HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-20-24 Public Comment - A. Hoitsma - Affordable Housing Ordinance public commentFrom:Amy Kelley Hoitsma
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Affordable Housing Ordinance public comment
Date:Tuesday, August 20, 2024 9:25:45 AM
Attachments:Affordable_Housing_Ordinance_public_comment_Hoitsma.docx
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20 August 2024
Honorable Mayor Cunningham, Deputy Mayor Morrison, and Bozeman City Commissioners:
Thank you for scheduling a work session this evening to reconsider the Affordable HousingOrdinance. I am thrilled at how many citizens have engaged in this issue and submitted
thoughtful comments.
This is a complicated issue and I know the Commission has few tools to actually create more
affordable housing units in the City. I understand that without the ability to wield a stick,providing incentives to developers to build affordable housing seems to be the only remedy.
One thing that can change is the metrics of what constitutes affordable housing. Currently, the80% AMI metric results in a rental rate that is very close to market rates, which most consider
un-affordable. The easiest solution would be to lower the AMI percentage to 60 or even 40.
An alternative would be to create a “basket of jobs” held by the “missing middle”: those who
are actually looking for housing they can afford, but coming up short. Perhaps another city hasalready crafted such a metric? It would involve selecting a handful of jobs that reflect the
“missing middle”: teachers, hospital employees, University employees, fire fighters, Citygovernment workers. The “affordable housing” rates would be based on the average of
THOSE salaries not spending more than 30% on housing.
Perhaps it is worth looking into how the City might encourage our large employers that own
land (e.g. the hospital, the University, and perhaps the City?) to build housing for their ownemployees—housing that never goes on the market, and perhaps is offered in lieu of salary?
I also wonder how the City might attract philanthropists who are interested in doingsomething good with their money: buying land or buildings that could be converted into
affordable artist live/work spaces, or co-housing, or some other form of affordable housingthat sparks the creative imagination and inspires a potential donor. Of course this is wishful
thinking, but given the amount of concentrated wealth in our country right now, and the smallbut increasing number of individuals who are deciding to direct their wealth toward social
good, it would be a missed opportunity if we didn’t at least consider that possibility.
Again, thank you for your willingness to roll up your sleeves and reconsider this ordinance
and whether, as currently written, it will produce the intended results.
Very sincerely,
Amy Kelley Hoitsma706 E. Peach St., Bozeman
20 August 2024 Honorable Mayor Cunningham, Deputy Mayor Morrison, and Bozeman City Commissioners: Thank you for scheduling a work session this evening to reconsider the Affordable Housing Ordinance. I am thrilled at how many citizens have engaged in this issue and submitted thoughtful comments. This is a complicated issue and I know the Commission has few tools to actually create more affordable housing units in the City. I understand that without the ability to wield a stick, providing incentives to developers to build affordable housing seems to be the only remedy. One thing that can change is the metrics of what constitutes affordable housing. Currently, the 80% AMI metric results in a rental rate that is very close to market rates, which most consider un-affordable. The easiest solution would be to lower the AMI percentage to 60 or even 40. An alternative would be to create a “basket of jobs” held by the “missing middle”: those who are actually looking for housing they can afford, but coming up short. Perhaps another city has already crafted such a metric? It would involve selecting a handful of jobs that reflect the “missing middle”: teachers, hospital employees, University employees, fire fighters, City government workers. The “affordable housing” rates would be based on the average of THOSE salaries not spending more than 30% on housing. Perhaps it is worth looking into how the City might encourage our large employers that own land (e.g. the hospital, the University, and perhaps the City?) to build housing for their own employees—housing that never goes on the market, and perhaps is offered in lieu of salary? I also wonder how the City might attract philanthropists who are interested in doing something good with their money: buying land or buildings that could be converted into affordable artist live/work spaces, or co-housing, or some other form of affordable housing that sparks the creative imagination and inspires a potential donor. Of course this is wishful thinking, but given the amount of concentrated wealth in our country right now, and the small but increasing number of individuals who are deciding to direct their wealth toward social good, it would be a missed opportunity if we didn’t at least consider that possibility. Again, thank you for your willingness to roll up your sleeves and reconsider this ordinance and whether, as currently written, it will produce the intended results. Very sincerely, Amy Kelley Hoitsma 706 E. Peach Street, Bozeman
20 August 2024 Honorable Mayor Cunningham, Deputy Mayor Morrison, and Bozeman City Commissioners: Thank you for scheduling a work session this evening to reconsider the Affordable Housing Ordinance. I am thrilled at how many citizens have engaged in this issue and submitted thoughtful comments. This is a complicated issue and I know the Commission has few tools to actually create more affordable housing units in the City. I understand that without the ability to wield a stick, providing incentives to developers to build affordable housing seems to be the only remedy. One thing that can change is the metrics of what constitutes affordable housing. Currently, the 80% AMI metric results in a rental rate that is very close to market rates, which most consider un-affordable. The easiest solution would be to lower the AMI percentage to 60 or even 40. An alternative would be to create a “basket of jobs” held by the “missing middle”: those who are actually looking for housing they can afford, but coming up short. Perhaps another city has already crafted such a metric? It would involve selecting a handful of jobs that reflect the “missing middle”: teachers, hospital employees, University employees, fire fighters, City government workers. The “affordable housing” rates would be based on the average of THOSE salaries not spending more than 30% on housing. Perhaps it is worth looking into how the City might encourage our large employers that own land (e.g. the hospital, the University, and perhaps the City?) to build housing for their own employees—housing that never goes on the market, and perhaps is offered in lieu of salary? I also wonder how the City might attract philanthropists who are interested in doing something good with their money: buying land or buildings that could be converted into affordable artist live/work spaces, or co-housing, or some other form of affordable housing that sparks the creative imagination and inspires a potential donor. Of course this is wishful thinking, but given the amount of concentrated wealth in our country right now, and the small but increasing number of individuals who are deciding to direct their wealth toward social good, it would be a missed opportunity if we didn’t at least consider that possibility. Again, thank you for your willingness to roll up your sleeves and reconsider this ordinance and whether, as currently written, it will produce the intended results. Very sincerely, Amy Kelley Hoitsma 706 E. Peach Street, Bozeman