Commission approves COA for Dirty Dog & Car Wash at 24 W. Mercury Street over public objections

The Butte-Silver Bow Historic Preservation Commission approved a Certificate of Appropriateness on May 5 for the Dirty Dog & Car Wash proposed for 24 W. Mercury Street, despite a public commenter urging the commission to reject the original design for incompatibility with the National Historic Landmark District.

Mitzi Rossillon, speaking during the public-comment period on agenda items, read passages from the BSB Historic Preservation Ordinance and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and said the HPC should vote no on the original design being brought forward. Rossillon stated concerns about size, scale and building use within the historic district.

At the COA review, HPO Kate McCourt reintroduced the project and explained that, following an earlier denial in December 2025, the applicants had altered the design to reduce costs (changing planned brick veneer to corrugated metal). The lot owners, Selina Pankovich and Johnny Liston, said the property is zoned commercially and that they had worked with an architect and invested in the design process. Liston said they had invested personal funds: "they had put in $80,000 of their own money in just the design of the project." The applicants requested approval of the original brick-veneer design to pursue URA funding.

Commissioner Russell O’Leary moved to approve the COA as presented; Jennifer Petersen seconded. Chairman Steve Hinick recused himself from the vote. The motion carried with four yes votes and one no. The transcript did not record individual member vote choices other than the recusal and the tally.

Commissioners discussed elements including roof finish, door design and the possibility of tinted or smoky glass on roll-up doors to reduce visual impact. The HPC emphasized compatibility with Uptown Butte character and suggested material and color refinements where possible.