Connecting Major Entertainment Venue to Downtown Redevelopment of a vacant industrial parcel kicks off revitalization of a district in Billings, MT Project Summary The east side of Billings, Montana has long been the industrial hub for the city and today, the area is being revitalized into a mixed-use neighborhood that blends the industrial past with new residential and commercial uses. The target brownfield site is located between the MetraPark entertainment venue on the east and the East Billings Urban Renewal District (EBURD) to the west. This location makes the site an interesting nexus for future development that could spur additional redevelopment in the post-industrial EBURD area and serve as a supporting amenity for visitors to MetraPark. The Community's Challenge The EBURD sits adjacent to downtown Billings and while momentum for development has been growing in West Billings, little has occurred in the EBURD given its heavy industrial past. The EBURD is between downtown and the MetraPark entertainment venue, one of Billings greatest assets, and has been seen as a barrier to connecting these two areas and generating economic activity. At the same time, the city is facing increasing housing pressure as the population grows in the Mountain West. The EBURD has been envisioned as a vibrant mixed use neighborhood that once revitalized, could bring additional jobs, economic growth, and needed housing. The EBURD has potential to reintegrate this large industrial area into the neighborhood fabric of Billings. The 700 4th Avenue site is about 2.8 acres of vacant commercial property and had previously been used for automobile storage. EPA's Land Revitalization Technical Assistance In 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Land Revitalization Program provided contractor technical assistance to complete a site design for the 700 4th Avenue property. While the design focuses on the single parcel, the final plan includes consideration of how this parcel can influence and shape the redevelopment of the entire East Billings District and strengthen the connection between MetraPark and the District. The team held three workshops with city planners and key community stakeholders to inform the design process. The site plan for the East Billings site includes a mix of commercial uses on the ground floor, approximately 315 hotel rooms, a sky bridge connecting pedestrians to MetraPark, and an underground garage to accommodate additional parking in the district. The plan for the district elevates the pedestrian experience with restaurants and shops along an activated 3rd Avenue and expands access to green open space. Rendering of hotel and future mixed use East Side Billings District. For more information, contact Greg Davis, EPA Region 8 Brown fields Program, at davis.areaorv@epa.gov or Stacey Eriksen at eriksen.stacev@epa.gov. Community: Billings, Montana Technical Assistance: Site Design Former Use: Industrial and Gas Station Future Use: Mixed Use and Hotel United States Environmental Protection M % Agency Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization 560-F-22-037 ------- |