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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-13-2020 Public Comment - K. Springer - Lovelace Building Being SoldFrom: agenda@bozeman.net To: Agenda Subject: Thank you for your public comment. Date: Thursday, February 13, 2020 11:11:10 AM A new entry to a form/survey has been submitted. Form Name: Public Comment Form Date & Time: 02/13/2020 11:11 AM Response #: 340 Submitter ID: 24725 IP address: 69.145.53.161 Time to complete: 1 min. , 34 sec. Survey Details Page 1 Public comment may be submitted via the form below, or by any of the following options. Public comment may also be given at any public meeting. Email: agenda@bozeman.net Mail to: Attn: City Commission PO Box 1230 Bozeman, MT 59771 In-person delivery to: Attn: City Commission City Clerk's Office City Hall, Suite 202 121 N. Rouse Ave. Bozeman, MT First Name Kate Last Name Springer Email Address katespringer9@gmail.com Phone Number 4065819450 Comments I am a resident of the Lovelace building in downtown, Bozeman. We were recently given notice that our leases were being terminated as the building is being sold to a new owner after 75 years of ownership. While the new owners’ plans are still unclear, we understand that he plans to turn this historic apartment building into luxury offices. Although the new owner has yet to submit plans to the city for his new development, he has decided anyway to remove the tenants of the building. It could be years before construction begins, meaning these apartments will sit empty rather than provide much-needed housing for people, many who live well below the median income level. I understand that with ownership of the building he can do what he chooses, but I am reaching out to you in a desperate attempt to try to preserve some of the last affordable housing in downtown, Bozeman. Not one person in our building pays more than $1,000/month in rent. The apartments are old, but they provide much-needed housing for so many people. One of the tenants works in the kitchen at the coop, one is working on his apprenticeship to be an electrician, one is a baker, another a bartender and the longest standing tenant, Marty finally reached retirement after decades of working in retail. All of the people that live in this building work at local businesses & actively contribute to our community. We have housing being built everywhere downtown, but rent starts at $1,695 (Black Olive) or sale prices start at $500k (The Merin). We are losing the people who live in and contribute to the downtown community and “gaining” those who use their luxury downtown homes as their 2nd, 3rd or 4th home, sitting empty for a good part of the year. I don’t know if sharing our story with you will have any impact on the future of this building but it is all I know to do. If you would like to submit additional documents (.pdf, .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .gif, .jpg, .png, .rtf, .txt) along with your comment, you may alternately address agenda@bozeman.net directly to ensure receipt of all information. Thank you, City Of Bozeman This is an automated message generated by the Vision Content Management System™. Please do not reply directly to this email.