Missoula commission denies demolition permit for Fort Missoula post hospital

The Missoula Historic Preservation Commission on March 5 denied a historic preservation permit that would have allowed demolition of the Old Post Hospital (Building 9) at 3255 Lieutenant Moss Road in the Fort Missoula Historic District.

The commission voted to deny the application after multi-hour public testimony, staff analysis, a developer presentation asserting economic infeasibility, and lengthy commissioner questioning about structural reports, environmental documentation, and whether the owner had made a bona fide effort to pursue alternatives to demolition.

Staff recommended preliminary approval with conditions, concluding the applicant had submitted an economic analysis, a structural assessment, and evidence that it had marketed the building for sale. Elizabeth Johnson, Missoula’s historic preservation officer, summarized those submittals and the applicable review standard in Missoula Municipal Code Title 20.85.085(j). She noted the application package included an economic feasibility analysis by Stevenson Company, a third-party review, a structural assessment by Architecture of Belonging, environmental assessment materials, and documentation that the property had been marketed for 90 days, as required.

The developer and property owners told the commission the building is not economically viable to rehabilitate. David B. Gray, principal architect at DVG Architecture and Planning, representing FAE Missoula Hospital LLC, said the post hospital has “no viable economic…