Bozeman Graffiti Wars

More on development & updated photos from Bozeman's graffiti scene...

A while back (http://annvinciguerra.blogspot.com/2017/01/paradise-ruined.html)I wrote a piece about graffiti around Bozeman. The post specifically highlighted markings that have appeared on the apartment building and quartet of little white houses in a prime location on West Lamme. Recently, I passed by during a run and my curiosity was piqued once again. Upon returning home from my run, I went to the all-knowing Google to find out what’s going on. Below is what I discovered…

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According to a Bozeman Daily Chronicle article from June 2015, (https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/city/northside-lofts-slated-for-edge-of-downtown-bozeman-to-include/article_ffa72134-846c-59dd-b97c-5a23075ee380.html) KLJ Property Solutions was searching for a “damaged site” to develop. With three of the eight apartment units in such poor condition they were only being rented during the summer and two of the four houses deemed “un-rentable due to cost prohibitive repairs,” the West Lamme property was apparently sufficiently damaged and KLJ snapped it up.

With their eyes on tearing down the buildings and erecting a five story mixed-use building, KLJ submitted a development application to the city of Bozeman’s planning department. Their Northside Lofts proposal called for ground-floor commercial space and 41 residential units including everything from studios to boutique penthouses.

Fast-forward to March 2017 when this article (https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/city/parking-s-cost-as-cars-pile-up-in-downtown-bozeman/article_6b68457b-f145-5ac3-915c-8bf41eccfe88.html) stated KLJ was deterred by the cost of providing ample parking for the project. Upon receiving the news, KLJ abandoned plans for the Northside Lofts and sold the property to an LLC in New York City.

While many residents bemoan the thought of more development and another mid-rise building going up in downtown Bozeman, a developer can only develop if someone else has appropriate real estate for sale. Many times, when a property is in such sad state the new owner often finds it easier to tear it down and start from scratch.

I wonder about the individual, family, or corporation that sold the real estate on West Lamme to

KLJ. Why did they neglect it? How do they feel about displacing 12 households? Who knows how many people lived in these units but, most were probably scrambling to find another rental when the property changed hands. I can only imagine their frustration as their old home remains standing yet continues to sit unoccupied.

The original owner walked off with a bundle of money for real estate in pretty crappy condition. I don’t like the actions of developers but is the neglectful apartment owner who sells out any better?

Sadly, there are many properties similar to West Lamme around Bozeman. With the increasing cost of rentals in Bozeman and a seemingly unlimited supply of potential renters, it appears as if owners sometimes find it easier and more lucrative to neglect repairs and keep on renting their units. 

Not far from my home, another small white apartment building was sold a while back. The new owner bulldozed it, and in its place now sits a large, modern single-family residence that towers above the neighboring houses. Although the demolished apartment building was an eyesore, it provided housing in a competitive market and was always rented.

Poorly maintained (And probably still over priced) rentals versus something new such as a single-family residence or higher-density development that is unaffordable for most? Sometime it seems like solving the housing problem and dealing with development in Bozeman is a lose-lose situation.

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The future of the West Lamme real estate is unknown, but in the meantime the graffiti makes for entertaining site seeing. The work I originally photographed was painted over and since then the buildings have been tagged at least twice. While there is something slightly disturbing about seeing graffiti around Bozeman, I am intrigued by the crop that pops up repeatedly on these sad white buildings.

West Lamme Neighbor

The property on West Lamme fills almost an entire block. On the opposite side of the street is the large, blocky Martel office building, which appears to be empty in the evenings. Overall, it’s a quiet block that doesn’t have a lot of immediate neighbors around to keep an eye on things. Little wonder it has become a prime spot for tagging.

Last time I passed by the graffiti was once again painted over. The buildings retained their dull white sheens with sloppy coats of white, tan, and green paint covering the markings. I’m eager to see what happens next, and I chuckle as I think about the frivolous cat-and-mouse game taking place between the graffiti artist and the owner.

Who is the graffiti artist? I envision a rambunctious, angry young man working stealthy late at night. Perhaps he once lived in the apartment building that now sits abandoned. Fed up with the increasing cost of living and difficulty in finding an affordable apartment in Bozeman, he takes his frustrations out with a can of spray paint on this blank white canvas. 

I imagine the absentee New York City owner throwing his hands up upon hearing his property has once again been tagged. But he's a busy captain of industry so with an air of indifference he puts in a request for his handyman to swing by and cover up the mess. 

"No," he gruffly tells the handyman. "I'm not going to put a fence around the property. I don't want to spend the money."

Bozeman’s development and graffiti wars continue…