HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-26-24 Public Comment - C. Stillwell - The Guthrie (application #23354), needs another lookFrom:Cindy Stillwell
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]The Guthrie (application #23354), needs another look
Date:Tuesday, March 26, 2024 11:32:40 AM
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Dear Mayor Cunningham, Deputy Mayor Morrison, and Commissioners,
I am writing regarding Homebase Partner's latest development, The Guthrie (application
#23354), on North 5th & Villard. This project is too big for the neighborhood and needs to bescaled back.
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 why not build there? Furthermore,project documents show that the original idea was to renovate the existing rehabilitation center
and create 42 units. When building issues produced no bids, the developer revised his plans tofive stories and 111 units. This is an awfully big jump.
I understand that the developer wants to make a profit, yet I urge commissioners to consider:
at what cost to the surrounding neighborhood and the city itself, in the way of precedent? Thispocket of R-5 zoning sits across from a church and one block from an elementary school, to
and from which many young children walk. Given the proposed location, I wonder about asmaller scale. A three-story building with 60 units would reduce traffic and parking issues,
noise, and light pollution in a historic residential neighborhood. I urge you all to think aboutthe precedent you are setting and how developers will make use of the incentives, with zero
regard to the existing character of the neighborhood.
I feel that the commissioners should reclaim the role of final review authority on thisapplication rather than leave the matter at the sole discretion of the Community Development
Director.
Let’s do affordable housing right by ensuring that all future "deep incentive” projects work foreverybody, not just developer profit.
Cindy Stillwell, home owner and resident of Bozeman
-- Hybrid Media , LLCFilm and ArtBozeman MT