EBURD

Welcome to the

East Billings Urban Renewal District

The East Billings Urban Renewal District (EBURD) is the oldest part of the City of Billings, comprised primarily of controlled-industrial lands of about 400 acres. The District is situated between the Rimrocks and the railroad tracks, adjacent to the downtown Central Business District, and the east end of the District is at Exposition Drive, directly across the street from the MetraPark grounds.

For years, EBURD's industrial lands have been an economic engine for the City of Billings, providing jobs and services, manufacturing durable and unique products, and shipping goods and recycled steel to coastal cities in the United States and abroad.

The 1997 Downtown Billings Framework recommended revitalization of the district. In 2007, property owners in the District formed the Billings Industrial Revitalization District (BIRD, Inc.). With the support of property owners, Big Sky Economic Development Authority (BSED) and the City of Billings established the East Billings Urban Renewal District (EBURD), and a Tax Increment Finance District was created, with the goal of retaining vital businesses and industrial land uses and attracting reinvestment through revitalization efforts. With the investment of U.S. EDA Planning dollars and local match, Big Sky Economic Development assisted the BIRD and other stakeholders to complete a comprehensive EBURD Master Plan. Currently, BSED is working with the City-County Planning Office and property owners to implement the steps recommended in that Plan.

The EBURD Advantage

The EBURD has a surprising number of arterial streets

Full city services in place throughout

Quick connection to most of the highways converging on Billings

Many existing buildings of all shapes and sizes

Close to affordable and young workforces

Served by city bus system, well, cabs, trucking and rail

Considerable flow-through of both local and out of town customers

Spillover opportunities from downtown core

Spillover opportunities from Metrapark complex

Access to Heights customer base

Access to Lockwood customer base

Tax increment financing (See MCA 78-15-4288 for costs that may be paid by TIF.)

Eligible for New Market Tax Credits

Situated within a HUBZone

Parking Overlay

Flexible, hybrid form-based code

The East Billings Neighborhood is an economically and culturally vibrant neighborhood that provides opportunities for housing, clean technology, and pioneering ‘green’ industries along the City’s historic rail yards. Serving also as a gateway to the City and Yellowstone River, residents, businesses, and tourists alike can enjoy a variety of amenities within eclectic but pedestrian-friendly mixed-use centers.

The EBURD is a Tax Increment Finance District (TIFD). Increment funds may be accessed for public infrastructure projects that meet State statute requirements. To apply for or discuss potential use of EBURD TIFD funds, contact the advisory board, the Billings Industrial Revitalization District, whose president is Marty Connell, 406-252-4745.

Within the EBURD, the City has adopted a Parking Overlay District. Within the District, parking requirements are relaxed compared to the rest of the City. Parking requirements are similar to those in the Central Business District; there is NO requirement for 1 parking space per 3,000 square feet of office space. For more on the parking overlay district, contact Nicole Cromwell in Planning-Zoning: 406-247-8662.

Currently, the City is developing a hybrid “form-based code”(EBURD Code) to replace the existing zoning codes (per recommendation of the Master Plan). Form-based code allows for mixed-use projects and has more flexibility than traditional zoning codes. For more on the form-based code project, contact Candi Beaudry, Director of Planning & Community Services: 406-657-8249.

Recently, two of the interior streets within the EBURD were converted to two-way traffic (instead of one-way traffic). Both 2nd Avenue North and 3rd Avenue North, beginning at North 13th Street and extending west to North 22nd Street, now allow two-way travel. This project is at the request of the property owners, to provide easier access to their business enterprises. The project engineer for the conversion is Mr. Erin Claunch, P.E., 406-657-8242.

Revitalization

According to a cluster analysis conducted by the Montana Department of Commerce concerning existing businesses in the EBURD, among the potential services that seem conducive to the area are: schools, preschools or daycare, churches, consumers services (non-tangible goods), grocery or food sales, more finance, more parks or public recreational space, more government offices or buildings, lodging and entertainment. In fact, the EBURD's ongoing revitalization is evident in new construction, remodeling and renovations, and relocations into the EBURD, for example:

Remodeling and Renovations

Red Oxx Manufacturing’s refurbishment of an older structure at 1123 Second Avenue North to add production space

Kairos Development spent $3.5 million remodeling the former Pierce Packing Plant along First Avenue North

Billings Marble & Granite remodeled its space

New Construction

Rocky Mountain Professional Building with Turley Dental offices

Billings Food Bank on Fourth Avenue North

First Interstate Bank’s Operations Center on Sixth Avenue North

O’Reilly Auto Parts completed a new building

Relocations

Habitat for Humanity's ReStore moved into the former Denny Menholdt building at 1617 1st Avenue North (ReStore is a unique business that recycles building materials and supplies by reselling donated items and contributing the "profits" to Habitat for Humanity.)

Little Vegas Thrift Store moved into the former site of Witt's Saddlery at 1148 1st Avenue North.

Big Brothers Big Sisters relocated from 504 North 20th to 2123 2nd Avenue North.

Header Photograph: EBURD Aerial © Courtesy of Marty Connell, President, Billings Industrial Revitalization District

EAST BILLINGS URBAN RENEWAL DISTRICT

A project of the Billings Industrial Revitalization District, Inc.