7 minute read
Up close: Sweet developments on Brooks Street
Growing Missoula
Big Dipper expands as city eyes big changes for Brooks Street Corridor
Advertisement
DAVID ERICKSON
david.erickson@missoulian.com
Charlie Beaton celebrated the 25th year of owning and running Big Dipper Ice Cream by opening a brand-new location in Missoula’s Midtown area, also known as the Brooks Street Corridor.
Meanwhile, city officials are studying ways to transform the area to make it more pedestrian friendly while adding 15-minute bus service.
The new Big Dipper South shop has indoor seating, unlike the original location on the Hip Strip, and is located in the Paxson Plaza across the parking lot from the AMC dine-in movie theater.
Beaton is part of a wave of business owners who are flocking to Missoula’s Midtown area to serve the demands of the tens of thousands of people who live on the southern and central parts of town.
“There’s just a lot of development going on out here,” Beaton said.
He said he’s heard there will be a housing development going in near the mall soon. A new 110,000-square foot SCHEELS All Sports store is set to open in the mall in 2021, and the AMC movie theater is set to re-open in July. The Dram Shop next door to Big Dipper is putting the finishing touches on a new outdoor patio space. Tim Winger, the general manager of Southgate Mall, has hinted that a new tenant could be in place in the old Lucky’s Market grocery store space in the near future although nothing is confirmed.
Beaton hired 20 new workers for the In May, the Missoula Redevelopment organizations that aims to provide fixednew location to go with the 35-40 people Agency’s board heard a presentation route, 15-minute Mountain Line bus he already employs in Missoula. He’s got about the Brooks Corridor Transitservice in the area. Then, the study looks some unique flavors for the Midtown Oriented Development Infrastructure at ways to foster mixed-use development customers, including cayenne caramel, Study and committed $30,000 in Tax in that district with a range of housing vegan mint chip and butter pecan. The Increment Financing for the next phase. types and prices to support fixed-route chai milkshake, using Montana-made The study, essentially, is a document transit. Another goal is to improve the Tipu’s Chai, is also a big hit. It’s summer sponsored by multiple groups and corridor aesthetics with gateways, street now so people are enjoying trees and other plantings the new patio, but Beaton along with pedestrian-scale said it’ll be nice to have lighting and other amenities the indoor seating during to create a place where Missoula’s long fall, winter “people want to be and to and spring when it’s not so spend time.” nice out. According to Annette
Beaton worked 12-hour Marchesseault, a project days when he first started manager and redevelopment out as a young man selling specialist with the Missoula coffee and ice cream, and Redevelopment Agency, the he’s happy to finally have the goal is to “transform Brooks new location finished and Street into the dynamic, ready to go. economically thriving, multi-modal community
“It’s been a lot of fun,” resource it has the potential he said. to become.”
The reason he invested The Missoula Urban hundreds of thousands Transportation District, of dollars into a remodel the Missoula Midtown project along the Brooks Association, the Missoula Street Corridor is because County Fairgrounds and he, like many others, sees the City of Missoula are all potential and new business contributing funding and opportunities in the area. staff time to the effort to
A broad coalition of make the street feel like less Missoula groups have for of a car-centric “point A to the past two decades been point B” vibe. planning and tinkering at “Mountain Line has for plans for shaping the Brooks quite some time now been Corridor as a pedestrian- and bike-friendly thoroughfare Beaton installed the original Big Dipper sign at the wanting to get a 15-minute bus on the corridor,” for shopping and living. Paxson store. Marchesseault explained.
Jack Puckett dries out a rental pack raft at the Trail Head River Sports store in Midtown Missoula. The Trailhead recently expanded from its downtown Trailhead store. The River Sports store stocks everything from complete rafts, accessories, canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and more, along with a rental department and repair shop, and is the largest boat store of its kind in the Pacific Northwest.
“It sounds simple, but in order to make that work you have to get people safely on and off bus and safely across street so they can get to where they’re going. And you need a critical mass of population either working or living there.”
When pedestrians and bicyclists feel safe in the area, they’ll bring their checkbooks. That’s the theory that the MRA board is working on and why they unanimously voted to approve the funding for the next phase of the study.
“There’s 2,000 businesses along the Brooks Street Corridor that employ 17,000 people,” said board member Ruth Reineking. “Those are a lot of people that could utilize that bus system if it’s running. In that area there’s also a population of 16,000 people for which Brooks is a definite corridor, for which accessing the other side of the street is a barrier.”
She said the safety aspect is also an economic aspect.
“It’s worth emphasizing the opportunity for economic development with the permanence of the bus,” she said. “And just knowing Missoula is going to continue to grow. The economic opportunities there are really quite great, and I think that needs to be emphasized as well.”
Reineking said studies have shown that the transportation infrastructure in the area is going to be maxed out in 20 years, so the “time is now” to address it.
Marchesseault said she believes the study will help city leaders make decisions to improve the overall transit service and provide a “balanced, healthy business environment.”
“The vision is for some sort of transformation on Brooks Street,” she said. “It’s a broad coalition of groups and folks who are participating in this vision, all working together on this.”
Asaferworkplace is aboutfive minutes away. No matter the work, safetyworks in Montana. But improving safety on the job doesn’t have to be as time-consuming orexpensive as you mightthink. Our libraryofsafety videos is full ofsimple strategies to protectyourself and your co-workers. And they’re short. So you can get back to work. Wherever that is. See them all at safemt.com.
Our Team
“The Key to Opening Doors and Closing Transactions.”
Mary Burke Orizotti Owner/Broker 406-490-6061
“Your Favorite Home-girl.”
Rachael Orizotti Rixford Broker 406-490-9319
“Prioritizing Your Real Estate Needs Daily.”
Haley Tomich Sales Associate 406-207-4119
“Luxury, Lifestyle and Location.”
Kathy Cotner Sales Associate 406-207-0540
“Sold Under the Big Sky.”
Stephanie Orizotti Nelson Sales Associate 406-490-7222
“Proudly Serving All Your Real Estate Needs.”
Alec Bray Sales Associate 406-546-0712
Palmer Park - Commercial Office Space Canyon River
NOW is the TIME to BUILD. PICTURESQUE Building sites. River Location, Golf Course Location, Pond Location. Phase 6 & 7 fully developed and selling quickly. Recreation includes golfing, fishing, biking, hiking, floating, trail walking and running. Incredible views of the mountain ranges and river sunsets. A GREAT place to call HOME
26112 Sliding Horse Lane
Superior Office Space. Size varies starting at 2,000 sq ft up to 20,000 sq ft. Customize to fit your needs and wants. Tenant improvements can be added to rent and amortized over lease period. Lease can include on site management, taxes and insurance. Ample parking, excellent location. Experience Montana Living at it’s Finest! Nestled on 5 acres with amazing views and horse property, nice outbuildings for all your animals, all living on one level 4 bedroom 3 bath beautiful tile and granite accent in all rooms, with over-sized 3 vehicle garage.
