finance
Billings Breaks Ground on Downtown Housing, West End Retail Expansion
Several commercial developments now underway will expand shopping options on the west end and add housing units downtown over the next year.
How we reported this
The AC Hotel Billings project, a seven-story Marriott property with about 140 rooms valued at $40 million, began construction after the Rockman Building came down in June 2025 and is set to finish by summer 2027.
These changes arrive as downtown Billings recorded 25 new business openings in 2025 against eight closures, according to local tracking data. Nine additional openings, including eateries, retail stores and a coffee shop, are already slated for early 2026. Everyday shoppers and renters stand to gain from the added foot traffic and competition, which can stabilize prices and improve variety without requiring travel outside the city core.
West-end retail expansion
A Tractor Supply Co. store is rising behind the Costco site at 3880 Zoo Drive on the west end, positioned near the Shiloh Crossing retail hub. Construction activity there signals more convenient access to farm, ranch and home-improvement goods for residents in the surrounding neighborhoods who previously drove farther for comparable inventory.
The project fits a pattern of incremental west-end growth that keeps spending local rather than directing it toward larger regional centers. City records show the site lies within an established commercial corridor already served by major anchors, so traffic patterns and parking demand will likely remain familiar to regular visitors.
Downtown housing and adaptive reuse
The Old Billings Hardware Building conversion, approved in 2025, will deliver 24 housing units plus commercial space, with work starting in the first quarter of 2026 and completion targeted for summer 2027. The Futurity Tower, a 12-story mass-timber building reaching 140 feet, remains in environmental study and design; once built it would mark the first new high-rise in Montana since 1984 and include both retail and residential components.
Residents watching the rental market can track these timelines through city planning updates to gauge when new units might ease pressure on existing stock. The combination of hotel rooms, apartments and ground-floor retail points to mixed-use activity that supports walkable access to services for people already living or working downtown.
City staff continue to process permits for the listed projects, and residents can review upcoming agendas or submit comments through standard public channels when individual applications reach final review stages.
This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.