HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-21-16 Public Comment - C. Lange - Affordable HousingDear commissioners,
I strongly feel every city commissioner, planner and affordable housing committee member should
always have in the forefront of their minds the total number of low income families displaced from their
homes on Bridger Drive adjacent to what was once the Boys and Girls Club. This dark stain in Bozeman's
recent history should never be forgotten, especially by policy makers and advisors. For this reason, I
question the judgment of Kevin Thane and other committee members investing time and thought to
affordable housing. The suggestion to use cemetery property to put mobile (temporary) housing is a
plan to again displace low income families in the future. Bozeman is growing rapidly. So it stands to
reason that the cemetery will be expanding and filling up too. Has the property on Bridger Drive been
considered? There is room for housing and the planned park on that piece of property.
Another trend that is choking out affordable housing is the permitting for obese housing remodels on
lots in medium to low income neighborhoods where the average size of homes is around 2000 sq. ft.
This practice jacks up the housing costs as more potential buyers view small homes as teardowns to
build yet more over-sized, high priced home. The attached picture is a home under construction on N.
Black across from Beall Park. It sits on the north border of the property - not the center. The small house
to the north now receives no sunlight and offers a view of a two-story house just yards outside the south
facing windows. The potential to sell the house to the north at an affordable price is destroyed since its
main value is now as a teardown. I nearly wept for the owners when I say this project started last
winter. Would you want to live in the house to the north now? This practice is pervasive in the north and
south sides of Bozeman east of 7th Ave. Please take a bike tour of these neighborhoods to see for
yourselves. I recommend blocks NE of Rouse and S. Black, and S. Tracy north of Garfield. Why does the
City of Bozeman grant building permits that destroy affordable houses when it claims to be trying so
hard to provide the very same?
In your response, please tell me all that you know about the families displaced from the trailer park on
Bridger Drive. I would also be interested in knowing Kevin Thane's qualifications and the other
committee members on the housing advisory board.
Respectfully yours,
Connie Lange