Missoulians.”  

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The post Missoula looks to increase housing with new zoning regulations  appeared first on Montana Free Press.

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01/30/2026

“Missoula This Week” is reported and written By Katie Fairbanks. Send your Missoula news and tips to kfairbanks@montanafreepress.org.

Missoula Villages program aims to help older residents stay in their homes

Changing a lightbulb. A ride to the doctor. Mowing the lawn. A computer problem. Loneliness. 

These are things older Missoula residents can get help with through the new Missoula Villages program that connects senior members with volunteers and community activities. Missoula Aging Services is working with a volunteer committee and city representatives to roll out the program over the next month, according to the organization. 

Steve Gaskill, a founding member of the Missoula Village advisory committee, said many older Missoula residents are living “OK” independently but are struggling and don’t perceive a way to get help. 

“That’s really the group that we’re focused on here,” he said. “This isn’t set up to take care of people that need daily long-term care, but more people that occasionally need a ride somewhere, they want social interactions, the little things in their house are beginning to pile up.” 

Montana and Missoula County have aging populations, with a growing share of residents 65 and older, said Ria Overholt, the community services director at Missoula Aging Services. When the organization surveyed older adults living in Missoula about three years ago, many reported that they felt their voice wasn’t heard or they didn’t belong and that they were lonely or depressed, she said. 

“There’s a phenomenon that starts to happen as you start to get older, … where you start to disappear a little bit in the eyes of society,” Overholt said. “You don’t have the same relevance or the same importance, which is exactly opposite of how you feel because you have all these lived experiences and you have so much more time and wisdom and things to share. So we really looked at these numbers and thought, how do we move the needle on this?” 

For the past year, the advisory committee, which includes Overholt, Gaskill and city and public health representatives, met to plan the Missoula Village, modeled after the nationwide Village to Village Network. The group plans to collaborate with other organizations and institutions so the village is enmeshed in the community, said Anna Wilson, public relations and marketing manager for Missoula Aging Services. 

Partnering with Missoula Parks and Recreation will help address the community demand for more adult programming while offering activities to village members the organization couldn’t provide on its own, Gaskill said. 

“This program has ties to a lot of health benefits,” he said. “It looks like just neighbors helping neighbors, but really it’s a program to get adults out of the loneliness that we get stuck in being in our own homes and the invisibility that happens.” 

Organizers stressed the benefits of the model for both members and volunteers and encouraged volunteers of all ages to sign up.  

“This is a means of preparing for the future for yourself, to start building that network now of help and support and reciprocity and friendships so that when those things happen, you have an unexpected illness or an injury for a death of a loved one, you have a network that’s already in place, and you’re not scrambling trying to make that happen in that moment,” Overholt said. 

All members and volunteers go through a background check. Volunteers can sign up for free. Missoulians 60 and older can join as members at a cost of $25 per month for an individual or $40 per month for a household. The dues help pay for the background checks and other operational costs. Gaskill said many people who should be part of the program may not be able to afford it, and they hope to offer scholarships once it’s more established. Wilson said Missoula Aging Services is looking into grants and planning future fundraisers for the program. 

Residents can learn more about Missoula Villages during the organization’s free First Friday event Feb. 6. Those interested can stop by the Florence Building lobby, 111 N. Higgins Ave., from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for hot cocoa, activities, more information and to provide feedback on what they would like to see Missoula Villages offer. More information about the program is available at missoula.helpfulvillage.com. 

Verbatim 

“To operate with a veil of secrecy just provides confusion and speculation. It impacts trust. It is not good for anybody. It is not good for us and our safety if people don’t know we are the police; it is not good for the community members if they do not know that we are the police. I want to reassure people in Missoula that when you see those types of tactics being used that we don’t do those in Missoula. And I can’t speak to their training and their protocol, or how they think that furthers their mission. I will just tell you it’s not the way we do business here.” 

—Missoula Police Chief Michael Colyer during the Missoula City Council meeting Monday regarding public concerns about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions in Minneapolis and across the country. 

Colyer said the police department has strict policies about identification, use of unmarked vehicles and restricting when officers can wear face coverings. Missoula residents and people nationwide have raised concerns about federal immigration agents’ lack of uniforms and identification, covering their faces and receiving limited training. 

The Missoula Police Department’s mission is to protect and serve the community and to enforce state and local laws, Colyer said. While some officers can investigate and enforce certain federal statutes, the department does not have any officers deputized to enforce immigration status, he said. 

Mayor Andrea Davis said the city values constitutional rights and upholds due process for everyone. City police officers do not ask immigration status when interacting with the public, she said.

Council Member Kristen Jordan told Montana Free Press she is working on a resolution to limit the use of local resources for immigration enforcement, similar to a measure the Helena City Commission approved Monday.  

Members of the Montana Nurses Association Local 17 and Missoula community are holding a candlelight vigil Friday to honor the life of Alex Pretti, a nurse shot by federal officers in Minneapolis earlier this month. The vigil begins at 5 p.m. at the corner of Broadway and McCormick Street outside St. Patrick Hospital. Attendees are encouraged to bring candles, photos or signs to honor Pretti. 

By the Numbers 

The amount that Missoula County Public Schools saved in its transportation budget this year due to a decrease in routes and using its own vehicles in some instances, according to a staff presentation Tuesday. 

The district has contracted with Beach Transportation to bus students for the last 84 years, Burley McWilliams, the district’s facilities and operations director, told the school board Tuesday. Similar to school districts nationwide, MCPS has seen an increase in transportation costs over the last few years and has been looking into running its own routes to help save money, he said. 

Following a review last year, six routes were cut by moving stops to other routes, saving $355,955, McWilliams said. No stops were eliminated, said Annie Doolan, the district’s routing coordinator. Some stops were moved from bus routes that don’t receive reimbursement from the county or state to reimbursable routes, Doolan said. Routes must pick up at least one passenger more than three miles away from the school to be eligible for reimbursement, she said. 

The district receives about $250,000 in annual reimbursements, and the annual transportation budget, excluding some staff salaries, is about $7.9 million, McWilliams said. Transportation is funded by a permissive, or non-voted, levy, so savings cannot be used for other costs, said Trustee Jeffery Avgeris. 

“It saves our taxpayers,” he said. “Being good stewards of tax dollars is what we’re doing.” 

MCPS also worked with Beach Transportation to decrease the number of bus attendants, saving about $63,000, McWilliams said. Bus attendants provide additional supervision on certain routes and can be moved around by Beach as needed, he said. 

Over the last couple of years, MCPS has purchased several hybrid minivans to use as “Type E” buses, McWilliams said. This year, the district used these vehicles to take over five special service routes, saving about $304,240, he said. The special service routes include those for students “leveled” to another school and in special education programs, McWilliams said. The district plans to use its own vehicles for additional special services routes next year and is looking to add its own “yellow buses” over time, Doolan said. 

Several board trustees applauded the savings. 

“Transportation is an intractable challenge,” said Trustee Denise Juneau. “So the fact that you guys were able to pull this together and even carve out a little bit of savings is huge, and I just give you kudos for that work.” 

5 Things to Know in Missoula 

The Missoula City Council Wednesday approved the second phases of two sidewalk projects in the Rose Park and Franklin to the Fort neighborhoods. The council awarded a $698,700 contract to Knife River for phase two of the Ivy/Franklin project, which includes curbs, sidewalks, street parking, boulevards, street trees and traffic-calming improvements along East Franklin Street between Woodford and Plymouth streets. The council awarded a $1.6 million contract to JAG Contracting for phase two of the Eaton Street project, which includes sidewalks, curbs, ramps, driveway approaches, street trees, stormwater improvements and repaving of Eaton Street between South 13th Street and West Sussex Avenue. Both projects are funded by state gas tax revenue and the city’s road district and will not require sidewalk assessments from property owners, according to city staff. In early 2024, residents raised concerns about the assessments for phase one of the Ivy/Franklin project, spurring months of council discussion. The council halted the Eaton Street project in November 2024 after neighbors raised concerns about the design and cost. In April 2025, the council reduced the maximum sidewalk assessment from $9,000 to $3,500. 

Missoula County Public Schools received $362,800 in donations through the Innovative Educational Program Tax Credit program, Superintendent Micah Hill told the board of trustees Tuesday. The program allows individuals and businesses to receive a tax credit for donations to public school districts. The state caps the number of tax credits available on a first-come, first-served basis. When the Department of Revenue opens the donation portal, districts can enter the donation information to claim the credits until they run out, Denise Williams, the district’s executive director of business and operations, told MTFP. This year, the $7.2 million in credits was claimed in just over seven minutes, she said. Hill said MCPS claimed the third-highest amount of credits, behind Big Sky School District with $634,000 and Great Falls Public Schools with about $1 million. MCPS uses the money to pay for supplies for charter schools, its arts integration initiative, classroom grants, Title I programming and special education programs, Hill said. 

The Missoula County commissioners Tuesday accepted the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ nomination of James “Bing” Matt to the county’s new planning commission. Matt is a member of the CSKT Tribal Council representing the at-large district. He will serve as a voting member on the county’s new Missoula Consolidated Land Use Board. The position was a suggestion made during the last annual meeting between the CSKT Tribal Council and the Missoula County commissioners, said Karen Hughes, director of the county’s planning, development and sustainability department. The county and city of Missoula, which previously shared a planning board, are establishing separate planning commissions as required by state law. The county commissioners appointed six other members and two alternates to the board earlier this month. 

The University of Montana has proposed cutting master’s degree programs in literature and economics and indefinitely pausing minors in both Chinese and Irish studies. The minor programs were identified for a moratorium due to declining enrollment, while the termination of the master’s programs was driven by “broader institutional considerations to steward instructional financial resources toward areas of higher strategic priority,” said Dave Kuntz, UM’s director of strategic communications. If the cuts are approved, remaining students will be able to finish the programs and graduate, but no new students will be admitted, he said. Departments were notified of the proposal during finals week in early December, Kuntz said. The proposals will be reviewed by the university’s Faculty Senate before going to the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education for final approval. Read more about the proposal here. 

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is offering free assistance in preparing taxes starting next week at the Missoula Public Library and Lifelong Learning Center. All Tax-Aide preparers are IRS-certified, and federal and state taxes will be electronically filed on site. Those interested can make appointments online or by calling 406-285-1715. Appointments are available at the library most Mondays and Tuesdays from Feb. 2 through April 7 and at the Lifelong Learning Center Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from Feb. 4 through April 10. 

Might be Fun 

The University of Montana is holding a free community lecture with Sean Sherman, The Sioux Chef, at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3. The lecture will be held in the University Center Ballroom, and a livestream link will be available on this webpage closer to the event. 

A member of the Oglala Sioux tribe, Sherman has dedicated his career to supporting and promoting Indigenous food systems and Native food sovereignty, according to a press release. Sherman’s cookbook, “The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen,” and restaurant Owamni by The Sioux Chef, have received James Beard Awards. 

The event is the 2026 Brennan Guth Memorial Lecture in Environmental Philosophy and part of UM’s President’s Lecture Series. The event is co-sponsored by UM Campus Dining, the Native American Center of Excellence and the Davidson Honors College.

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