You’ve probably driven past the old Elks Lodge 394 on Lewis Avenue in Billings and wondered when the hammers were actually going to start swinging. For a while, it seemed like a done deal. The signs were there, the city was talking, and a big-name developer from Utah had the keys. But then? Nothing. Just an empty lot and a lot of questions from folks in the neighborhood.
Honestly, the housing project halt Billings Elks property situation is a classic case of what happens when big dreams hit the brick wall of local reality. It wasn't just one thing that stopped the progress; it was a perfect storm of neighborhood pushback, shifting economic winds, and the complicated dance of city zoning.
The Big Plan That Went Nowhere
Back in early 2022, the Billings City Council gave the green light for a major zone change at the Elks Lodge site. The goal was to turn that 5.4-acre property into a high-density apartment complex. Thrive Development, a firm based out of Utah, was the one steering the ship. They wanted to bring in hundreds of units to help ease the housing crunch that's been squeezing Billings for years.
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The Council voted to change the zoning from "Residential 7,000" and "Residential 6,000" to "Residential Multi-Family," which basically paved the way for those big apartment blocks. At the time, proponents argued that Billings desperately needed more affordable roofs. Opponents? They weren't so sure.
Why the Neighbors Weren't Buying It
If you’ve lived in Billings long enough, you know that people here are protective of their space. The "Not In My Backyard" (NIMBY) sentiment was strong with this one. Neighbors showed up to meetings in droves, worried about a few specific things:
- Traffic Nightmares: Lewis Avenue already gets busy. Adding hundreds of new residents meant hundreds of more cars turning onto already cramped streets.
- The "Character" Problem: People who bought homes in a quiet residential area didn't necessarily want a massive, multi-story apartment complex looming over their fences.
- Infrastructure Stress: Could the existing sewers and power grids even handle that many new toilets flushing at once? It’s a fair question that the city had to wrestle with.
One supporter famously told the commission that people liked the idea of affordable housing, but they didn't like it near them—comparing it to a kid who says they like vegetables but refuses to eat the broccoli on their plate.
The Financial Reality of 2025 and 2026
By the time we hit 2025, the landscape changed. Interest rates didn't drop as fast as everyone hoped, and construction costs in Montana stayed stubbornly high. For a developer like Thrive, the math that worked in 2022 might not have made sense by 2025.
Basically, the housing project halt Billings Elks property wasn't just about grumpy neighbors. It was about the "pro-forma"—the fancy word for a project's budget. If the cost to build a unit is higher than the rent you can realistically charge, the project dies on the vine.
Recent reports from late 2025 indicated that the developer actually withdrew certain plans after the sustained opposition and the changing financial climate. By July 2025, YouTube videos and local news segments were already reporting that "Billings neighbors are relieved" because the project hadn't started. The silence on that lot spoke volumes.
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A Tale of Two Cities (and Two Elks Lodges)
Interestingly, if you search for "Elks Lodge housing halt," you might get confused with a similar situation happening in Rockford, Illinois. Over there, they are fighting to save a historic 1912 building from the wrecking ball. In Billings, the story is more about the land and the density than the old building itself.
In Billings, the Elks Lodge property became a symbol of the tension between the city's need to grow and the residents' desire to stay the same. While other developers like Mike Stock are successfully building out on the West End with projects like Shiloh Commons, the central Lewis Avenue site proved to be a much tougher nut to crack.
What’s the Current Status in 2026?
As of early 2026, the property remains a point of contention. The "halt" is very much in effect. While the zoning is technically still in place for multi-family development, there is no active construction permit making its way through the City of Billings' Citizen Access portal for a massive apartment complex at that specific site right now.
The City of Billings continues to update its Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and its annexation policies, but for the Elks property, the ball is back in the court of private developers.
What Could Happen Next?
There are a few ways this plays out:
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- A Smaller Project: A new developer might come in with a "low-density" plan—maybe townhomes instead of massive apartment blocks—to appease the neighborhood.
- Public-Private Partnership: The Montana Board of Housing has been discussing tax credit financing for various projects. If the Elks property could qualify for senior housing or low-income credits, it might get the financial "juice" it needs to overcome the high construction costs.
- The Status Quo: The lot stays empty, used occasionally for local events, while the city grows around it.
Actionable Insights for Billings Residents
If you’re a local or an investor watching this property, here’s what you need to keep in mind:
Keep an eye on the Zoning Commission. The City of Billings holds public hearings (often on the first Wednesday of the month). If a new developer tries to revive the project, that's where you'll hear about it first. You can check the "Current Zoning Applications" on the city's official website.
Understand the Impact of "Project Recode." Billings went through a massive overhaul of its development codes a few years ago. These rules dictate things like "setbacks" and "landscaping buffers." Any future project on the Elks land will have to follow these strictly, which might limit the total number of units a developer can actually build.
Watch the "West End" Trend. Most of the successful housing growth in Billings is pushing west toward Zoo Drive and Shiloh. Central infill projects (like the Elks site) are much harder to pull off because they require tearing things down or building in established neighborhoods where people have a lot to lose.
The housing project halt Billings Elks property is a reminder that in real estate, nothing is certain until the concrete is poured. For now, the neighbors have their quiet street, and the city still has its housing shortage. It’s a stalemate that doesn’t look like it’s breaking anytime soon.
If you are interested in the future of the neighborhood, your best bet is to attend the neighborhood task force meetings. These groups have a surprising amount of sway when it comes to what the City Council ultimately approves.