Missoula Unveils $100M Riverfront Triangle Hotel and Conference Center

June 27, 2025

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6/27/2025

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

The redevelopment project will generate $7 million for the city’s affordable housing fund

The long-anticipated redevelopment of Missoula’s Riverfront Triangle, west of downtown, is finally underway, as announced by the city. Located at the corner of Orange and Front Streets, the project will transform two acres into a hotel and conference center, valued at around $100 million. The city is negotiating with Averill Hospitality from Whitefish for the site’s sale and redevelopment.

The development will feature a hotel with 180 rooms, a 15,000 square-foot conference space, parking, and a public plaza, as confirmed by Brian Averill, owner of Averill Hospitality. The company has worked with Missoula city officials on this project for about a year.

An outdoor plaza, public seating, and a new trail connecting Front Street to existing routes will enhance community interaction. The city will manage these features post-completion. Design work is expected to take a year, followed by construction.

The property, part of the Riverfront Triangle urban renewal district, is eligible for tax increment financing (TIF) to support infrastructure improvements. This includes utilities, streets, sidewalks, and the new plaza. The exact TIF contribution remains undetermined until detailed designs are finalized, explained Ellen Buchanan, director of the Missoula Redevelopment Agency.

After the land sale, the property will generate more tax revenue, with $4 million secured from the sale allocated to the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. A 1% assessment on room and food revenue by Averill Hospitality is projected to contribute $300,000 annually to the fund for up to 10 years or until $3 million is collected.

The Downtown Missoula Partnership and local commerce leaders endorse the development, expecting it to revitalize the West Broadway corridor. If financing fails within five years, the city may repurchase the property for the original price plus up to $250,000.

The city has owned the site, which previously hosted a landfill and the Fox Theater, since 1984. Despite earlier developer interests, previous projects were unsuccessful.

The Missoula Redevelopment Agency board will review agreements on July 7, and if approved, the City Council will discuss them on July 16, with a final vote on July 21.

Verbatim

“I would love to live in a world where the [U.S.] Senate wasn’t considering selling off our public lands, but as it stands, they are. … Knowing how much Missoulians and Montanans care about our public lands, I felt it was important to bring this resolution as quickly as I could to elevate our collective voices on an issue that matters so much to all of us.”

—Missoula City Council Member Eric Melson on a resolution he brought to the council on Monday in support of the continued federal management and stewardship of public lands.

The city council voted unanimously to support the resolution, drafted in response to Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee’s proposal to sell over 2 million acres of federal lands. Although the proposal was initially added to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Senate rules later found it in violation, Associated Press reported.

On Thursday, Missoula County commissioners passed a similar resolution. Additionally, the city council approved a resolution opposing federal cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. Mayor Andrea Davis emphasized the importance of these programs for local healthcare and food security.

Medicaid cuts could impact the behavioral health team, warned Council Member Stacie Anderson. Medicaid covers about a third of the budget for Missoula’s mobile support team, according to Assistant Fire Chief John Petroff. Council Members Bob Campbell and Sandra Vasecka opposed the Medicaid resolution.

5 Things to Know in Missoula

The Missoula City Council passed a resolution against “anti-competitive rental practices” on Wednesday, targeting price-fixing software used by major property firms. The software coordinates rental prices using shared, sensitive data, leading to inflated costs, according to the resolution. The U.S. Justice Department and several states have filed an antitrust lawsuit against RealPage, a real estate software company. At least one Montana company is implicated, said Council Member Kristen Jordan. Despite the city council’s inability to ban the software, Jordan highlighted the need for local awareness.

The Missoula City Council confirmed Lonnie Rash as the new fire chief on Monday. Rash, with over 25 years of fire service experience, will take over on July 7 after current Chief Gordy Hughes retires. Rash thanked the community for supporting the fire levy passed last June.

Construction of a roundabout at Scott Street and Phillips Street begins July 7. The project includes pedestrian crossings, lighting, drainage improvements, and bike lanes, wrapping up before the school year starts. The city approved a $754,900 contract with Knife River for the project, aimed at improving traffic safety on Scott Street. A detour map is available online.

The Missoula Public Library will stop its hotspot lending program on July 1 due to funding cuts. The program was funded through federal and state sources, but financial support has ended. The library is seeking new ways to promote digital access.

The Missoula County Democrats will host forums with city council candidates on July 2 and July 9. The events, open to the public, will occur at 5:30 p.m. in the Missoula Public Library. Discussions will include candidates from Wards 1 through 6, with some positions going to a primary election on September 9. The mayoral race will also include a primary.

Might be Fun

The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula will host its 4th at the Fort celebration on Independence Day. Suggested donations are $5 per person or $15 per family, supporting the museum and local youth clubs. Activities from 10 a.m. include live music, games, tours, and more.

Tickets are still available for the Zootown Music Festival on July 4 and 5 at the Missoula County Fairgrounds. The event will feature artists like Hozier and Kacey Musgraves. Gates open at 1:30 p.m., with performances starting at 2 p.m. Visit the Zootown Festival website for tickets and details.