BUTTE – Butte leaders are optimistic they might have a serious buyer for the former NorthWestern Energy building on Broadway Street in Butte.
“It’s somebody that wants, that’s excited to be here and excited to use the building,” said Butte Commissioner John Sorich, who sits on the committee to find a buyer for the building.
Bitterroot Gateway Development out of Missoula made a proposal in Butte last week stating the large building on 40 East Broadway would be a perfect fit for the film production company, Montana Studios.
“They’re excited to do something in Butte, you know, they told us there’s going to be a lot of blue-collar jobs. Filmmaking is blue-collar jobs, there’s a lot work behind the scenes and that’s what we’re looking for,” said Sorich.
There were three proposals submitted to the county, but Sorich said Montana Studios was more appealing because they plan to use the entire 100,000 square foot building.
“We’re going to get somebody in there that wants to be in there, that’s not just going to come in and tear it apart or do a poor job of developing and walk away from it,” said Sorich.
The county is eager to find a serious buyer as maintaining the building comes at considerable expense.
“There’s some associated costs with power bills and there’s security and it’s starting to need some work, some TLC, because it hasn’t been occupied in two or three years. Butte-Silver Bow isn’t in the business of landlord, you know, we’re in the business of government,” said Sorich.
The developer will present the Montana Studios proposal at the next commissioner’s meeting on July 24 at 7:30 p.m.
-Reported by John Emeigh/MTN News
