Reports and budgeting exercises commissioned to determine the viability of redeveloping the south campus of the former Montana Developmental Center found that high costs associated with renovating two historic buildings on the site would likely preclude efforts to profitably rent them out or sell units inside, but demolishing them would also be costly.
At a public presentation on Nov. 18, representatives from FourFront Design, SMA Architects and Highland Economics unveiled cost estimates for demolishing buildings five and nine, renovating one or the other, and renovating both buildings, as well as projected rental rates and sale prices required to offset renovation costs.
Building five, a former dormitory built in 1923 and designed by the same firm as Helena’s Civic Center, has been vacant for more than 40 years, according to a preliminary architectural report from SMA. The structure was built well, “has an open plan to support almost any building program” and received a new roof in 2011. Building nine, formally named Griffin Hall, was completed in 1912 and was the original building of the Montana State Training School, according to SMA. The report said that Griffin Hall was damaged by fire in 1964 and that subsequent repairs resulted in the abandonment of the fourth floor. Presenters at the meeting also noted damage from a deteriorating roof and pigeons that live in the building. Both buildings contain asbestos and lead-based paint, and would require abatement of both if the buildings were demolished or renovated.
