After standing vacant for nearly a decade, the final lot leveled by the 2009 natural gas explosion is bringing new community benefits to downtown Bozeman.

The new Osborne Building at 233 E. Main St. will be an innovative reflection of Bozeman’s modern economy, with restaurant space, rental office space for nonprofits that serve low-income communities, and flexible office space for startups and small businesses.

The concept for the new 33,000-square-foot building was developed by local businessmen Bryan Klein, Casey Durham, Chad Bottcher, and Jamie Bottcher, who wanted to find a solution for the lot that would not only address a longstanding vacancy but also help meet community needs. The building is designed by Locati Architects and construction is scheduled to begin this month.

 The new building is taking shape after several attempts by investors to develop the space since 2009. Even with property in Gallatin County being developed at a rapid rate in recent years, this lot proved difficult.

 “We got to roll up our sleeves and address some unique challenges,”

said Klein.

“It can be tricky to build on a historic site, and there are existing buildings on both sides, so you have to make your project fit in that tight square. In addressing these challenges, it was also important to us to design a solution that provides community benefits and good jobs.”

High-resolution architectural renderings of the new Osborne Building are available for download here, courtesy of Blackridge Companies.

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