HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-18-17 Public Comment - M. Guggenheim - Black Olive IIFrom:Marilyn Guggenheim
To:Agenda
Subject:Fwd: Black-Olive hearing
Date:Wednesday, October 18, 2017 11:43:34 AM
Dear City Commissioners and Mayor Taylor:
I understand the Holloran project at Black and Olive Streets conforms to
building height and scale requirements in the city code. However, I ask you
to vote according to review criteria that a building demonstrate
“compatibility with… the immediate environment of the site and the
adjacent neighborhoods.”
I ask you to compare how neighborhoods accommodating buildings of this
height near thriving residential homes have fared over the years. Have their
property values degraded, or conversely, risen so high so fast that no one but
the rich can afford them? The standard of "compatibility with the immediate
environment" in 2017 Bozeman to me means that teachers, MSU staff, retail
employees, and all hardworking people of modest means can still afford to
live in downtown Bozeman and participate as a member of a thriving
community. A thriving community has a mix of people from different
income levels, background, and education. I fear a high-end apartment
complex like Holloran's current proposal will lead to more Airbnbs and
VRBO rentals downtown, not to mention second-home and / or part-time
renters not invested in their neighbors. Even higher-income locales like
Cleveland St. between Wilson and 6th Ave. currently suffer loss of
neighborhood cohesion because many, many homeowners who raised their
children there now rent their houses out as a source of income. Good for
them, but what happens to cooperation and connection as a result?
5 West is supposedly a higher-end complex than Black-Olive would be. Here
is a Craigslist ad for a 1-bedroom asking $2400 / month in rent:
https://bozeman.craigslist.org/apa/d/1-bedroom-den-2-
bathroom/6348377635.html
I also referenced Eric Dietrich's April article on the "compatibility"issue.
https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/city/four-issues-to-watch-
as-black-olive-heads-before-bozeman/article_92c19075-3f44-5ff1-ad29-
904022bcd594.html
I believe affordability overall in Bozeman is directly tied to residences /
buildings that meet standards of "compatibility with immediately adjacent
neighborhoods". We need to aim for a mixture of income levels all over
town. I hope you can encourage Holloran and future property owners to
build accordingly.
Thank you for all your hard work on such a contentious issue!
Warm regards,
Marilyn Guggenheim