Butte’s Historic Mueller Apartment Building is Changing Hands

You'd never guess there are 52 apartments in this funky, historic apartment building on West Granite Street in Butte. Even if they're pretty small, the building is full of cool accents and pieces of architectural history.

First off: The Mueller Apartments are currently listed on Realtor.com, however the building is classified as "Pending"...meaning it is somehow under contract with a buyer. There is no guarantee that the transaction will be complete but it appears that it's currently moving. Details are not generally publicly available until after a transaction closes.

Get our free mobile app

This old apartment building was built in 1931 and has one bedroom and studio apartments. Some common areas of the Mueller Apartments have stained glass windows and custom wood trim. The listing does state that the building needs several renovations, but no further detail. We have no idea what the appropriate renovation budget would be for a building this size.

According to the official listing on Realtor.com (currently 'Pending')

• PRICE: $1,500,000
• LOT SIZE: 8,581 square foot lot
• ADDRESS: 501 W Granite St, Butte, MT
• PROPERTY TYPE: Multi-Family
• YEAR BUILT: 1931

TWO INTERESTING NOTES: The official listing says that the building is currently 1/3 occupied. We have no information as to why, or if that is coincidental.

As a total bonus, this property has a 6,000 square foot parking lot to serve the building. (Can you imagine if Bozeman apartment buildings actually had enough parking?)

The fifty-two Mueller Apartments [were] built in 1917 as an investment by A. H. Mueller, president of Centennial Brewing Company. Six floor[s] including the basement. Approximately 6, 500 square feet per floor to a total of approximately 39, 000 total square feet. A mix of 1-Bed units (Approx 20) and Studios (Approx 32).

The building incorporates Italian Renaissance style design elements: a symmetrical façade, a rusticated first story, keystone arches over the first-floor windows, and paired brackets and dentils under the cornice.

Stained glass windows decorate the front entrance while a belt course and a distinct window pattern distinguish the fifth-floor penthouse apartments.  Has a new boiler. Separate electric meters so tenants pay electric.

If and when this building changes hands, we'll try to get information about any plans for improvements, etc. It sure would be cool to see an old, funky building like this renovated and improved for higher occupancy.