HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-13-26 Public Comment - K. Stroop - Re_ NCOD demolition updates From: Kira St000s
To: Bozeman Public Comment
Subject: [EXTERNAL]Re: NCOD demolition updates
Date: Monday,July 13,2026 2:41:37 PM
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ps. And as I forgot to mention it, I write as a renter in the Bon Ton for the past 19 years.
On Mon, Jul 13, 2026 at 2:34 PM Kira Stoops <kirastoo1s(c gmail.com>wrote:
Dear City Commission and Historic Preservation Advisory Board,
I am asking the Board to recommend that the City require, honor, and enforce a public-
notice process before approving demolition of any structure within the NCOD, including
structures classified(and relevantly, misclassified) as non-contributing.
I also request a public-notice process with a meaningful comment and appeal period before
demoting structures from contributing to non-contributing.
Finally, I request no further demolitions or structure evaluations be approved until the City
has a credentialed full time Historic Preservation Officer retained.
Why?
The NCOD exists to protect a pervasive sense of history in place—one that is economically
important to Bozeman, among other benefits. It's not about protecting only exceptional
homes, but one mishandled structure can damage the character of the neighborhood—
permenently. Bozeman's historic neighborhoods are an economic asset, a tourism draw, and
home to long-term locals whose quality of life and thus ability to contribute civically
depends on their continuity.
I cite 311 S. Grand as an example of multiple administrative failures prompting my requests.
As signs (but no actual sign) of demolition mounted, I took to our public record and
uncovered serious conflicts and errors. Firstly, the house was listed as contributing to the
Bon Ton Historic District(both at the State and local level), while the City was processing it
as if it were non-contributing. Secondly, although some historical due diligence had been
done by the owners via an out of state historic firm, the association with Mabel E. Staats and
early women's suffrage organizing had never been evaluated. Thirdly, the City encouraged
the owners to purchase the property and move forward with applying for demolition and
rebuild without any administrative due diligence. Finally, the owner razed legacy mature
trees to the ground that they would have been encouraged to protect as per the NCOD
Guidelines had the structure been earmarked as contributing.
The City has now paused permits and reopened review, for which my neighbors and I are
grateful. A solid public notice process and a dedicated Historic Preservation Officer
would have surfaced those problems long before the project reached this stage, ideally
before the owners relied on incomplete records in purchasing and planning the property.
311 S. Grand is far from the only concern. Our historic neighborhood is peppered with
myopic demolitions and rebuilds that disrespect and tarnish its hard-won
character, removing irrecoverable features. Once a house, tree canopy, streetscape, or
historic association is erased, we have no way to restore it.
What we can do is protect what is left—still much, and very much worth protecting for the
benefit of the neighbors and greater Bozeman. Thank you for your consideration.
Kira Stoops
Kira Stoops
406.600.4117
Kira Stoops
406.600.4117