HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-04-26 Public Comment - N. Nakamura - Fowler Housing conversation 1-on-1 followupFrom:Natsuki Nakamura
To:Bozeman Public Comment; Takami Clark; Brit Fontenot; David Fine; Brian Guyer; Douglas Fischer;rogersmt@mail.com
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Fowler Housing conversation 1-on-1 followup
Date:Wednesday, February 4, 2026 7:34:23 AM
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This comment is in regards to the proposed Fowler Housing project. This comment is only
representing myself, but as a disclosure, I am currently a member of the Economic VitalityBoard, a member of the Bozeman DSA, a member of the Better Bozeman Coalition action
committee, and acting President of the Gallatin-Park Central Labor Council. I am cc'ing theEconomic Vitality Board for transparency rather than for their consideration.
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Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the community consensus process for the
Fowler Housing project. This comment is a followup on my conversation with the facilitator,including some additional thoughts.
The government can and should provide where the market won't. Clearly there is amismatch in the housing being created and the jobs being created in Bozeman.
According to Bozeman's 2025 Q2 Economic and Market update, there is a 44% vacancyrate in the 1900+ multifamily units that have come online in 2024 and 2025 (compared
to a 9% vacancy rate of units built before 2024), and which have an average rent of over$2,300/month. Meanwhile, 63% of the jobs created in Bozeman 2022-2024 are in the
bottom quartile of wages (or earning $4,800/month or less), meaning these folks cannotafford these new units without being severely rent-burdened.I want the Fowler Housing project to be a success story. For the community, thatmeans that we see the benefit of the project to Bozeman and that the community feels
that the City valued input and didn't rush the process. For the City, that means they gainthe confidence and see benefit in having a public developer to directly address
community needs rather than trying to incentivize the private market to do it. This is anopportunity for the City to build trust if they remain honest and transparent with which
parts of the project are non-negotiable and incorporate community input into the rest ofthe project (eg. the City has decided this parcel will be developed into for-sale housing -
what else is non-negotiable?)More specific pieces of design should consider the voices of the neighbors so thatthe new development is welcomed into the existing neighborhood, rather thanstigmatized as the "housing for poor people" separate from the neighborhood. Please do
not create a separation from the neighborhood with some kind of "buffer."Do not undo the community's efforts to preserve the nearby riparian area by expanding
the footprint of the road again. In order to make sure there is sufficient parking forthe development, build fewer homes rather than adding on-street parking onFowler.Perhaps community conversations determine that the need is for affordable for-sale
housing that a family can set down roots in. This might mean fewer and larger units inthis parcel. Don't try to do too much with one project if it results in not beingsuccessful with anything, (I liken this to when cities try to make every road good forcars and bikes and pedestrians, which often in reality makes it unpleasant for all parties;
instead, some faster roads can be designed more for cars while other corridors should bemore safe and functional for bikers or pedestrians.)
If doing something like a weighed lottery system for eligibility for an affordable home,take community input on what the highest priorities are (eg. certain professions? long-
time resident of Bozeman? etc)Let's build high-quality houses and let's pay livable wages to whoever ends up building
the housing. Can we involve labor unions in the conversation of building housing inBozeman?
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this conversation.Natsuki Nakamura