Missoula approves Midtown Commons housing project near Southgate Mall

MISSOULA, Mont. — The City Council recently moved ahead with a major Midtown housing project after hours of debate focusing on trees, public money, affordability and green space.

The Council approved the Midtown Commons development agreement on Monday night in a 9-3 vote. The project will reportedly add housing, public park space and trail connections on long-vacant land near Southgate Mall.

Residents who spoke to the council were split, with some asking leaders to slow down because of concerns about removing mature trees, losing natural space and whether the homes would truly be affordable.

Others backed the plan and argued that it would turn unused land into housing and a managed public park.

Ellen Buchanan, director of the Missoula Redevelopment Agency, explained how the property came together.

"The first purchase that the city made was two purchases from two different owners, which is one reason that that property has never developed because they could never agree on exactly what they wanted to do with it. So the city stepped in," Buchanan said. "There actually are three property purchases involved in this transaction. One of which is not taking place."

Council member Gwen Jones said the long history of the site mattered in her decision.

"The fact that this has been 50 years as a vacant lot, is a really important factor to me, that this is a dormant asset sitting in the middle of our city when we desperately need housing, and it is close to so many different commercial services and good transportation," Jones said. "Hopefully in the long run with the the Brooks corridor, rapid transit, this could be a fantastic place to live."

Council also considered amendments tied to tree removal, irrigation ditch approval and an earlier site plan known as Option A, however, those proposals did not pass.

A separate amendment on owner occupancy did pass, aiming to keep some for-sale units from immediately turning into rentals.