HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-01-24 Public Comment - C. Vaniman - The GuthrieFrom:Cecilia Vaniman
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]The Guthrie
Date:Monday, April 1, 2024 2:11:07 PM
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Dear Bozeman City Commissioners:
This letter is to express my opposition to the proposal of The Guthrie by Homebase and theapplication using “deep incentives” and public money. Others have addressed many of the issues,but I would like to talk about the architecture, and impact to the surrounding neighborhood andcommunity.
If you look at the floor plans, the layout of most of the units are not 1 bedroom, they are studios withthe bed in the very limited living space. I do not feel what is proposed is “affordable” nor will it be athriving, nourishing place to live. It will be cramped and unwelcoming.
Waiving on-site parking does not mean there will not be automobiles. The impact on theneighborhood will be overwhelming. We have seen in other projects that almost every person livingin these buildings has a car. People will not ride bicycles most of the year in this climate, no matterhow difficult it is to find parking spaces on the street. If they do ride a bicycle, many of them have acar in addition to get into the recreational areas around Bozeman. The impact of lack of parking tothe neighbors will be a daily and significant frustration. It will also affect the attitude of peopleliving in the neighborhood and their quality of life.
By allowing this building to go to 5 stories, the massing will not be in keeping with anything in theneighborhood. This height will block the sun from reaching the north side of the building and it willbecome a dark tunnel. Please look at the other massive buildings recently built in Bozeman and youcan see this locally. It is a definite negative to those living and moving through the north side of thesite.
This is a massive box that is totally out of character with the neighborhood. It overpowers anythingin the area in height and scale. The strip of wood on the side of the windows will not make thebuilding fit into the community or give it a sense of place, or a human-friendly scale.
On these points alone, I am asking that the proposal be turned down. In addition, the review ofsomething so important, with the use of taxpayer money, should require the full City Commission’sattention, therefore I urge you to reclaim review authority for any such project.
Thank you for your consideration.
Regards,
Cecilia R. Vaniman AIA (Emeritus)A R C H I T E C T5020 Westlake RoadBozeman, MT 59718406-580-6700
