HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-21-24 Public Comment - C. Garcia - The Guthrie Building IssuesFrom:Corinne Garcia
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]The Guthrie Building Issues
Date:Tuesday, March 19, 2024 2:32:58 PM
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Dear Mayor Cunnigham, Deputy Mayor Morrison, and Commissioners,
I would like to touch on some major concerns I have about Homebase Partner's latest
development, The Guthrie (application #23354), on North 5th & Villard. I understand
that you receive many letters, so I'm going to list out some of the more major issues
that my fellow Midtown neighbors and I see with this one.
Affordable Housing: According to this NBC Montana Article, rents can range from
$1,500 to $1,700 a month, which, to me, does not seem affordable. It's more than mymortgage on a nearby house.
Self-Serving Employee Housing: According to this Bozeman Daily Chronicle
Article: "Holloran said part of the reason he wanted to build an affordable project is becauseworkers at the AC Hotel, which HomeBase built, are having a hard time finding housing." So,
this is first and foremost designed for those working for Homebase Partner's grotesquedowntown AC hotel? It is self-serving for the company to build this for their own employees
while taking advantage of the “deep incentives” permitted by the new affordable housingordinance passed in 2022.
Whittier School, Traffic & Parking: The proposed project is a block from WhittierElementary. With the potential for 200 new residents — which would double the
neighborhood population — driving up and down the already congested street, there is nodoubt that this puts students in great danger, most of whom live in the neighborhood and walk
to school at young ages. In addition, with up to 200 new residents, the parking situation in theneighborhood and around the school and other businesses will be ridiculous.
Bad Location: Once again Holloran is proposing a 5-story building in the middle of aresidential neighborhood. I understand the need for affordable housing, but as I look at N 7th
Street, a commercial zone, with numerous run down buildings, I can't help but wonder whynot build there. Why build this in the middle of a historic neighborhood, literally on top of a
school?
So I ask: Does this project truly meet affordability goals as intended by the
Commission? Does the inadequate parking and traffic infrastructure meet city values?
And is a self-serving project like this worth risking pedestrian safety near WhittierElementary School?
Midtown neighbors have become aware that this application will not come before you
or the Community Development Board, and the designated final review authority is
the Director of Community Development. While we are actively fundraising to file anappeal if necessary, we believe there is another avenue to address these concerns:
Given that this will be the first project to utilize the city's new "deep incentives," the
stakes are high, and it is imperative that we "get it right," to avoid a negative
perception of future affordable housing initiatives. Therefore, we are respectfully
requesting that you exercise the authority provided to you in 38.200.010 B.2. to
reclaim the role of final review authority back to the Commission, with a request for
recommendation from the Community Development Board. This vote must occur at a
regularly scheduled meeting and prior to any action taken by the CommunityDevelopment Director.
Please consider this carefully, as you move forward with new leaders who
campaigned for smart growth. In my opinion, this is not smart, nor is it deserving of
ANY INCENTIVES.
Thank you for your consideration.
Corinne Garcia
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Corinne Garcia
Freelance Writing, Marketing, PR
406.579.4888
CorinneGarciaMT@gmail.comwww.CorinneGarcia.comLinkedIn