Last Best News (https://montana-mint.com/lastbestnews/tag/one-big-sky-center/)
At a public meeting called to update people on the One Big Sky Center proposal for downtown Billings Thursday evening, there wasn’t much new information to be had. There were, however, plenty of questions from the audience of about 40 people, and a plea to keep the public more informed about the proposal. (more…) Continue Reading →
Listening to Hammes Co. President Bob Dunn last week, when he was telling the Billings City Council about the transformation of One Big Sky Center from a single downtown project to a comprehensive development strategy, I heard echoes from years ago. What really struck me in Dunn’s presentation was his insistence that Billings, if it did not want to be left in the dust, had to start thinking big, in a very organized way. (more…) Continue Reading →
One Big Sky Center, originally conceived of as a multimillion-dollar building project in the heart of downtown Billings, expanded considerably Monday night, at least conceptually. (more…) Continue Reading →
Like a show-stopping diva, the role of the arts in city government took center stage Tuesday in a forum of Billings City Council candidates at the Alberta Bair Theater. (more…) Continue Reading →
The Billings City Council heard a brief update Monday night from the president of the company that has taken the lead on a proposal to build a multimillion-dollar project in downtown Billings —which could be larger than originally planned. Bob Dunn, president of the Hammes Co., didn’t have much new information to share Monday, but he did say the partners involved in the One Big Sky Center would have a “concept development plan” done in November. The council previously set a Dec. 11 deadline for completing a development agreement between the city and the developers. (more…) Continue Reading →
As I drop down Interstate 90 into the river valley that holds the “Magic City,” I swear: I won’t ever live in Billings, Montana. The sun glints off a spawling refinery that dominates the city’s eastern entrance. A sickly sweet smell smacks my face, making my teeth ache and my stomach curl. And they’re processing sugar beets on the South Side. (more…) Continue Reading →
One Big Sky Center, a proposed development that would create the tallest building in Montana as the centerpiece of a $165 million project in downtown Billings, won the grudging support of the City Council Monday night. On a 6-2 vote, with two absences and one abstention, the council approved a memorandum of understanding with the project developers, giving them until June 30 to work with city staff and the city’s legal and financial consultants to come up with a final development agreement. (more…) Continue Reading →
The Billings City Council unanimously punted on a proposal to spend $35 million in tax increment funds Monday after splitting on a proposal to spend far less. (more…) Continue Reading →
The Billings City Council will have its first chance to endorse a multimillion-dollar downtown development project when it meets Monday night. The council will be asked to vote on a pre-development memorandum of understanding with the developers proposing to create the One Big Sky Center in the area of First Avenue North and North 29th Street. (more…) Continue Reading →
Backers of the huge building project proposed for downtown Billings will have to persuade a majority of the City Council to put up at least $30 million in public funds for the project to work. The tougher job might be winning the support of the city’s finance director, Pat Weber, to whom a lot of council members will be looking for guidance. (more…) Continue Reading →
