Historic Preservation Permit: Post Hospital Demolition

Welp, yet another decaying building in Missoula. No solutions were put forward to work with the owner and developer. Instead NIMBYs fought this on the grounds of history, even though the building was to be included in the residential project. Sorry, most of the Fort is just a tired blight and under utilized, but somehow that's better than progress of any kind. The hospital doesn't fall under the historic portion of structures, so the community should push for it to become more. This is a standard practice in Europe and even larger cities in the US. Leaving old stuff to fall apart doesn't do anything for future generations. This is a joke for Missoula.

This will be on the screen record and too late for inclusion to the public record. It has been said many times it is clear the developer has little regard for the historic value of the hospital building or they would have directed some project funding immediately on purchase to stabilize at a minimum the roof to limit further degradation. You don’t buy a fixer-upper and watch it degrade unless you don’t have cable TV channels. This was a cheap land purchase in the wonderful grounds of the hugely historic Fort. The building didn’t have to be demolished it could have been stabilized and left vacant as a significant element of the area history. Developer is like many others, wanting to make a buck off a deal. Look at the property today in a deliberate state of post storm damage. Then ask yourself , “are these the kind of people you would want for neighbors in the future “?

Losing the old post hospital would be tragic. Worse, it would be a self inflicted tragedy. There have been many proposals over the years that would have repurposed the hospital in a manner that preserved its historic character, without requiring ancillary development. Each proposal has been shot down by the Save the Fort group

If possible, the developer’s original proposal should be revisited. The reality is that the rehabilitation of the hospital will be very costly, and require subsidy from more profitable development of the private lands on which it’s located.
Given all the vilification Mr Wolf, the developer, has endured, it would be understandable if he was unwilling to run that gauntlet a second time. Here’s hoping he can be convinced to do so.

In reviewing the Demolition Application it appears that the developer chose to not do any due diligence before purchasing the Old Post Hospital. Why?
The kind of analysis contained in the Application would have been done by any other experienced buyer during a typical due diligence period and resulted in a completely different type of sale to a more appropriate party.
All the developer talk about restoring the hospital now appears to have been a ploy to get approval for his proposed residential and commercial development.
Fortunately the city leaders saw the ploy for what it was. The developer was extremely upset and vowed revenge - including continuing to hold threat of a lawsuit against the city - so here we are.
Was there any real intent on the part of the developer to save the hospital or was the demo card always intended to eventually be played?
It will, of course, be a shame if the Old Post Hospital is demolished, but let us not forget what really happened here.
If the developer is willing to offer the hospital for sale at the price he paid - then the Old Post Hospital will be saved from demolition.

Please do not allow for the demolition for this valued historic building. It's a wonderful asset. A spiteful reaction shouldn't prevail. There must be a resolution that can be facilitated?

Let’s assume the demolition permit is denied. So now we have building that will more than likely fail under its own weight. In the comments that I’ve so far read not a single one has proposed a viable solution. So what will happen to the Fort? The current city administration is not in a position to take on any project that would require significant investment to preserve the fort. And don’t look to the Federal Government to step in and bail out the project.
Maybe in place of “us” against “them” why can’t the developers and the city administration and the Historical Preservation group come up with a solution that makes it a win win proposition for both entities? Far be it to let common sense prevail. Regardless of the outcome I can see this ending up in the courts in which case the only winners would be the lawyers.

By way of introduction I am the author of "That Beautiful Little Post: The Story of Fort Missoula." I also served on the board of the Friends of the Historical Museum for 6 years, and the Missoula County Board of Trustees for the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula for 10 years. I oppose the demolition permit for the post hospital at Fort Missoula. I don't believe the historic area of Fort Hospital, including the post hospital, is a suitable place for housing. The developer should have been aware of long-standing and well-documented community opposition to housing in this area before he purchased the property. I do not believe approval of this demolition permit is in the best interest of Missoula citizens, and feel that approval of the demolition permit will send a clear message that a private land developer's financial interests take precedent over preserving Missoula's culture and history for our citizens.

It was my understanding that when this project was proposed, the hospital would be renovated NOT demolished! I do not believe the park area was meant to be used as a redevelopment site for housing and least of all housing for high end condos or apartments! I totally oppose ANY construction which would turn park property into a commercial development!

To the myopic and shortsighted MHPC you need to reevaluate your decision on denying the original development plan to rehab the hospital at Ft. Missoula. As a local developer, my business partner and I have taken on two historic projects in downtown Missoula. The end result was turning two empty buildings into two vibrant business locations that support not only downtown growth but other local businesses as well. Additionally what was minimal property tax revenue now adds substantial revenue to the city coffers.
The next question becomes if the demolition permit is denied what is to become of the old hospital? The city and or the county do not have the financial resources to take on the project. So then what? Not privy to any timeframe the hospital will most likely collapse under its own weight. Then what? No development, no new tax revenue, no new housing in a central location that has all the infrastructure close by and a developer that has stepped forward and offered to turn a blighted site into a functioning resource that the residents and city can be proud of. Face the facts preservation committee, look beyond your shortsided and myopic agenda.
Michael boehme

To the myopic and shortsighted MHPC you need to reevaluate your decision on denying the original development plan to rehab the hospital at Ft. Missoula. As a local developer, my business partner and I have taken on two historic projects in downtown Missoula. The end result was turning two empty buildings into ‘

Preserve Historic Missoula would like to take this opportunity to comment on the demolition permit for the Fort Missoula Post Hospital that was recently submitted to the Missoula City Historic Preservation Office. We would urge the Historic Preservation Commission to deny the historic preservation permit for two reasons. The procedures for a historic preservation permit are spelled out in the city municipal code at 20.85.085. The code states, in part, that “a comparative economic assessment for the utilization of all financial incentives currently available…” The developers provide no evidence they have examined all of the incentives available. The developers state the Montana Department of Commerce Historic Preservation grants are not applicable as the application period is over. This completely ignores the application and availability of funds for the next biennium. They cite the ceiling for grant request at $500,000 as insufficient to meet their needs. The developers then ignore the fact that it is possible to submit multiple applications. Theoretically during the design, preservation, and build span for their project they could apply three times and receive 1.5 million in funding, which is not an insignificant amount. In addition, the developers state “Federal Historic Tax Credits: Not applicable since these are tax credits which are applied toward future net income streams and not directly for construction or rehabilitation costs.” This is not true. Qualified expenditures for the rehabilitation of historic structures are indeed allowed.

The municipal code also includes a discussion of demolition by neglect. The code states “Hardships may not be caused by the owners neglect or intentional lack of appropriate maintenance.” The Historic Preservation Commission is allowed to consider any evidence of a self-created hardship through deliberate neglect. The developers state “The roof is covered with clay tiling and is beginning to fail, as evidenced by ceiling damage at many locations in the building.” During the open house held by the developers on August 19 2023, members of our organization asked about the condition of the roof and if they were going to make any attempts to cover the roof to prevent any further moisture damage. The developers’ claimed they could not put tarps on the roof because they could not obtain a permit for that, although no permit would be required. The developers’ description of the scope of work for the proposed renovation is particularly revealing in light of their self-created demolition by neglect.

The developers for the Post Hospital have provided incomplete and misleading information in their demolition permit application. The developers have self-created an economic hardship through their own demolition by neglect. Preserve Historic Missoula urges the Historic Preservation Commission to deny the application.

Preserve Historic Missoula Board of Directors, Jared Schmitz, Kayla Blackman, Dylan Yonce, Maggie Luthin, Josie Omeara, Skylar Rispen, Jennifer Anthony, Alan Noonan, Rob Henry, Dan Hall, Page Good