Downtown Bozeman is the cultural and commercial heart of a growing city and region. It is the location of cherished buildings and businesses, hosts events and festivals, sustains a destination restaurant and entertainment scene, and has tremendous potential to evolve as Bozeman continues to grow. The 2019 Downtown Bozeman Improvement Plan recognizes that Bozeman has arrived at a new stage in its growth and evolution.
When asked to imagine Downtown’s future, the Bozeman community delivered. Over six months, residents helped to assemble a vision by sharing thousands of ideas via activities at public meetings, dreams scribbled on coasters, Instagram likes, thoughtful emails, and passionate discussions. Together, the community envisioned: Looking forward, Downtown Bozeman will remain the heart of a thriving city, but will also emphasize connections to other corners of the community. A vibrant pattern of walkable and accessible streets is now more essential than ever, so the experience of Downtown will expand beyond the identifiable historic core to encompass more than Main Street. While Downtown changes, new investments will be targeted to make sure that improvements are designed to be welcoming to everyone. Finally, Downtown’s identity will always celebrate what is special about Bozeman and remain forever connected to nature and culture.
The Plan included near and long-term recommendations for capital improvement projects, policy and code revisions. Key elements include:
- Understanding of future market demand across housing, office and retail.
- Urban design potential for transformation of key downtown sites.
- Public realm improvements to activate downtown parks, streets, and alleys.
- Expanded bike facilities throughout downtown.
- Policies to reinforce, retail and expand local retail establishments, to better align parking with future demand and technologies, and to create more accessible, inclusive housing options.
