HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-06-17 Public Comment - D. Center - Midtown RedevelopmentFrom:Dean Center
To:Agenda
Subject:Midtown redevelopment
Date:Saturday, November 04, 2017 4:17:09 PM
Cear Commissioner,
First of all, thank you for your dedication to our community.
I am concerned that the City Commission is making an unwise decision regarding the
Midtown area. While the Commission's goals for Midtown are sound, you are about to accept
long term adverse effects to solve a temporary problem. This is always a poor strategy.
Everyone agrees that North 7th Avenue is unattractive and an underutilized location for
Bozeman's growth. The existing ambience has apparently discouraged investors and
businesses from making use of the location.
In situations of this sort, there is a threshold of restoration that must be met, and after that
point, the attitude about the area changes from 'unappealing' to 'up and coming', and
development proceeds apace. It's taken a really, really long time, but the transition has
started on North 7th and 1 or 2 more restored properties will start the snowball rolling down
hill. If you want to extend an economic incentive, say reduced impact fees or tax rebates,for a limited time to a limited number of properties in order to nudge the snowball over theprecipice, I'm all for it.
However, relaxing regulations will produce permanent adverse consequences. There will betotally unnecessary traffic congestion, parking hassles, viewscape loss, deterioration ofresidential quality, etc. that will go on forever.
So, take a short term financial hit to help a few developers make a buck sooner, but keepconcessions short term, set sound regulations and don't trade our quality of life to make
North 7th look nicer. It's not a wise trade off.
Dean Center
909 S. Third Ave. (Trick or Treat Central)