Commentary: Prime Property for Sale?
by Reilly Neill
How long will Livingston host its unique diversity of creative transients, genius recluses, young families and active society before it becomes a homogenous commerce-machine and a playground for the rich?
As a community, we should want to foster and encourage businesses and business owners with integrity and transparency, new businesses and developers who will come to this place and create a good bond with the community and maintain the bond as the business prospers. We have to be wary of those who will come to this town to make a quick buck off tourists and second-home residents. We have a community here, and it’s worth the effort to preserve it.
The recent Guest House foreclosure is a hint of what may be to come. According to the daily Enterprise, the developer (who now faces fines for months of outstanding violations) “didn’t know” about Montana’s asbestos laws. In addition to the fines, the developer supposedly owes over $540,000 to a Livingston investment company.
Could there have been a better investment for this company in Livingston rather than more condos and retail shops? The Murray still has condos available and the existing retail stores could always use more business. The new Guest House preserved nothing of Livingston’s historic past and would have functioned as little more than any other mall of condos. It’s unfortunate such debt on the property exists because someone could demolish the tainted building and haul it out of town and maybe even build something beautiful there, something that spoke to both Livingston’s past and future.
I only came to Montana eight years ago and can only imagine the changes Livingston natives have seen in their lifetimes. As the area grows, all kinds of development will continue to prosper. Whether or not it will be at the expense of the community of Livingston remains to be seen. I moved to Montana from a small town on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado because the town boomed and the local economy crashed. I came looking for more wilderness and less out-of-state, part-time residents.
Here in Livingston, even less than five years ago, starter homes in city limits were affordable to full-time residents for less than $100,000 for a structurally sound house. Now, as is common knowledge, a decent “home” in this town won’t sell for very much under $200,000. No one can afford this if they are making a living at barely over minimum wage. The housing bubble may be bursting around the country but it is unlikely to hit Livingston hard. In any recession the rich usually retain their wealth, and as long as Livingston is becoming the new Aspen, the wealthy will continue to thrive here.
Most of Livingston is poor or living at subsistence level, barely affording $250 for half the rent each month or $1,000 for a mortgage. It will not be long before many of the lovable freaks who define this town are pushed out and replaced by shiny stores and abandoned “dream home” mansions. To build a successful economy in Livingston‘s future will require some scrupulous community-building efforts from its citizens. But most citizens seem complacent about city planning and convinced that increased commerce is the key to smart growth. Growth will maintain a steady course with only the guidance of state and local codes and zoning regulations. In order to further shape the future of this community, we will all need to add our own guidance to the growth occurring right now. To neglect to do so will guarantee a very different Livingston than we know today.