Downtown Missoula

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Coordinates: 46°52′20″N 113°59′38″W / 46.87222°N 113.99389°W / 46.87222; -113.99389
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Downtown Missoula
North American Mountain Time Zone
Websitemissouladowntown.com

Downtown Missoula is the central business district in

Wilma Building
.

History

Early history

Missoula never "boomed" as many western Montana towns did as a consequence of the gold rush, though the town did grow rapidly, and by 1872 the town had 66 new buildings. Higgins and Worden established the town's first stores and banks, but by 1876 the pair faced its largest competition and rivalry from Eddy, Hammond and company, who established the

Missoula (second in Montana) at its completion in 1921.

The Wilma Building

20th century and modern times

Some significant events in the 20th century in Downtown Missoula included: Street cars being introduced in 1910 (but were replaced by buses in 1932).

Missoula. Currently under construction is the East Front Parking structure. It was scheduled to be completed in Fall of 2012.[5]

Current ongoing Projects

Sawmill District restoration (mill site)

The Sawmill district is an ongoing restoration project.[6] It is the restoration of a former mill site near downtown Missoula. A mix of residential and commercial use, it has a wide range of housing densities and scales. Once completed it will provide a prime opportunity in close proximity to downtown with the advantages of open space, such as the new silver park and the Clark Fork river. The project will include a mix of low, medium, and high density housing. The project will also include several new streets. One new street will connect Wyoming st. and Cregg lane, in which will also provide a new link from Russel street and Orange street. Several other new streets will be made horizontally from this main connection. Silver park will also be a new addition to the site; it will be 14 acres with full accommodations such as a green space common area, shelters, playgrounds, artwork, a new parking lot, and a boat ramp for the Clark Fork river.

Russell street apartment complex

A local development firm has started construction on a 224-unit apartment complex, and the first unit is set to open by July 2013.[7] A 19.5 million dollar project, the complex will occupy a vacant space on Russell street in close proximity to downtown Missoula. Demolition of the site began in January 2013. Along with apartments for low- to medium-income housing, it will include commercial buildings at some point along Russell street. Considered a "mini" community by the firm, it will include a 3,500 sq. foot clubhouse, a pool, and a movie theater.

Higgins and Front

The Higgins and Front area of downtown is considered the center of downtown. It began to grow in the late 19th century and has been growing since. In the early 20th century this part of downtown had electrified streetcars.

Wilma Building, and Wilma Theatre. Others include the Millennium Building, the First Interstate Center, the Florence Hotel, and the newly constructed Garlington Building
.

Buildings

See also: List of buildings and structures in Missoula, Montana

Wilma Building, The Garlington Building, and the Florence Hotel. Missoula is home to over 60 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places
.

Tallest buildings

Place Address Floors Year(s) built Primary use
Millennium Building 125 Bank Street 9 1996–98 office/residential
Wilma Building
(historic)		 131 S. Higgins Ave 8 1921 Theatre/residential
Florence Hotel 111 N. Higgins Ave. 7 1941 Hotel/residential
Park Place parking structure 201 East front st 7 (2 below ground) 2010–2012 Parking structure/retail
First Interstate Center
 101 E. Front Street 6 2008–09 office
First Security Bank
 100 E. Broadway 6 office
Garlington Building 138 West Broadway 6 2010 Office

Cityscape

Viewing north towards Higgins Avenue.

Geography

Downtown Missoula and the rest of the city.

Downtown Missoula is mostly flat except for parts of the

Missoula. The University of Montana district is located just upstream of the Clark Fork River which makes downtown even more busy during the school's session(s)'. Downtown Missoula also has two main parks in its downtown district. Downtown Missoula has also suffered from smog in the past, resulting in pollution.[12]

Enlarging downtown

Downtown has had numerous new small businesses move into the area, and several organizations; one of which started right in downtown itself; the Missoula Downtown Association. The MDA (MDA)[13] has been a large organization recently in Missoula. The MDA formed in 1975 and has organized nearly every event that has met together in the downtown area for the past several decades. With the help of the Missoula Downtown Association, downtown's main venue recently has been Caras Park; which is right next to the heart of Downtown Missoula, and the Missoula carousel.[14]

Missoula Art Museum

Main article: Missoula Art Museum

The Missoula Art Museum was founded in 1975, and has been accredited by the American Alliance of Museums since 1987.[15]

MAM maintains a permanent collection held in trust for the people of Missoula County, with a specific commitment to collecting and exhibiting contemporary art by American Indian artists and that of the Montana Modernists.

Parks

Caras Park

The Caras Park Pavilion is located in the heart of Downtown Missoula on the Clark Fork River. With the help of the Missoula Downtown Association, Caras Park has been the main venue to these yearly events:[14] A Carousel for Missoula, a hand carved carousel built by volunteers is located adjacent to Caras Park

  • Out to Lunch
  • Downtown ToNight
  • Garden City River Rod
  • International Wildlife Film Festival
  • WildFest
  • Parks & Recreation Kids Fest
  • YMCA Riverbank Run
  • First Night Missoula
  • Garden City BrewFest
  • Garden City LocalFest
  • Hemp Fest
  • GermanFest
  • Concerts by Jewel
  • Chris Isaak
  • Los Lobos
  • Santana
  • Ziggy Marley and
  • B.B. King

Kiwanis Park

Kiwanis Park is a park located in the Downtown Missoula district. It is the Largest park in the district, and is adjacent to the Clark Fork River, so it is most occupied during the summer.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ Economics Research Associates (23 December 2009). "Project Report, Missoula Greater Downtown Master Plan – Housing and Retail Market Demand Analysis" (PDF). Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  2. ^ Early Missoula (1864–1883)
  3. ^ A New Century (1898–1920)`
  4. ^ "Our History". A Carousel for Missoula. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  5. ^ Missoula, MT - Official Website - Major Projects
  6. ^ http://oldsawmilldistrict.com/
  7. ^ "Work begins on 224-unit apartment complex off Missoula's Russell Street". 10 January 2013.
  8. ^ a b c d Historic Missoula - Higgins and Front
  9. ^ Aber Hall | Buildings | EMPORIS[dead link]
  10. ^ Jesse Hall | Buildings | EMPORIS[dead link]
  11. ^ Millennium Building | Buildings | EMPORIS
  12. ^ Environmental Health - Air Quality: Current Status Report
  13. ^ "About the Missoula Downtown Association". missouladowntown.com. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  14. ^ a b Caras Park | Missoula Downtown | MDA/BID Archived 11 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ About | Missoula Art Museum - free expression free admission
  16. ^ Park of Kiwanis Park (Missoula), Missoula, Montana

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Downtown Missoula, Montana.

46°52′20″N 113°59′38″W / 46.87222°N 113.99389°W / 46.87222; -113.99389

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