HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-03-24 Public Comment - P. Olliff - Comments Regarding Guthrie BuildingFrom:Peggy Olliff
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Comments Regarding Guthrie Building
Date:Wednesday, April 3, 2024 2:56:14 PM
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04.03.24
Dear Bozeman City Commissioners,
I am writing to you as a concerned resident regarding the proposed Guthrie Building development
by Homebase Partners. Recent coverage in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle has shed light on the
concerning lack of truly affordable housing within this project, and I urge you to reject it in its
current form.
The Guthrie development has been marketed as a solution to our city's affordable housing crisis,
but it fails to meet the needs of our community. Homebase Partners' commitment to designate
only half of the units as affordable, priced at 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI), falls woefully
short of providing accessible housing options for the majority of Bozeman residents.
At $1,684 per month for a 1-bedroom unit, most of which are less than 400 square feet, the
proposed "affordable" rents are far beyond the means of many individuals and families in our city.
To afford such rent without facing financial hardship, one must earn over $32 per hour or have a
combined household income of $67,000 per year for a two-person household. Yet three out of five
renters in Bozeman earn less than this 80% AMI income level.
It is clear that the Guthrie development, as it stands, will not adequately address the pressing
issue of housing affordability in our community. We cannot accept a development that merely
pays lip service to the concept of affordable housing while catering to higher-income brackets.
As city commissioners, I urge you to prioritize the well-being and housing security of all Bozeman
residents. Rejecting the Guthrie Building development in its current form is a crucial step towards
ensuring that our city's growth is inclusive and equitable for all. Let us work together to implement
solutions that genuinely address the needs of our community and provide affordable housing
options for those who need them most.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to seeing your commitment to
affordable housing in our city.
Sincerely,
Peggy and Tom Olliff