Originally published in the 4/6/18 print edition of Yellowstone County News
BILLINGS — Stating that the only reason the One Big Sky Center project has stalled “is because of what people don’t know about the project,” Kris Carpenter, Chairwoman of the Billings Chamber of Commerce Board, was joined by a host of others to persuade members of the City Council to approve a request of $100,000 to help fund a planning study for the two districts that comprise the project.
The project is “about what could be, in our community,” said Carpenter, in speaking at The Strategy Partnership for One Big Sky District (OBSD) Development and the Council, last week.
“It’s a transformative project,” declared Randy Hafer, a downtown developer and business owner.
Mike Nelson, owner of the Northern Hotel, said he is being kept awake nights with the excitement at the prospect of the proposed project.
The City Council is expected to take up the discussion on April 9, and to also consider a request from the Downtown Billings Partnership to borrow $400,000 to also contribute to the $675,000 being requested of the community to help fund a $1.2 million planning study. The Hammes Group, the Wisconsin-based company that wants to build a convention center in downtown Billings, will pay the balance of the study.
The study would lay forth future development plans for two areas of Billings, a central downtown area for a hospitality/convention district, and a healthcare corridor area along North 27th Street, which would focus on expanding Billings’ healthcare industry and downtown residential development.
The Strategic Partnership is a coalition of groups promoting the project that includes The Hammes Group, Billings Chamber of Commerce, Big Sky Economic Development (BSED), Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID), Downtown Billings Partnership and others.
City Councilman Dick Clark said that he thought it is important to make clear that the city’s contribution is more than just $100,000.
The Downtown Billings Partnership, which administers a downtown tax increment finance (TIF) district, wants the TIF to borrow the $400,000 from the Big Sky Economic Development Authority, a county agency, to be paid back over the next three years as new revenues accrue incrementally to the TIF district.
The Yesteryears building will be used for collateral, a building the City of Billings purchased for $800,000 to advance the initial One Big Sky Center proposal, which was the plan of a different out-of-state developer. That proposal was for one large towering multi-purpose structure.
BSED has also pledged another $50,000 contribution to fund study costs. The Chamber of Commerce has pledged $15,000; TBID, $15,000, and many businesses — from small businesses like Kris Carpenter’s to the Billings Clinic — have also contributed, according to Steve Arveschoug, BSED director.
The scope of the study and other details will be ironed out during the month of April, at which point a request for bids will be issued. As much as possible, local companies will be used in doing the work, said Arveschoug. They foresee a planning project kickoff for May 1.
BSED will act as contracting and fiscal agent for the study project.
Downtown businessman Gary Buchanan suggested that “we need a little financial … Read 2nd half of story in print or by subscribing online here.
