HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-31-25 Public Comment - L. Jay - Support Guthrie 2 AppealFrom:Lorre Jay
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Support Guthrie 2 Appeal
Date:Monday, March 31, 2025 1:35:45 AM
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Application 24493 The Guthrie 2.pdf
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I attach a letter with my comments below:
March 31, 2025
Dear City Commissioners:
This is in response to application #24493, the Guthrie Fifth and Villard
I have significant concerns with this application and request that you reject the project forthe following reasons:
1.The proposed building is 8-10x larger than any of the surrounding buildings. Thescale and mass of the proposed building violates the compatibility criteria set forth inBMC 38.230.100 similar to what you found in review of the Guthrie 1 on July 9,2024.
2.The proposed affordable units are above market rate units on a rent per square foot
basis. Comparing the Guthrie rent per square foot to market rate apartments forsimilar studio, 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units, the proposed “affordable” Guthrie 2apartments are at or above market rate apartments (see table below). Because thedeveloper is requesting deep incentives, if approved, the City will betransferring valuable Community assets to a private developer for no benefit.
The table below shows rent per square foot for market rate apartments of $1.62 – $4.12, the
Guthrie 2 proposes charging $2.91 - $4.18 which is at or above market rate apartments.
3.Additionally, the proposed rent of a 1-bedroom apartment is unaffordable for theaverage Bozeman renter. The median renter household income is $49,543according to the Bozeman 2023 Economic and Market Update (p. 6). This translatesinto $1,238.58 in housing costs per month based on a 30% threshold. This wouldinclude utilities. However, the Guthrie 2 proposal is pricing a 1-bedroom apartmentat $1,745.00 per month. This assumes that a 462-square foot apartment will insteadhouse 2 Bozeman renters, thereby meeting what is supposedly the threshold foraffordability. This is a gross mischaracterization of what is both affordable andlivable.
4.The building design fails to integrate with the neighborhood. Code: 38.230.100A.7.
5.The traffic study ignores failing intersections in the Whittier elementary schoolneighborhood.
For these reasons, please reject this proposal.
Sincerely,
Lorre F. Jay
Bozeman resident
March 31, 2025
Dear City Commissioners:
This is in response to application #24493, the Guthrie Fifth and Villard
I have significant concerns with this application and request that you reject the project for the
following reasons:
1.The proposed building is 8-10x larger than any of the surrounding buildings. The scale
and mass of the proposed building violates the compatibility criteria set forth in BMC
38.230.100 similar to what you found in review of the Guthrie 1 on July 9, 2024.
2.The proposed affordable units are above market rate units on a rent per square foot basis.
Comparing the Guthrie rent per square foot to market rate apartments for similar studio,
1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units, the proposed “affordable” Guthrie 2 apartments are at
or above market rate apartments (see table below). Because the developer is
requesting deep incentives, if approved, the City will be transferring valuable
Community assets to a private developer for no benefit.
The table below shows rent per square foot for market rate apartments of $1.62 – $4.12, the
Guthrie 2 proposes charging $2.91 - $4.18 which is at or above market rate apartments.
3.Additionally, the proposed rent of a 1-bedroom apartment is unaffordable for the average
Bozeman renter. The median renter household income is $49,543 according to the
Bozeman 2023 Economic and Market Update (p. 6). This translates into $1,238.58 in
housing costs per month based on a 30% threshold. This would include utilities. However,
the Guthrie 2 proposal is pricing a 1-bedroom apartment at $1,745.00 per month. This
assumes that a 462-square foot apartment will instead house 2 Bozeman renters, thereby
meeting what is supposedly the threshold for affordability. This is a gross
mischaracterization of what is both affordable and livable.
4. The building design fails to integrate with the neighborhood. Code: 38.230.100A.7.
5. The traffic study ignores failing intersections in the Whittier elementary school
neighborhood.
For these reasons, please reject this proposal.
Sincerely,
Lorre F. Jay
Bozeman resident