Historic Fort Missoula Coalition

"Preserving our history, our nature, our Fort"

The Proposal: Rezone a portion of our Fort Missoula to commercial and residential, demolish one historic structure, claim to rehabilitate the Old Post Hospital, and build 16 multi-story residential homes and two commercial buildings along the Bitterroot River on the Fort’s historic grounds.

This development would require a rezone of the current Fort zoning which protects the buildings, historic landscape, and open space. The residential development would reduce an area with approximately 90% open space down to 40%. This unwarranted for-profit redesign of Fort Missoula would radically alter the historic landscape and remove open space, eliminating historic green space for townhomes and private parking.

This overbuild ill-serves the heritage of the 1200 Italian and 1000 Japanese men interned at Fort Missoula during World War II. The average age of the Japanese internee was 60. In the area of the proposed townhomes these elderly Japanese men gathered stones along the riverbank to polish and use in artworks. Fort Missoula is the most intact wartime incarceration camp in the U.S., and is recognized as an International Site of Conscience.

Fort Missoula provides an opportunity for citizens of all ages to visit and enjoy. The natural values develop a sense of wonder, understanding and stewardship. The convenient location of Fort Missoula becomes increasingly important to meet the open space needs of Missoula's expanding population. Visitors can gain a sense of place and well-being and an understanding of the important role Fort Missoula has played in the history of this state and this country

Dense residential and commercial development is not needed to preserve the old Post Hospital. Historic grants, historic tax credits, community and organizational support can be utilized for stabilization and preservation. The existing Fort Missoula preservation public and private preservation agencies have successfully accomplished a wide variety of building preservation projects for nearly half a century. This unique area and its history can and should be preserved for future generations.

“With (this proposal) comes offices, a restaurant, and 15 high income townhouses...Suddenly that quiet green campus is gone. Do you want this?” - Victor Machart

“Why on earth would the city/county of Missoula allow such a wonderful historic property that is a treasure for the community to become another field of ugly buildings?” - Jan Jarvie

“The Fort is our shining gem that makes us what we are. Development is not necessarily the best use for this property.” - John Langstaf

”Bird habitat on the Bitterroot River will be decimated...This development should never have been conceptualized for Fort Missoula, let alone get this far in the process.” - Susan Cuf

From Buckhouse Bridge to MacClay Flat, the Bitterroot River corridor supports a unique array of riparian and wetland wildlife. The riverbank is one of the most valuable, bird-rich locations in the Missoula Valley that provides essential habitat for significant numbers of migrant and breeding birds. The Clark Fork-Grass Valley Important Bird Area (IBA) encompasses this corridor. This IBA is formally recognized as a cornerstone in the Missoula Urban Area Open Space Plan. Residential development now proposed for Fort Missoula will irrevocably degrade the sensitive habitats along the river, which make up some of the most ecologically important areas under our community’s care. We believe this entire three-mile reach of river corridor should be kept in its natural state for inclusion in a Fort Missoula Natural Area. This river corridor is a gift to the City of Missoula, and a treasure needing protection for all citizens to enjoy now and in future generations.

Please email or call the Missoula City Council to oppose this development: council@ci.missoula.mt.us
406 552-6012

Local Organizations Opposing Development:

Bonner Milltown History Center & Museum

Clark Fork Coalition

Five Valleys Audubon Society

Friends of the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula Friends of 2 Rivers Montana Natural History Center Mullan Road Conference Committee Members Northern Rockies Heritage Center Rocky Mountain Museum of Military History Preserve Historic Missoula Save the Fort, Inc.

Target Range Homeowners Association

National and International Organizations Opposing Development:

Amache Aliance for the Granada Relocation Center Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Association

Dayton Chapter-Japanese American Citizens League

Friends of Minidoka

Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation

Japanese American Citizens League - National Japanese American Citizens League - Dayton Chapter Japanese American Citizens League - San Fernando Valey Chapter

Japanese American Citizens League - Seattle Chapter

Japanese American Confinement Sites Coalition Japanese American Museum of Oregon

Japanese American National Museum

Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai’i

Minidoka Pilgrimage Planning Committee

National Japanese American Memorial Foundation Tuna Canyon Detention Station Coalition

The California Museum

International Coalition of Sites of Conscience