HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-03-24 Public Comment - A. Hill - Public Comment_ Application 24266_ Block B Mixed Use BuildingFrom:Andrew Hill
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Public Comment: Application 24266: Block B Mixed Use Building
Date:Tuesday, November 26, 2024 8:20:47 PM
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To City of Bozeman Department of Community Development,
The Block B Mixed Use Building is a promising project that is aligned with many of the
development goals of the city. However, it should not be granted the additional 20 feet ofheight requested in accordance with the Affordable Housing Ordinance – Shallow Incentives.
First, it is not clear that the city is equipped to develop the land that is being offered inexchange for affordable housing units, and it is highly likely that this land will lie vacant for
years to come and not benefit Bozeman residents. Second, and more importantly, there areconsiderable neighborhood costs associated with the additional 20 feet of height. Bozeman is
increasingly discovering that buildings beyond 4 or 5 floors create dark, icy, and unwelcomingpedestrian corridors in winter - this is abundantly clear when one compares walking on Main
Street and Mendenhall St. If the project is not viable without the additional 20 feet of height, itshould not go ahead until market conditions change to make such a project viable. The city
should not allow the current landowners to capitalize the height beyond the original heightrestrictions into the value of their land - this height was never theirs. The original height
restrictions are in place for a reason. There are many high density, walkable, cities much largerthan Bozeman around the world that do not have buildings with 6 or 7 floors downtown given
their negative effect on the immediate surroundings - 4 or 5 floors is perfect for liveabledensity.
In addition, it would be helpful if the project included more specificity about the type of
commercial spaces it intends to offer. Several recent developments in Bozeman seem to haveconsidered 1st floor commercial space as an afterthought, and are content to have commercial
spaces that are seldom leased, but allow the building to be designated as a mixed usedevelopment. The idea of mixed use development is to offer commercial spaces that serve the
community, such as restaurants and shops, and not offices that sit mostly empty. It may bemore expensive to design a commercial space that could be leased to a restaurant, but if the
intention is to have nothing more than offices, this should be stated up front so that the mixeduse component is not overvalued by community members.
I am in support of infill development that promotes walkability, and I am in support of an
amended Block B Mixed Use Building that does not exceed the original height restriction.
Kind regards,Andrew Hill
815 W Curtiss St, Bozeman MT