Tenants, advocates, governor celebrate 'new' Hillview

Lindsey Haney has lived in several subsidized apartment complexes in her life.

"I've always been ashamed to say I lived there," she told a crowd Wednesday at Hillview Apartments in Havre.

But in 2014, she moved into Hillview just as a massive renovation project was beginning. People were temporarily moved out of their apartments as massive renovations were made, the first major improvement in 43 years.

The buildings were painted. The grounds were refurbished. New rules were set barring criminals and prohibiting drug use were established.

A community center, a new laundromat and an on-site Head Start program were established.

The crowd of tenants, government officials and housing advocates gathered for a grand opening on Wednesday cheered Haney.

The celebration marked the completion of the renovation project, which advocates hope will become a model for similar programs across the state.

Gov. Steve Bullock was on hand to help celebrate. He was joined by members of the Hillview Head Start class to plant a tree in honor of the date. They each had shovels and threw soil into the hole on the count of three.

As Bullock thanked them, the crowd cheered and the students jumped up and down in joy - except for one youngster, who was terrified by commotion and ran away.

The students joined Bullock later to cut the ceremonial ribbon, opening the complex.

The governor held a giant pair of scissors. On the count of three, the governor was to cut the ribbon and the kids were to jump up and down and cheer.

"One ... two .... ," the governor said slowly. "Jellybeans," Bullock said, teasing the children. Some fell for it and started jumping and cheering. Laughter ensued.

Eventually, Bullock cut the ribbon and people had the chance to eat the hot dogs, hamburgers and vegetables that were available to participants.

Speakers at the ceremonies praised the new owners for turning Hillview around.

GMD Development of Seattle joined up with Homeword, a Missoula nonprofit, to purchase the building, and received $6 million in tax credits from the Montana Commerce Department to rehabilitate the apartments.

Greg Dunfield, GMD owner, recalled Wednesday that he first became interested in purchasing Hillview in 2006, but it took several years to get things in line.

Just as the rehabilitation was wrapping up came the July 4 hail and windstorm that damaged some of the buildings and the roofs, he said.

But everything was ready for Wednesday's ceremonies, and Dunfield was delighted.

"1972 was the last time you had a grand opening," Bullock told the crowd. "I was only 6, so I don't remember it."

Bullock said families do better when they can live in clean, secure housing and when they have money left over after paying their rent.

Hillview offers people those advantages, he said.