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Housing survey to inform plan for action
Published
6 years agoon
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Outlaw PartnersBy Margo Magnant EBS Contributor
BIG SKY – The results of the most comprehensive housing survey ever conducted in Big Sky were presented to the community in a public meeting at the Big Sky Sewer and Water building on Feb. 28.
“We don’t work with communities unless they’re ready to take action,” said Wendy Sullivan of Jackson, Wyoming-based WSW Consulting. Sullivan was hired last fall by the Big Sky Community Housing Trust to conduct the survey and prepare a subsequent Housing Action Plan, expected to be released in early June.
In summary, the survey results, which aggregate over 1,000 responses-an “excellent” response rate according to the survey-reaffirm that housing is a “serious, and likely critical, problem” for the community.
Among the most eye-opening results is that more than 400 renter households (40 percent of those surveyed) have been displaced within the past five years due to the owner selling their rental or converting it to a short-term vacation rental. That’s nearly four times the number in Mammoth Lakes, California, according to the results of a similar survey, also conducted by WSW in 2017.
Sullivan believes two main factors are to blame for this high number in Big Sky: the lack of regulation on short-term rentals and the lack of apartment buildings. The latter, she said, are less likely to be individually owned and provide a “more stable source of housing” than homes or condos.
However, Sullivan did note that the level of engagement from employers of all sizes on the housing issue is also unique to Big Sky. “Employers are doing a lot,” she said, “unfortunately they just can’t keep up with the markets.”
Additionally, the survey addresses the need for the community to direct its development efforts in way that addresses housing needs. More housing is needed, but according to Sullivan, “There is a need to focus on not just housing [units] for locals, but homes for locals-what they need to be happy and to grow here.”
“Big Sky needs more employee-friendly housing,” said one survey respondent, “Bozeman is too far to realistically commute, and Big Sky loses out to other resorts of similar quality because of it.”
The data also validates an anecdotal reality in Big Sky: the necessity to have multiple jobs and/or roommates to afford a rental. “It’s one thing to read through the stats and see the numbers,” said Sarah Gaither, operations manager at the Big Sky Community Food Bank. “It’s another thing to look into the face of a person who is actually spending 51 percent of their income on rent. You see insecurity; you see stress; you see fear … and you understand that they’re one fender-bender … away from losing everything.”
As for next steps, a nearly 20-person working group has already held its first meeting, led by Sullivan and Christine Walker of Navigate, LLC, to apply the survey results to formulate a plan for action. In addition to BSCHT advisory committee board members, the working group includes community stakeholders, including representatives from the planning boards of Gallatin and Madison counties.
“The goal is to prioritize and develop tools and strategies, and to make them workable,” Sullivan said. “To figure out how to get this done-aas opposed to more discussion on why this should happen.”
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
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We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
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We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
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Please join the Arts Council of Big Sky for free music from Jacob Rountree at the Wilson Hotel Lobby Bar from 5-7 p.m.
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Please join the Arts Council of Big Sky for free music from Jacob Rountree at the Wilson Hotel Lobby Bar from 5-7 p.m. on April 24.
Jacob Rountree is an alternative/indie songwriter living in the stunning alpine of Montana. Contemplative yet playful, his lyric forward style is reflective of his love for philosophy, poetry and quantum physics.
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(Wednesday) 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
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The Wilson Hotel
145 Town Center Ave
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Trivia from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Waypoint in Town Center. Participation is free, food and beverages available.
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Trivia from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Waypoint in Town Center. Participation is free, food and beverages available.
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(Wednesday) 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
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The Waypoint
50 Ousel Falls Rd