HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-09-15 Herlant Wallace Public Comment February 7, 2015
Concerning the 624 North Wallace Restaurant Proposal
City of Bozeman 1NAAdOlIAI0 AIINnAW00
Department of Community Development JO A31NIM30
U[ �IOZ 60 83J
To the Department of Community Development
�MAr�� a
I am a close neighbor of the proposed new restaurant on 624 North Wallace. I could throw a frisbee from
my sidewalk and hit the front door.
I have mixed feelings about a business opening on the corner of the street I have lived on for 14 years. On
the one hand, I have always enjoyed the calm of our street. The street has changed quite a bit over the
last decade yet it retains a slight "out of the way" feeling. I sort of like things the way they are and have a
hard time accepting changes.
On the other hand, I am aware that the Northeast neighborhood is booming and folks want to live here,
build here, eat here, do business here. I am a proponent of building and filling in not sprawling on and on
out of the city limits.
So, I am writing to show overall support for the restaurant which proposes to establish itself on 624 North
Wallace. These are the reasons I support it:
1. 1 prefer to be able to walk or bike to restaurants. I never drive out to North 19th to eat in a national
chain restaurant and I believe that every small independent restaurant Bozeman has is a great asset to the
community. This restaurant would of course have clients which would drive to it. . . but also many folks
who could walk or bike.
2. The restaurant proposes to use many local ingredients supporting both local farmers and local health
and overall strength of the community. This is worth supporting.
3. As a Blackbird Kitchen employee for over 5 years I have similar experience working in a small, locally
oriented restaurant which serves beer and wine. Although on occasion we have some folks arrive a bit
tipsy and in a "party mode", that is definitely the exception to the norm. I also think that Blackbird Kitch-
en being a downtown restaurant, we experience a bit more of the spillover affect from downtown events
such as Music On Main, and Art Walk. I don't believe that the 624 North Wallace location will receive the
same spill over affect from downtown celebratory events and therefore will be an event less likely "party
spot" so that quells my concerns about late night revelers walking by my door.
4. 1 understand that "something" is going to go into that space. Sure, it could be a business that operates
only during the day like most of the business in this "corridor" but why not have a restaurant there?
Audrey's is only truly two blocks away. I don't think there is a legitimate reason to prevent this locally
minded and locally owned business from occupying that space.
Thanks for listening.
Sincerely,
e�' �Q/`� 404
Ellen Herlant
517 East Cottonwood Street
Bozeman, MT 59715
406 580 6010