HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-08-24 Public Comment - S. Newman - Guthrie ApplicationFrom:Stephanie Newman
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Guthrie Application
Date:Saturday, July 6, 2024 1:49:14 PM
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Dear Commissioners and Mayor,
I urge you to deny The Gutlhrie Project proposal due to its many shortcomings. I am in a
unique position to comment because I am both a longtime homeowner a few blocks from theproject, and due to a house fire last August I am homeless. I've lived in that neighborhood for
32 years, raised my daughter there, been on the PTO of Whittier School which my daughterattended, and lived in Bozeman as a renter for 7 years prior to buying my house. Because I
didn't know I was severely under-insured, rebuilding is going to be difficult if not impossible.Therefore, when I learn that there are minimal parking spaces planned for the Guthrie, that a
studio apartment smaller than a 2-car garage is considered "low rent" at $1,650/month, andthat the developer is gaining over $4 million in benefits from the city of Bozeman, I am
bewildered and angered. None of this makes any sense.
1. Lack of ParkingThe idea that Bozeman, with an average of 73.1 inches of snow every year, is a city for biking
to work is ludicrous. Yes, part of the year it is a great place for biking to work, but 6.8 monthsof the year on average there is snow present. I've lived for a year without a car in Bozeman,
and it is difficult at best. The average car ownership in Bozeman is 2 cars per household.<https://datausa.io/profile/geo/bozeman-mt?redirect=true>
2. 30% of income
Banks use the statistic of loans for housing being for no more than 30% of one's income. If$1,650/month is 30% of someone's income, that person is earning $66,000/year after taxes. If
you're earning $20/hr you're making $40,000/year before taxes (with a 2 week vacation). Ifyou are earning $66,000 /year you're earning $34.37/hour. Rent of $1650/mo for a studio
apartment is NOT low income housing.
3. Undeserved benefits"lWhy should the developer get $4 million dollars in breaks and benefits for NOT providing
low income housing? No doubt there are parts of the world where 8 people or more maycrowd into a studio apartment. Is that really what is meant by "family housing" in Bozeman,
MT? Of course, it explains how $1650 can be low income housing, but do we want 2, 4, ormore people living in a space smaller than a 2 car garage?
I've attended several of the community open commission meetings on this topic. While I
believe it is wrong to tar all members of any one group with the same brush, I tend to agreewith community members who have spoken about the safety of school age children possibly
being endangered by a large influx of construction workers who do not have a stake in theneighborhood. If the targeted audience for The Guthrie is construction workers for Bozeman's
building boom, that logically would be mostly men, probably single transient men. As a woman and a single mother, the phrase "single transient men" does not make me feel,
"Oh, good, my young daughter would be especially safe!"
Additionally, before my house fire and since I retired, I was working on creating a droughttolerant cold-hardy perennial garden on my plot of land. I had all the sod removed. It isn't near
enough to be affected by The Guthrie's shadow, but there ARE yards that will be affected. Idon't know how those homeowners feel. I know I'd be furious and broken hearted if I'd put in
all that work, time, and money I have thus far only to find I had to regroup and create a shadegarden. I DO feel sad and angry, but grateful that the 2 people and 2 pets all got out safely,
and grateful for the Bozeman Fire Department's quick response.
Thank you for your service, time, and attentionStephanie
Stephanie Newman
Director Quoin: Community Print StudioBozeman, Montana 59718
cell: 406 580-1957
e-mail: stephnewmanmt@gmail.com
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