Concluding the Bozeman Development Series

Photos & Five Questions to Consider

Wow! My series of posts on Bozeman development has caused quite a stir. Thanks to re-posting by the Save Bozeman group, my most recent piece (http://annvinciguerra.blogspot.com/2017/09/bozeman-touring-midtown.html) quickly skyrocketed to a top-three spot on my most popular posts list.

My intent was not to take a stance about development. Rather, I aimed to get people to take a realistic look at what’s going on in Bozeman by taking a walk around. While some might think Bozeman is being“ruined” or getting “too fancy,” examples of everything from ramshackle to ordinary are out there. Bozeman is still a lively mountain town retaining a distinct character, and things are far from being ruined.

I’ll conclude my series with a few thoughts to ponder and several photos to enjoy.
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There is not one true answer on how Bozeman (or any community) should grow. Coming to a census is challenging so please consider these five questions:

1. Growth preferences vary - Smaller and less diverse but quiet versus bigger and more vibrant albeit with more people and traffic. Build up or sprawl out? There is no easy answer.

2. Aesthetic preferences vary - What’s ugly for one is a refreshing change of pace to another. While some are outraged at the style of Village Downtown, others are relieved Bozeman has been spared a clichéd log monstrosity popular in so many Western towns.

3. New and bad often becomes old and desirable – In the early 20th

century, Sears & Roebuck kit houses were an affordable way for people to become homeowners. Some of these homes made their way to Bozeman, and I imagine they were scoffed at by the original Bozemanites. Today, old kit homes have been remodeled and are still standing in Bozeman’s most desirable neighborhoods.

4. Zoning dictates - An owner wants to sell, a buyer wants to buy and zoning determines what can and cannot done with the property. While some spots are zoned commercial, it is up to the buyer to fill that space. And that brings me to the last point…

5. We resist change, yet we don't want to be being overly regulated - Let's face it, change is scary. Even the strongest among us will start to quiver as the familiar transforms. We wish, sometimes demand, that things go back to the way they were. Tighter regulations can prevent unwelcome change from happening, but many of us pride ourselves in being independent Americans and "live and let live" rugged Westerners. Tighter controls do not jive with these attitudes. You can't have it both ways.



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If you have read this far (Kudos to you!) and want to find out more about the A-List's Bozeman development series, you can check out these links:

• Alley Tour: http://annvinciguerra.blogspot.com/2017/07/bozeman-alley-tour.html

• Graffiti: http://annvinciguerra.blogspot.com/2017/01/paradise-ruined-bozeman.html
• Fiction: http://annvinciguerra.blogspot.com/2017/03/coming-back-to-bozeman-fiction.html
• Creative Non-Fiction: http://annvinciguerra.blogspot.com/2016/10/retelling-bozemans-story.html
• Gear Shops: http://annvinciguerra.blogspot.com/2016/01/where-have-all-gear-shops-gone.html
• Fireworks: http://annvinciguerra.blogspot.com/2017/07/independence-day-bozeman.html