Envision West Broadway

The City of Missoula, through the Missoula Redevelopment Agency (MRA), partnered with the Business Improvement District (BID) and the Missoula Economic Partnership (MEP) in 2021 to launch a comprehensive master plan for the West Broadway area.

Learn more about the West Broadway area and what this master plan envisions for its future below.

 

What Is the West Broadway Area? 

The West Broadway area is part of Missoula’s Westside Neighborhood—a vibrant, dynamic, and diverse community. It’s located near many of Missoula’s most beloved amenities, including the Clark Fork River, the Riverfront Trail, Downtown Lions Park, and the California Street pedestrian bridge, which offers direct access to Silver Park.

What Is the West Broadway Master Plan? 

The West Broadway Master Plan is an adopted vision that outlines how to enhance this area over the coming years. It identifies the area bordered by West Broadway Street, California Street, Russell Street, and the Clark Fork River as a key “gateway” in Missoula’s broader planning efforts.

The plan includes conceptual designs for infill development, improved trail and park connections, and a safer, more accessible experience for pedestrians and bicyclists crossing West Broadway. The goal is to reduce the barrier that West Broadway currently poses between the Westside Neighborhood and the river, parks, and trails.

Since the Downtown Master Plan was completed, the City has purchased several properties in the West Broadway area and is working on relocating the Missoula Water facilities. These strategic land acquisitions give the City a strong position to shape redevelopment through ongoing public engagement. They also enable the City to form partnerships that guide not just who develops the area, but how development takes place. This site is also part of Missoula’s only Opportunity Zone, making it even more appealing for thoughtful, community-focused investment and development.

Review the final version of the West Broadway Master Plan here.

What Was the West Broadway Master Plan Development Process?

The development of the West Broadway Master Plan began with a five-day Virtual Public Design Charrette in April 2021. This interactive workshop was designed to gather community input and create a shared vision for how the site should evolve over time. A neighborhood-wide survey was also distributed to capture additional feedback.

Using this input, an initial draft of the plan was created and presented during a public input session held on October 7, 2021.

Following that, the plan underwent a formal adoption process, ultimately becoming an amendment to the Downtown Missoula Master Plan and a component of the City’s official Growth Policy.

Multiple opportunities were provided for public review and comment throughout the adoption process:

  • The Missoula Planning Board held a public hearing on November 16.
  • The Missoula City Council hosted a public hearing on December 6.
  • The plan was also presented to and adopted by:
    • The Business Improvement District (BID) Board on November 16.
    • The Missoula Redevelopment Agency (MRA) Board on November 18.