HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-12-25 Public Comment - E. Killenberg - In support of the proposed Fowler Housing ProjectFrom:Eva Killenberg
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]In support of the proposed Fowler Housing Project
Date:Tuesday, August 12, 2025 11:56:26 AM
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My name is Eva Killenberg.
I am commenting in support of the Fowler Housing proposal as drafted by the city and its
contracted architects and engineers. After attending the Fowler Housing Project open
house in June, I felt a wave of excitement and optimism about this idea. At a time when our
housing system feels like a jumble of broken incentives and bad tradeoffs, this project is a
unique opportunity to try something different, and better.
These aspects of the proposal stand out to me as brilliant and crucial elements:
1.
Housing trust model
As evidenced by Bridger View, this model enables long-term affordable, high-
quality, community-driven development. I have a friend in her mid-20s who was able
to purchase an affordable home in Bridger View on the salary of an MSU teacher
and farmer. This is a demographic to whom homeownership is increasingly
inaccessible, but who serve vital roles in our community. I hope to see more housing
owned in trust to grant young professionals, working-class families, and fixed-
income seniors opportunities to live in dignified, affordable housing.
2.
Housing variety
I admire the proposal’s variety of housing in a small space. I can imagine a family
living in a duplex next to a pair of empty nesters, or a family next to a young couple
in adjacent 3- and 2-bedroom townhomes. We know this type of diversity makes a
neighborhood great. I think it is particularly important to make room for families in
this neighborhood, due to its proximity to schools and parks. Living in a diverse,
livable neighborhood close to these amenities is an invaluable experience for a
young family, but housing costs can make it prohibitively expensive.
3.
Neighborhood integration and aesthetics
Although I am no architect or designer, I think the renderings and concept of the
neighborhood show a thoughtfully composed, aesthetically beautiful, and well-
integrated addition to the neighborhood. The proposal uses tools such as stepbacks
and planned landscaping to achieve a tasteful appearance while generating
significant housing and shared space.
I commend all who have worked on the Fowler Housing project thus far. I think it is a
thoughtful and meaningful project, and I hope the Commission will preserve the aspects
that make it great. I also acknowledge the rarity of this opportunity for the city to play an
active role in fulfilling Bozeman’s housing needs, and hope that we can do so in a way that
will maximize community benefit.