Wendy’s
Wendy’s has submitted an application to the city planning office for a second location at 139 Northwest Bypass in the Westwood Plaza, near the existing Domino’s Pizza.
Wendy’s franchise files suit over property deal
Old Chicago
The Old Chicago Pizza and Taproom planned for the former Boston’s space is progressing.
Mike Malmberg, vice president of operations for the Johnson Restaurant Group, told The Electric that they’re hoping to be open by late summer.
The Electric first reported the new restaurant in November 2023.
John Johnson, president of Johnson Restaurant Group, told The Electric in the fall that his company purchased the property.
After Boston’s closed, they moved into renovations over the winter and adding a 1,600-square-foot addition.
Johnson said they have to install a new kitchen hood system and it wasn’t feasible to remain open during that project, so decided to do the major construction, renovations and rebranding at once over the winter.
Johnson’s company is based in Wyoming and owns Old Chicago restaurants there, three in Montana and one in South Dakota.
Traffic signal box art
The Great Falls Business Improvement District is accepting applications from artists residing in Cascade County to create public art on traffic signal boxes located in downtown.
All eligible applicants, regardless of race, sex, religion, nationality, origin or disability, will be considered.
If you are unsure about eligibility, contact the BID before applying.
Emerging artists are encouraged to apply.
Public art growing in Great Falls; call for artists open in traffic signal box art program [2018]
The goal of the project is to use local traffic signal boxes as “canvasses,” enhancing downtown’s visual surroundings.
The project is set to be completed during the summer of 2024 and will be installed by the Clean Slate Group, utilizing a vinyl application.
Artists will be submitting their designs to the BID and from that, Clean Slate Group will create a digital image for installation. The location of the traffic signal box is on the northwest corner of 14th Street and Central Avenue.
For more information, contact Kellie Pierce, BID director at 406-727-5430 or email kellie@downtowngreatfalls.net with TSB project in the subject line.
Applications are due by 3 p.m. April 23.
Coffee Republic
Coffee Republic is planning a second location at 1000 Central Ave. W.
The company submitted a permit application to the city planning office that is currently under review.
Snack Shack
The Snack Shack in Gibson Park is open for the season.
The shack is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, weather dependent, with snacks and drinks.
City mapping
The city mapping and addressing office will be closed April 15-18.
Normal mapping hours will resume on April 19.
For online resources, visit GIS services.
Rise N’ Dine
Rise N’ Dine – Great Falls has opened in the Times Square building at 525 Central Ave.
Carter Commons
The city planning is office is reviewing the permit applications for Carter Commons senior apartments at 520 3rd St. S.
Carter Commons housing project selected for state tax credits
In 2022, the project was selected for $6.5 million in federal housing tax credits to build 25 new affordable homes for seniors.
Apartments
The city planning office is reviewing permit applications for a 12-unit apartment building at 2501 8th Ave. N.
In October 2023, City Commissioners unanimously voted to rezone the 0.34-acre property for the apartments.
City Commissioners approve rezone for 12-unit apartment building
The property had been vacant for more than 30 years and was zoned R-3 single family high density.
The property owner, Robert Tacke, requested to rezone the property to C-1 neighborhood commercial.
The neighborhood council also voted unanimously to recommend approval of the project.
City sets public hearing on rezone for apartments
Multi-family is not permitted in the R-3 district but it’s allowed by right in the C-1 district, according to city staff.
West Ridge
The city is currently reviewing permit applications for the next phase of West Ridge, which includes four-plexes at 125 42nd Ave. N.E.
In August 2023, City Commissioners approved the final plat of West Ridge phase 10.
The property is 12.62 acres located along 42nd Avenue Northeast between the Thaniel Addition and 4th Street Northeast.
City to consider final plat of next West Ridge phase [2023]
The phase 10 subdivision is part of a planned 11-phase development that is being platted over a number of years.
Commissioners approved the annexation of the entire property in 2015 and assigned R-3 single-family high density zoning.
In 2017, the developer asked to change the zoning to planned unit development so they could build two-unit townhomes.
City Commission holding public hearing on next West Ridge phase [2022]
In October of 2022, commissioner amended the PUD to allow the developer to construct four-plex multi-family units.
Former Ryan’s Cash and Carry
Plans are back on a planned carwash in the former Ryan’s Cash and Carry at 833 Smelter Ave.
The city is currently reviewing plans for the proposed project.
Little Shell homes
The city planning office is currently reviewing permit applications for Little Shell cluster homes at 1301 Stuckey Road.
In 2023, the City Commission annexed and assigned zoning to the property.
County approves rezoning of Little Shell property [2023]
In October 2022, the tribe submitted an application to annex and assign M-2 mixed-use transitional to the 3.684 acres at 1301 Stuckey Road.
Little Shell Tribe seeking annexation for grocery cold storage [2023]
The tribe requested annexation to access city water and sewer services.
The property has both water and sewer mains adjacent to the parcel within Stuckey Road that were installed as part of the 2011 Montana Eggs annexation just north of this parcel, according to the city planning office.
Housing Summit
The Great Falls Development Alliance is hosting a housing summit at 10 a.m. April 17 to release the 2024 housing market demand assessment for Great Falls.
Demand for new housing high in Great Falls area; costs slow development [2022]
The Concord Group will present their market findings and take questions with a short session following to hear about housing production underway in 2024 and an employer led housing demand panel.
The summit will be at Great Falls College MSU, Room B101.
Register here to attend in person or online.
Sun Prairie water meeting
The Sun Prairie Village County Water and Sewer District is hosting an informational meeting 5-7 p.m. April 16 at the district office, 1047 Grant Drive.
The meeting will provide information, address questions and gather input for the water system preliminary engineering report.
Information will include purpose of the project, project area, activities, budgets, potential sources of project funding and potential rate adjustments.
The draft environmental record will be available for review and comment; the record will also be available for review at the district office.
The district will hold a special meeting at 7:30 p.m. April 16 to take action on the environmental record and the intent to submit funding applications for the project.
Great Falls Theatre Company
The Great Falls Theatre Company is accepting registrations for their summer camp.
The camp is for students ages 10-14 from Aug. 5-8 at the Ursuline Center.
Students will take classes in acting, voice, movement, art and more.
Great Falls Theatre Company announces second season
The registration payment holds your child’s spot in the camp.
Registration is limited to 30 kids.
More information will be coming to those who register via email.
2024 Give Great Falls
Give Great Falls will be April 29 through May 3.
Nonprofits can register to participate and find more information here.
Give Great Falls is an annual celebration supporting nonprofits in the Great Falls area and has raised $275,00 in five years.
The nonprofit showcase is 4-6 p.m. May 2 and nonprofits can register here.
Permit reviews
The city planning office is currently reviewing permit applications for the following projects:
- Montana Egg building addition at 1015 38th St. N.
- I-State Trucking building addition at 3615 Ulm Frontage Road
- Metro Auto relocation at 1120 24th St. S.
- C.M. Russell Museum storage building at 1125 5th Ave. N.
- Take 5 Oil Change at 1300 10th Ave. S.
- Malt Europe office building at 2800 Great Bear Ave.
Transloading facility
The city is reviewing the construction permit applications for the Ponderosa Petroleum transloading facility at 6501 18th Ave. N.
The city zoning commission voted unanimously during their March 26 meeting to recommend approval of a conditional use permit application to allow for the handling of a hazardous substance in the AgriTech Park.
The City Commission will next consider the request during an April 16 public hearing.
City zoning board approves permit request for hazardous materials
If approved, the permit would allow the handling of hydrogen sulfide, or H2S, which is listed as an ingredient of asphalt, at 6501 18th Ave. N.
Ponderosa Solutions LLC is looking to develop a lot in the AgriTech Park, which is has a planned unit development zoning designation and the entire park is about 196.5 acres, of which about 193.7 acres are proposed to be industrial lots.
Ponderosa has been providing transloading services nationwide for about 15 years, according to their application, and anticipate the proposed facility would provide transloading of asphalt, steel, lumber, building materials, livestock feed, aggregates and packaged goods, according to the city staff report.
City accepting applications for growth policy committee
The process of transloading asphalt involved loaded delivery trucks arriving on side and parking alongside a transloader positioned next to an empty railcar and the transloader pumps the asphalt product from the truck into the railcar, according to the staff report.
Dispensary
The city planning office is reviewing a permit application for a new, N8V Grown Dispensary at 301 Huffman Ave.
City approves rezone for 92-unit multifamily housing off Bay Drive
MSU Nursing School
The city planning office is currently reviewing the construction permit applications for the Montana State University nursing school at 1704 9th St. S.
MSU breaking ground on new nursing building in Great Falls Nov. 28
MSU broke ground on its new instructional building for the Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing’s Great Falls campus in November 2023.
The new building will be near the recently opened Touro University medical school near Benefis Health System.
Benefis donated two acres for the new building and construction costs will be covered by a portion of the $101 million donation to MSU by Mark and Robyn Jones.
The new building will be two stories, totaling 22,060 square feet, for a total estimated project cost of $14.8 million, according to MSU.
In August 2021, the Joneses announced their $101 million to MSU for the construction of new, larger, state-of-the-art educational facilities on the five campuses of its college of nursing in Bozeman, Billings, Great Falls, Kalispell and Missoula. This investment provides the first opportunity to have university-owned facilities in Billings, Great Falls, Kalispell and Missoula, which currently utilize leased facilities, according to MSU.
Benefis closes some beds for nursing shortage
The nursing school in Great Falls currently admits 48 students annually, according to MSU. The new building will increase enrollment capacity to 72 students annually, which the nursing colleges hopes to meet by 2030, according to MSU.
Rec Center
The city planning office is currently reviewing permit applications for a child care facility expansion in the city’s Community Rec Center at 801 2nd Ave. N.
City approves new recreation fees, including fees for new aquatics facility
Studio Stiles
Studio Stiles, a luxury spa offering several services from medical grade facials to body polishes, and more, has opened at 18 4th St. N.
Whittier teacher
Whittier Elementary School teacher Shanell Lavallie presented in early April at the National Indian Child Welfare Association.
It’s the largest gathering on American Indian and Alaska Native child advocacy issues, according to Great Falls Public Schools.
Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation
The Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation has appointed Richard Hunt as its new executive director.
Hunt replaces Sarah Cawley, who has assumed a new position with the Great Falls Public Library.
The Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation’s national headquarters is located in Great Falls at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center.
Hunt was one of 28 applicants for the position. His appointment began on February 5.
Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation beginning search for new director [2023]
He previously served as a video producer and marketing and fundraising committee member for the Oregon California Trails Association.
Founded in 1969, the foundation is the premier citizens group promoting the story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and encouraging responsible stewardship of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail established by congress in 1978.
TD&H acquisition
TD&H Engineering has acquired GPD Consulting Engineers.
“GPD is a leader in the mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering field. This strategic move solidifies our position as industry leaders and opens up new avenues for innovation and growth,” according to TD&H.
MT41 Casino
MT 41 Casino has opened in a fully remodeled space at 1020 17th St. S. with 20 machines and a full bar, plus packaged liquor sales.
Got a business bite? Send it to jenn@theelectricgf.com with ‘business bite’ in the subject line.
