15 minute read
BUSINESS
Developing a Sense of Place Despite growth, a neighborhood maintains its eclectic history
BY MIRA BRODY
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Bozeman artist Mitch Sander spray paints the finishing vibrant lines of an orange-red sun tinted by wildfire smoke on the side of a corrugated tin shed in Bozeman’s Northeast Neighborhood. The sun shines down on three painted red-winged blackbirds and stalks of brown cattails, and passersby walking to and from neighboring Wild Crumb Bakery watch Sander as he works—some silently, some striking up conversations with the artist before they grab a pastry and head back home, to work, or to recreate in the nearby Bridger Mountains.
The mural Sander is working on is a part of the Parade of Sheds event hosted by the Northeast Neighborhood Association, and the shed itself stands on the site of a new infill development project called The Wildlands that will soon break ground among the historic structures of the northeast side.
“It’s a lot better just for larger surfaces, it allows me to be more loose with my painting,” said Sander of his chosen medium. The self-taught acrylic painter has been a part of Bozeman’s art scene since he moved here from his hometown of Bismarck, North Dakota, in 2009. “I kind of tend to paint things that are very clean-cut, very straight, very round, that sort of thing, and spray painting is more of a free form … It’s easier to express a lot more, quicker.”
This neighborhood has taken a similar creative approach to growth. They make an effort to protect their history and artisan culture and are doing so by communicating with developers as real estate booms in Gallatin Valley. The Wildlands is one such project. It’s a collaborative effort between Outlaw Real Estate Partners, a southwest Montana real estate company, and 45 Architecture of Bozeman, and aims to build with creativity and intention.
“The goal for us with this is to find a way to integrate living and additional commercial opportunities in this neighborhood while responding to its unique, eclectic nature,” said Eric Ladd, owner of OREP. “Inspirations for this project really came from its surroundings. The project will be an eclectic, polished but fun building and should support and celebrate the existing template that’s already there.” Ladd calls The Wildlands “low-scale and responsible,” and will yield 12 apartments and three more commercial areas. It will add improvements to existing public spaces around Wild Crumb and Fink’s Delicatessen, creating more room for community gathering. The project is slated to begin in early 2022.
A cultural enclave
The Parade of Sheds is a quirky celebration and perhaps the best way to introduce the Northeast Neighborhood to those unfamiliar with the cultural enclave. The event is a play on the traditional Parade of Homes that many cities celebrate, during which residents self-tour often large, newly built homes in their community. The Parade of Sheds, however, celebrates practical and idiosyncratic designs such as drought-friendly gardens, a giant tree house or an old, painted tin barn.
“It’s designed to be a fun community gathering,” said Reno Walsh, president of the Northeast Neighborhood Association, known as NENA. “I think it’s an important community appreciation event and it’s an attempt to keep the north side funky and hold onto that eclectic nature, and I think it does that.”
Walsh, who is raising his family on the northeast side, appreciates the small size and familiar faces at the event. Nearly 100 attendees turned out for the parade and many more for the self-guided shed tours. “Now I Know,” a solo music project composed by Montana State University emeritus Chris Jenkins, played live music for passersby.
The Northeast Neighborhood has not only embraced its culture through quirky residential exteriors and intimate neighborhood events, but also through its support of small local businesses and artists, such as Wild Crumb and Fink’s, as well as Treeline Coffee Roasters, Alter Bikes, Tinworks Art, Echo Arts and a variety of other locally owned shops that call the area home.
In 2005, the Northeast Neighborhood was designated by the City of Bozeman as an Urban Renewal District, which collects city taxes to fund neighborhood improvements. This designation has made many of these development projects a reality and allowed for this variety of businesses to call the area home, making for a unique mix of residences as well as offices, eateries and breweries.
Developers of The Wildlands project have presented at NENA’s biannual meeting as well as the association’s town hall meetings, which consist of a 10-minute presentation by the developers followed by a Q&A session. It’s an effective way to engage the community with development projects and provide them with a voice, Walsh explains. Some concerns voiced by neighbors include window placement in the new building, as well as area parking. Walsh speaks candidly about the feeling of discomfort that some neighbors have toward growth and development, a complexity many longtime Montanans have grappled with as their beloved town is discovered. “We all know what it was like 25 years ago,” Walsh said. “We know it was good but we don’t know what it’s going to be like in the future and that unknown is uncomfortable. [The developers] are being transparent, so that goes a long ways. But in the end it’s development, it’s change and change can be difficult and it has an impact on our daily lives.” Walsh is urging residents to maintain open lines of communication. “Something we can do is address the policies that encourage and manage planning development,” he said. “I encourage people to get involved with their local neighborhood association.” Although Bozeman has witnessed significant growth in recent years, one thing that hasn’t changed over the decades is the reason so many come here— opportunity and quality of life. With easy access to recreation, views and friendly community, the Gallatin Valley has always attracted adventure seekers and those looking for a better life. For Jeff Lusin, lead architect of The Wildlands and owner and principal of 45 Architecture in Bozeman, the process of collecting existing characteristics and sculpting them into a new development project began at the Gallatin History Museum.
A hub for adventure
In the 1800s, Bozeman’s northeast side was a bustling hub of agriculture. Story Mill and the Lehrkind Brewery provided employment to many of the area’s blue-collar workers and because of access to the Northern Pacific Railroad, surrounding farmers used the trolley line to transport produce to the train station to be shipped throughout the country. For its part, 45 Architecture has been developing projects in the area for 15 years, including Van Winkle Stadium at Montana State University and Neptune’s Taphouse and Eatery in Livingston. Lusin joined as owner and principal just over five years ago. As a Bozeman native who spent his youth in the neighborhood attending Hawthorne Elementary School, channeling this history and character into a new development project was more than just another job for him—it’s been a project of passion. “How do we take all that rich history of the railroad, the mills, the brewery— it’s kind of wild right? It’s the Wild West,” Lusin said. “So if we can create
a location that’s the pit stop to the outdoors and to adventure, that’s The Wildlands.” “It’s hard to replicate character,” Ladd said. “Character is usually earned through time and place, and so as you drive around the neighborhood, you’re inspired by things from fences made of skis, to their prized shed tour and chicken coops. This neighborhood also has a deep history of the railroad and all the [grain] storage buildings, and all those elements. Our architects have studied that.” Lusin utilized brick for the first level, wood on floors two and three, and a varied parapet creating a unique connection between the ground and the sky. The attention given to the Earth-sky connection, he says, is essential because so much of our culture in Montana is looking up at the vast celestials and mountainscapes around us. “When you put a feeling behind a building … in a place that’s so artist-centered and really kind of eclectic in the uniqueness, you can create your own stamp,” said Lusin. “That’s the power of the Northeast Neighborhood—it allows people to be really as creative as they want.” Much like the old brick buildings that grace Bozeman’s Historic Downtown making for its recognizable skyline, The Wildlands structure, Lusin says, is intended to Bozeman artist Mitch Sander spray painted a mural in the Northeast Neighborhood as a part of the Parade of Sheds event. The provide a sense of familiarity and permanence that mural, consisting of red-winged blackbirds, cattails and a blazing red sun, are all elements that remind him of the unique area. PHOTO BY SETH DAHL stands the test of time. He describes the vast walls they designed on the building with the specific intention of them becoming a mural space. Although specific art has not yet been determined, the walls are intended to stand as a blank canvas on which local creatives can make their mark. While The Wildlands project will welcome visitors and residences soon enough, allowing it to find its place in Bozeman’s storied history, Lusin says, will be a longer, more organic process. “How do we create something that really does stand the test of time as well so that the building itself can have enough pride and importance …?” asks Lusin. “You have to let that integration happen over time.” Back at his shed-canvas, Sander puts the finishing touches on his own The Wildlands Parade of Sheds mural. He talks about the other projects he’s completed in the area—spray paint pieces at the Starlite Bozeman dance studio or a sketch he did of Misco Mill one afternoon when he felt the inspiration, a power he says the area has over artists. “I get inspired by something like the old building work [and] the old construction,” Sander said of the northeast side. “New development does happen, but it’s cool when there’s something new, if it can also represent the old stuff. Artists want to be around that old architecture.” Initial rough sketches by architect Jeff Lusin depict an early design concept for The Wildlands. ILLUSTRATION BY JEFF LUSIN
This article was originally published in the winter 2021-22 issue of VIEWS. Big Sky magazine. Read more at viewsbigsky.com
Making it in Big Sky: Dave Pecunies Photography
BY BRANDON WALKER
A version of this story was originally published in a December 2020 issue of Explore Big Sky.
BIG SKY – For the greater part of six years, professional photographer and videographer Dave Pecunies has chronicled a multitude of subjects, namely the land, animals and real estate that Big Sky has to offer. Pecunies is a Portsmouth, New Hampshire native with a passion for skiing and the outdoors. Naturally, he found his way to Big Sky in 2015.
“My inspiration to start taking photos had a lot to do with just documenting various skiing adventures around New England and Quebec and that led to shooting other outdoor sports,” Pecunies said in an email to EBS.
Prior to his relocation to the Treasure State, Pecunies earned a degree in business administration from the University of New Hampshire. His photography career is partially rooted in a role he held on the opposite end of a camera lens.
“I skied as a photo model for several photographers and would always ask lots of questions,” Pecunies said. “When they realized I was interested in photography they would show me what they were doing, how they were envisioning the action, how they were composing their shots.”
Fueled by insatiable curiosity and drive, those questions and the knowledge he gained led to a management position at the Maine-based Sunday River Ski Resort for the Outside Television station.
Pecunies has found a new home for his gallery in the Big Sky Town Center. Pecunies exchanged emails with EBS in December of 2020 on a range of topics, such as photography for demand versus enjoyment, and the progression of his imagery over the years to name a few. EBS: As a professional photographer, has your business approach adapted over time? How so? D.P.: If you don’t adapt in business then you will get left behind. I would shoot skiing every day if I could but that is just not financially feasible at this point. However, I’ve taken my love of architecture and design into photography and can now afford to eat. Also, opening a gallery has been another creative outlet for me and has allowed me to share my art with more people. I think the other thing that I’ve adapted to is social media and its immediacy, especially in the marketing world. At least with skiing, nobody wants to see a photo from last week, they want something from today.
EBS: How do you prioritize shooting photographs for enjoyment versus shooting to meet demand? D.P.: I am fortunate in that I generally get to shoot what I enjoy. Certainly there are bluebird powder days that I am stuck inside but I love storm skiing so I can’t complain. Because we live in such a beautiful area, I’m often lucky enough to capture great wildlife or scenic shots on my way to a paying gig.
EBS: Have you found yourself taking on new projects or coming up with new ideas as a result of the pandemic? D.P.: The beginning of the shutdown was certainly a time to reflect and reevaluate priorities and try and forecast what the business environment would look like in one month, six months, one year and beyond. I took on more video work at the beginning of the pandemic when there was some uncertainty. However since the Big Sky real estate industry had a record summer, I ended up having the busiest summer I’ve ever had shooting homes and other commercial projects.
Explore Big Sky: In your opinion, how has the photography industry changed over the years? Dave Pecunies: I think the main change that we have seen in the photography industry is how much easier taking photos and seeing your work has become. I started in the film days and you never knew if you got the shot until you got your film back from processing. Now it’s instant. More recently, since most everyone has a camera on their phone, it has made photography accessible to most everyone.
EBS: What business changes or adaptations have you made as a result of COVID-19? D.P.: My job is pretty socially distant to begin with since I’m mostly shooting unoccupied homes or waiting in the wilderness for the perfect wildlife shot, so I really haven’t had to Big Sky photographer and videographer Dave Pecunies relocated to Big Sky more alter things too much. Just wearing a mask and than six years ago. His professional photography journey began, in part, on the being careful when I’m around others. other side of the lens while as a ski model in New Hampshire. PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVE PECUNIES EBS: What advice would you offer aspiring photographers? D.P.: I always tell people that photography is like learning a language, playing a sport, or math—the more you practice the better you will become, so keep shooting. If you really want to get into a specific type of photography, find a professional photographer that will let you assist. You won’t make much/any money being an assistant but the experience can be priceless. EBS: What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received? D.P.: “Choose a job you love, and you will never work a day in your life.” “If you don’t do it this year, you will be one year older when you do.” – Warren Miller
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