BOZEMAN — Montana’s housing market issues can be linked to regulations on parking spaces and bowling alleys. Mark Egge, from the governor’s housing task force, highlights how these regulations are tied to the state’s housing affordability crisis. In Roundup, parking requirements for bowling alleys depend on square footage, while Missoula mandates two spaces for every four people, and Havre bases it on seating. This inconsistency, Egge argues, is key in understanding the housing crisis.
Montana’s affordable housing challenge is partly due to parking requirements, which increase land demand and prices. Cities often mandate specific on-site parking, driving the need for expansive land development and limiting housing conversions. Egge, involved with Bozeman’s zoning, explains that zoning changes can significantly impact housing supply. “If you zone for apartments, you get a supply of apartments. When you zone for single-family housing, you get single-family housing,” he said.
Bozeman is focusing on middle housing for average workers, as median income for a single-family home is over 200% of the area median income. Changes in zoning and parking laws can help address this. Egge notes that many families spend as much on transportation as housing, prompting leaders to consider more centralized housing to reduce commuting costs.
Economist Benjamin Horowitz from the Minneapolis Federal Reserve emphasizes no single solution exists for Montana’s housing shortage. Leaders need to support affordability measures, increase housing supply, and streamline building processes. Creative financing is also essential. NeighborWorks director Kaia Peterson suggests innovative strategies, such as using public financing to lower land acquisition costs and helping mobile home residents purchase parks.
Commissioner Zach Brown highlights the irony of housing issues affecting those solving them. Gallatin County employees struggle with housing affordability. As Bozeman grows, manufactured homes are being reconsidered. Brown notes that Montana clings to the traditional single-family home model, but change is needed to embrace evolving housing needs.
Billings architect Randy Hafer demonstrates how redeveloping old buildings can provide affordable housing. Utilizing historical tax credits, Hafer transforms schools, warehouses, and apartments into sustainable housing. Montana’s tax credit is the lowest in the nation, but increasing it could significantly aid development. Hafer’s projects, like those in Roundup and Lewistown, show the potential for economic growth through efficient building conversions.
Hafer explains that the existing infrastructure of these buildings reduces costs, which benefits developers and residents. His approach not only preserves landmarks but also generates housing solutions. “These buildings already have the whole infrastructure — it already exists,” Hafer said. By revamping these spaces, Montana can address housing demands without consuming new land.
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