HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-16-26 Public Comment - L. Gilmore - HPAB meeting about demolitionFrom:Lesley Gilmore
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]HPAB meeting about demolition
Date:Tuesday, June 16, 2026 11:36:22 AM
Attachments:LG to Historic Preservation Advisory Board 2026 06-16.pdf
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I have attached a letter with comments for the Historic Preservation Advisory Board. I
understand that they will be discussing demolition tomorrow night. Please relay my
letter to the board.
Thank you,
Lesley M. Gilmore
Historic Preservation Advisory Board
Bozeman
June 16, 2026
Dear HPAB,
I was informed that you will be discussing demolition during your June 17, 2026 meeting. As
I am not available to attend this meeting, I would like to offer the following comments for
your consideration:
1. Properties can be considered significant for several reasons: association to history
and important people, or for architectural character. The latter is no more
meaningful than the first two.
2. Bozeman has recently lost several significant properties. This is partly due to the
lack of recent surveys of our neighborhoods. If we don’t know what we have, we are
less likely to save it.
3. Bozeman’s character has been changing swiftly, primarily by developers. The
disregard for our history and neighborhoods is disappointing.
4. Bozeman should ramp up and expand its survey program and document – at least –
buildings fifty years old and older. We have several really fine neighborhoods that
have buildings representative of the mid-century.
5. Bozeman should consider implementing fines for demolition. This will help protect
historic buildings while also protecting our earth’s precious resources. It takes
energy and fuel to tear a building down. The cost of this carbon footprint should be
included in the fine program for demolition. (The carbon footprint cost can be
calculated at https://www.caretool.org/ and several other sites.)
6. Bozeman does not currently have a Historic Preservation Officer, thus permits for
work in the Conservation Overlay District should be reviewed by competent staff in
consultation with the HPAB. The process of hiring the next Historic Preservation
Officer should be in consultation with the HPAB.
I appreciate your reviewing this topic, knowing that there a more issues and more solutions
than I state above. I wish you all the best in your deliberations.
Sincerely,
Lesley M. Gilmore, AIA, FAPT, APT RP
Gilmore Franzen Consulting LLC