HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-18-16 Public Comment - B. Reyier - Black OliveFYI.
JESSICA H. JOHNSON | NEIGHBORHOOD COORDINATOR
City of Bozeman | 121 North Rouse Avenue | P.O. Box 1230 | Bozeman, MT 59771
P: 406.582.2274 | E: jjohnson@bozeman.net | W: www.bozeman.net
From: Britta K. Reyier [mailto:rbritta@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2016 5:04 PM
To: Jessica Johnson <JJohnson@BOZEMAN.NET>
Subject: Black Olive comments
Hi Jessica,
I saw information about today's neighborhood meeting regarding the proposed Black Olive building, and I wanted to add in my two cents, because I think I may be in the minority and every voice is worth hearing. Please feel free to forward my comments along if you're not the best
recipient.
I no longer live in Bozeman, but I lived there--solely in downtown neighborhoods--for 13 years. During that time (1999 to 2012), I watched Bozeman grow, grow, grow...largely to the outlying areas. It made, and still makes, my heart sick to watch that farmland disappear.
This summer, I was back in Bozeman for a month, and was able to witness just how quickly
Bozeman is changing. So many farms are now cookie cutter houses, and downtown is finally growing UP! I realize that it's easy to say that Bozeman's sprawl-y growth should stop...but it's harder to say that growth should occur downtown (and even harder to support it when it means a
building looming over your quiet house). However, I believe this project gives Bozeman a prime
chance to show Western cities how to grow smartly. I support the Black Olive building.
I realize that there's not enough on-site parking, and that's okay, too! That's the reality of denser living. Perhaps the building owners could arrange some sort of reduced monthly parking at the
downtown garage. Perhaps people could walk a few blocks to where their car is parked on the
street. Or maybe--gasp--this type of living situation would encourage a few folks to give up their
cars entirely! When I lived downtown, my ex and I shared one car between us and never had a complaint about it.
I no longer live in Bozeman, but it will always feel like home. My hope is that people can find
consensus on this project and move forward in a way that benefits the entire community.
Cheers,
Britta Reyier
406-539-5992