Public Works to stay on West Broadway, launch $10M renovation

Martin Kidston

(Missoula Current) The city's department of Public Works and Mobility will stay in its West Broadway location and plans to invest $10.2 million to improve the building to accommodate employees and other public needs.

To aid in the project, the Missoula Redevelopment Agency has pledged roughly $910,000 in tax increment to cover public-facing improvements.

“This is a prudent project,” said MRA project manager Annette Marchesseault. “This is a significant improvement in the West Broadway corridor and it aggregates a lot of city staff in one location, which provides employees who activate the area at lunchtime and that sort of economic activity.”

The project, which has received funding approval from City Council, will take place in two phases. The first includes a new 16,000 square-foot truck barn to support Missoula Water and other exterior improvements. It's expected to begin this year.

The second phase includes the renovation of the existing office building, expanded public parking and a conference room with the capacity of around 80 people. The latter could serve other city needs.

“It could be a secondary City Council site for large meetings, or other departments that need conference space or training space,” said engineering manager Ross Mollenhauer.

The project will also add and modernize office space. When the city acquired Mountain Water in 2017, the office held just 35 employees. That has since growth to 62.

“It's made it a little crowded,” Mollenhauer said. “It's definitely an older building with a lot of HVAC problems and offices with no windows. We know our department is going to grow as well in the next 20 years.”

The city initially considered placing Public Works on property it purchased off Scott Street. But the cost to renovate or construct a new building ran as high as $40 million.

Investing in the West Broadway facility proved to be the cheaper option and it could help activate the neighborhood, said Public Works Director Jeremy Keene.

“This is a responsible fiscal decision for us to stay there,” said Keene. “We've struggled to see investment in that West Broadway corridor. We're hoping we can lead, say we believe in this area. We're going to keep 80 employees on West Broadway and hopefully we'll see some other properties respond in turn.”