HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-12-23 Public Comment - J. Simcoe - Housing Costs J. Simcoe 'M
Gallatin High School
4455 Annie St.
Bozeman Mt, 59718
March 7, 2023
Bozeman City Commission
121 N Rouse Ave
Bozeman, MT 59715
Dear Bozeman City Commision,
One of the biggest problems facing the beautiful town of Bozeman Montana is rising costs of living due
to shortage of properties. With less housing available, affordability has exponentially decreased. Many
locals are barely making ends meet because of the costs. I think that we are going to have to make
some kind of compromise with how homes in this town are organized. By this I mean finding more
efficient ways to accommodate as many residents as possible in a more affordable way.
The price of homes in Montana have risen 50% since the pandemic. Also, there has been a population
increase of about 43% in Gallatin County since 2010. This kind of growth is absolutely insane and
housing units have not been able to keep up with the demand. According to the Pew Charitable Trusts,
"A Bozeman typical home value is the highest in Montana". And according to the Bozeman Real Estate
Group, the median price of a townhome in Bozeman is about $1,020,650". This matters to Montanons
because thousands of locals are being pushed out of their homes due to rising costs.
Population growth is one of the biggest factors of the issue, but who could blame the people? Montana,
specifically Bozeman, is an absolutely gorgeous valley in the breathtaking rockies. The school system is
exceptional, the residents are kind, the access to the outdoors is amazing, and we are surrounded by
the Bridgers, Hyalites, and Tobacco Root mountains. I mean, who wouldn't want to live here? Clearly,
trying to restrict population growth is not a practical solution. Instead, I think Bozeman could start
organizing living situations more efficiently. For example, allow for denser development. This means
integrating more duplexes, triplexes, and small apartments. I also think that building up rather than out
will help preserve greenspace, and open more living opportunities. To be fair, I know that many people
will argue that developing a more urban environment will take away the beauty of Bozeman. But, cities
like Salt Lake and Denver are still beautiful with tall buildings and the mountains are very visible. All
circumstances considered, I think that taking a different approach to how we view housing should be the
next step in reducing costs.
Sincerely,
PL--- J�V��
J. Simcoe