The U.S. Forest Service took another step toward selling its 14-acre property in the Missoula Midtown neighborhood on Tuesday, and the public can comment on the proposal. 

The Region 1 Forest Service Office said in a legal notice that both a direct sale or a competitive bidding system will be used for the land, which sits within a growing hub of infill development and sought by city officials.

"The property may be sold directly to an identified purchaser or may be sold under competitive bidding procedures," the legal notice said. "The method of sale will be determined at a later date."

The Missoulian first reported in April on the plan for the Forest Service to sell the land with the goal of completing the process in 2028. State property records show the land is worth approximately $5 million. 

Representatives from the Missoula Economic Partnership (MEP) on behalf of the City of Missoula are seeking to purchase the land from the Forest Service, the Missoulian reported. 

MEP CEO Grant Kier previously told the Missoulian that partnering with the city would allow for better development of the land into new housing or commercial services. 

A unnamed spokesperson for the Region 1 Office told the Missoulian in an email that the Forest Service has considered a partnership with the city, but said it would be inappropriate to comment on the negotiations. 

Dale Bickell, the city's chief administrative officer, told the Missoulian on Monday that the city has had a couple of productive conversations with the Forest Service about the sale. 

He said the city would like to purchase the land to possibly redevelop it similar to other projects in the Midtown neighborhood, like the Midtown Commons development and the Franklin Crossing development proposal. 

Forest Service property

The U.S. Forest Service took another step toward selling its 14-acre property in the Missoula Midtown neighborhood on Catlin Street on Tuesday.

BEN ALLAN SMITH, Missoulian

All three of the properties sit adjacent to the old Bitterroot spur railroad. 

"We would like to see this property develop within the scope of the Midtown Master Plan," Bickell said in a phone call.  

The news comes as the Forest Service is moving some of its operations from the site to Fort Missoula. 

A new firefighting operation building is under construction at the fort, which replaces a 1940s-era building that was demolished in December, the Missoulian reported.

The Region 1 Forest Service historic preservation team is also set to move from the midtown property to the old bakery at the fort, officials said in a press release on July 21. 

Crews will complete several alterations to the interior of the old bakery building with the goal of completing the work in winter 2027. 

"This renovation includes the installation of interior mechanical, electrical, plumbing, dust collection and heating systems as well as limited exterior concrete and/or gravel pads, walkways and a lumber rack," the release said.

The Forest Service told the Missoulian that officials are set to soon begin the environmental assessment of the land before the sale. 

The public notice described the property as somewhere around 12 acres, although county records show the land is approximately 14 acres, and 19 structures sit on the land. 

Those buildings include the historic Missoula trolley barn, now used for an engineering shop, a dispatch building, the Lolo National Forest Hotshots building, six warehouse buildings and several other sheds. 

The announcement Tuesday comes with a public comment period for the public to provide feedback on the possible land sale before the Forest Service makes a final decision. 

People can comment by visiting the Region 1 website, providing handwritten or mailed comments to Robin Edwards, realty specialist at USDA Forest Service, at 26 Fort Missoula Road, Missoula, Montana, 59804.

The comment period is open from Aug. 4, 2026 to Sept. 3, 2026.

Griffen Smith is the local government reporter for the Missoulian.