BOZEMAN — The Northern, a proposed seven-story multifamily apartment complex, is set to replace Eckroth Music in the heart of Bozeman, adding to a wave of high-rise developments that have transformed the city’s landscape. Medellee Antonioli, owner of Isle of Books, a long-standing independent bookstore, says she feels like the last shop standing in a neighborhood rapidly being reshaped by towering buildings.

Encroaching Construction and Rising Vacancy Rates

Antonioli’s bookstore, located off Mendenhall Street, is surrounded by construction sites. A hotel is rising across the street, luxury apartments are being built nearby, and now the proposed The Northern complex is set to take over the Eckroth Music building. The store, which houses about 100,000 used books in a small building, has already had to relocate three times due to rising rents driven by out-of-state investors.

According to city data, Bozeman’s multifamily vacancy rate increased from 12.6% in 2024 to 18.7% by the end of 2025. Despite this, developers continue to push forward with new high-rise projects, citing a projected surge in population and demand for housing in the coming years.

“I have a lot of mixed emotions about it. Obviously, we need housing. But I think we need to be very careful and conscientious. At this point, it seems like we’re more interested in speed than sustainability,” Antonioli said.

Developers Push Forward Despite Vacant Units

Real estate agent Matt Ryan explained that while the current vacancy rate is high, the city’s population is growing at a rate of 3.7% annually, and many new residents are expected to move into the area over the next three to five years. This, he said, justifies continued development.

“I think with Eckroth, or any other new development, we need inventory. The rental side is saturated right now, but if you look over the next three to five years, Bozeman will continue to be popular. People will continue to move here, and it will be needed,” Ryan said.

However, Ryan acknowledged that some developers are able to afford to build even with high vacancy rates, thanks to out-of-state investors. “I think there is some influx of out-of-state big money. They can technically sit vacant and be fine with it because they can, for tax purposes, depreciate that against other assets they have throughout the rest of the country,” he said.

Antonioli has felt the impact of this trend firsthand. “This business has had to move three times already because somebody from out of state has purchased property and increased the rent by two or three times,” she said. She is now urging city leaders to implement lease protections to safeguard small businesses from being priced out of their neighborhoods.

Future of the Bookstore and the City’s Development Plans

While there is no confirmed timeline for the demolition of Eckroth Music, Antonioli remains determined to stay in her current location. “I really believe strongly that no matter what happens with Eckroth or whatever, we’re going to be here. I’m going to fight tooth and nail so that we are, and so there are inexpensive options for books in this community,” she said.

City officials have not yet commented on the proposed development or the impact on local businesses. However, the trend of high-rise construction in Bozeman appears to be accelerating, with multiple projects underway or in planning stages across the city.

Other developments include a multi-phase project in northwest Bozeman and a 300-unit affordable housing project in Belgrade. These projects are part of a broader push to accommodate the city’s growing population, which now exceeds 61,000 residents.

As the city continues to grow, the challenge will be to balance development with the preservation of local character and the sustainability of small businesses. For Antonioli, the fight for her bookstore’s future is just one example of the broader struggle facing independent businesses in the face of rapid urban expansion.