FAQs

The project will be developed by Averill Hospitality, a family-owned company based in Whitefish, Montana. Known for properties such as The Lodge at Whitefish Lake and the Firebrand Hotel, Averill specializes in delivering high-quality, Montana-inspired experiences. Their approach emphasizes community engagement, attention to place-based design, and exceptional guest service. Averill also currently operates the DoubleTree by Hilton Missoula - Edgewater. Averill is the successor developer from the original Fox Hotel request for proposals.

The project includes a hotel and conference center, a new parking facility with the potential for public parking, and a public plaza. 

The City of Missoula's Redevelopment Agency participation in this project creates a public-private partnership with the developer Averill Hospitality where Tax Increment Financing pays for infrastructure that benefits the whole community (you can learn more about Tax Increment Financing at this link). 

For this project, Tax Increment Financing will pay for subsurface utilities as part of the standard infrastructure improvements made in an Urban Renewal District. Subsurface utilities are safer, they protect the viewshed, and they allow for vertical construction. Tax Increment Financing will also fund improvements to adjacent streets, sidewalks, landscaping, the riverfront trail, and a public plaza.

The project supports affordable housing through an Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) voluntary tax donation.

Ultimately, $4M in proceeds from the sale of the Riverfront Triangle property will fund the (AHTF). Averill Hospitality will collect a 1% assessment on all room and food & beverage revenue, estimated to be $300,000 annually, and donate it to the AHTF for a period of up to 10 years or until the donation reaches $3M.

Upon expiration of the AHTF donation, Averill Hospitality will continue to fund a charitable or community organization located in Missoula. 

In addition to the donation by the developer to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the public benefits of this project include: 

• new infrastructure that will incentivize the development of the remainder of the Riverfront Triangle
• the expansion of downtown to the west across Orange Street
• new tax increment created by this and other development in the Urban Renewal District should be adequate to eventually fund a new pedestrian bridge to McCormick Park
• the possibility of additional public parking and a new bridge would help relieve the parking pressure on the south side of the river