Want to Buy Billings’ City Hall? Here’s Your Chance
Typically, when the phrase "bought City Hall" is used, it means something like you have politicians or city officials in your pocket. In this case, you can actually purchase Billings' City Hall. All of it, including a parking garage. Holy moly. A recent post from NAI Business Properties revealed the listing details for one of the largest properties in downtown Billings. Let's check it out.
Is N 27th Street cursed?
This new listing is the latest property on N 27th Street to hit the market (or close). The HUB shut down a while back. The Conoco at the corner of 6th and 27th recently closed. Denny's caught on fire and has been boarded up ever since. The Downtown Burger King closed for good over Easter Weekend. The gigantic, 94,000 sq. ft. Billings Gazette building, once bustling with dozens of employees is now basically a ghost town, as Lee Enterprises continues to lay off staff. It's only a matter of time until that monstrosity hits the market too.
City Hall was built in 1939.
The art deco-style building was dedicated in 1940, according to a picture shared in the listing info (above). Billings was experiencing rapid growth in the mid-1900s. In 1910 there were over 10,000 residents in the Magic City. By 1960 there were 50,000. City Hall was constructed during this period to meet the demands of our growing city.
Look at all those rooms!
The layout on the first floor of City Hall indicates around 50 offices/rooms. The three-story building comprises a total of over 38,000 square feet of office space.
Your very own courtroom.
Many of us have probably never stepped foot in City Hall. If I remember correctly, I may have had a court date at some point in my life in this very room.
What would you do with the building?
The massive building sits on nearly an acre of prime real estate. Would you keep the building and turn it into something else, or demolish it to make way for something new? Either way, it's an expensive endeavor.
Lock 'em up, and toss the key!
Some of the old jail cells still exist in City Hall. I'd keep these and use them to lock up the snacks my kids are always stealing out of the pantry. Or, they'd make a great gun room.
Never complain about downtown parking again.
If you bought City Hall, you also get a 5-story parking garage with room for 253 vehicles. The city property is listed by NAI Business Properties, Matt Robertson Broker. Price is "subject to offer," which I assume means, "If you have to ask, you can't afford it."