HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-18-17 Public Comment - D. Chandler - Affordable HousingFrom: Doug Chandler [doug@alliedengineering.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2017 11:31 AM
To: Carson Taylor
Cc: Jeff Krauss; Carson Taylor; Chris Mehl; Cyndy Andrus; I-Ho Pomeroy; ralphj@montana.edu;
Sonja Chandler (sonjasea7@msn.com)
Subject: affordable housing
Hi Carson - I saw the story on affordable housing in the paper this morning. I share your
concern but believe we should not give up on a more economics based approach, that strives
for houses that actually cost less rather than just the same houses subsidized by everyone who
doesn’t quite meet the criteria for subsidy. I think the current voluntary program is destined
to fail because once a developer or builder works through the present process and does the
math on what to build, it still doesn’t pencil to build affordable housing. I think the city needs
to adjust portions of their regulatory framework to make building small, quality houses with
adequate parking, practical and affordable. Small lots, setbacks, and efficient structures and
streetscapes are key elements that are not possible in the present framework.
As I believe you know, Ralph Johnson and his students at MSU School of Architecture have been
doing work on Tiny Houses for homeless. Similar approaches are valid for affordable houses,
and the city is the main player that is needed to allow those types of solutions to happen. Site
design criteria is a major factor. There are many variations on affordability through innovative
design and construction.
With respect to home design, take a look at some of the ideas in the link below that my wife
sent me. I am not promoting or suggesting any of these design concepts per se but my point is
affordability can be met by innovative design, small houses, small lots, etc. rather than
subsidized, and the City of Bozeman has the ability to make it happen. Multi-story row houses
with or without common walls and garages are a more conventional affordable concept that
work all over the country but are only being built as high end downtown housing in the current
Bozeman regulatory framework.
In summary, please don’t give up on the voluntary, economics based approach. I would like to
be on a committee or task force looking at this problem and potential solutions.
Sincerely,
Doug Chandler, PhD, PE
President
Allied Engineering Services, Inc.
32 Discovery Drive, Bozeman, MT 59718 | Tel: (406) 582-0221 x209 | Cell: (406) 579-2150
Email: doug@alliedengineering.com | Web:
www.alliedengineering.com<http://www.alliedengineering.com>
-----Original Message-----
From: Sonja Chandler [mailto:sonjasea7@icloud.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2017 9:35 AM
To: Doug Chandler <doug@alliedengineering.com>
Subject: Incredible self-built homes that didn't cost the earth
I thought you would be interested in this story I found on MSN: Incredible self-built homes that
didn't cost the earth http://a.msn.com/0E/en-us/BBzX0Gw?ocid=se