by Travis Mateer

Last week I wrote about how Team Gentrify is stacking the Affordable Housing Resident Oversight Committee with a “community” member pick that appears (at least to me) to be part of an overall strategy to put together the Gentrification Dream Team.

Well, another selection to this committee has just been made and I think this pick can ALSO be seen as a willing player for the GDT, former Bernice Bakery owner Christine Littig.

Littig made public comments in SUPPORT of the 4th street condo project, a controversial (and ugly) development that will be a part of the canyonization of the Clark Fork envisioned by other greedy Missoula transplants, like Nick Checota.

Littig also owns several VRBO rentals, like the one above Bernice’s Bakery, which you can rent for a cool $85 bucks a night. An article about the city of Missoula asking property owners to “consider” making less money off their investment stock even featured Littig:

Marco and Christine Littig own two housing units near downtown, and rent them out on Airbnb as well. They’ve met the mayor of Gallup, New Mexico, the publisher of the Washington Post and guest artists who showcase their work at the Missoula Art Museum.

Vacation rentals like Airbnb and VRBO are beneficial to both homeowners and visitors, but now the city of Missoula is encouraging owners of vacation rentals and accessory dwelling units to keep long-term renters in mind as an alternative means of earning extra cash.

Eran Pehan, director of housing and community development for the city, wants to incentivize the construction of accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, through Missoula’s recently released housing policy. And rather than encourage more short-term vacation rentals, she hopes ADU owners will instead rent the small houses to local residents in need of an affordable place to live.

Christine Littig will be a great addition for Team Gentrify on this housing committee. She supports riverfront condos, makes bank on VRBO rentals, and is a proud member of the Missoula Downtown Foundation.

I’m very happy to see the GDT getting assembled because our political establishment really will need all the help they can get to stay on message and keep the rabble from getting too pissed and uppity.

Will it work? Well, Missoula citizens, that is up to you.