Old Sawmill District development kicks it up a notch this summer

Missoula's Old Sawmill District will see even more development in coming months, with plans for construction of the development's new tech center, a gastropub and its first townhomes.

The Sawmill Grille should be open by the fall, with construction of the new tech center and townhomes starting around the same time, Old Sawmill District co-owner Leslie Wetherbee said Tuesday.

The pub will be located in Cambium Place; developers are waiting for the beer and wine license to set an official opening date. The restaurant will offer casual lunch and dinner items in a space occupying about 2,800 square feet, including the kitchen.

Wetherbee said the pub should be open by this fall.

“It’s going to be a more casual atmosphere, but it’s a place where you’ll be able to go to meet up with friends or if you want to have a quiet, more intimate dinner, there will be a place for that as well,” she said.

The district’s townhome project should break ground by the fall as well, with construction planned in multiple phases. The first phase should see the development of about 15 townhomes; eventually, 60 will be built.

“We’re really excited about it, and we have a lot of interest in it already,” Wetherbee said. “I think the townhomes will go very quickly. We only have about 10 condos left for sale in Polleys Square, so those have gone very quickly.”

The tech center, which will be located across from Cambium Place, will provide commercial and office space. With construction planned for late summer or fall, Wetherbee’s hoping to house a childcare center, restaurants, and spa-centered businesses in the building.

She said that while the number of office spaces is still undecided, the center will have around 180,000 to 200,000 square feet of commercial space.

The Sawyer housing project will be completed in July and will house students in August. It’s now accepting student applications for the 2019-2020 school year, she said.

The 126,000-square-foot building has four floors, and is located alongside Polleys Square and Cambium Place on Wyoming Street.

“We’re getting a lot of applications and we’re getting a lot of traction there too,” Wetherbee said.

In the future, developers are also planning to build a senior living and learning center, a 20-room boutique inn, 650 to 700 new residential units, ranging from warehouse flats to condos, and other commercial and mixed use buildings.

Contact reporter Mari Hall via email at mari.hall@missoulacurrent.com.