News
New Circ Highway Design
In December 2009 the highway agencies selected a new design for the Circ highway. They abandoned the super-highway and instead selected a lower impact “boulevard” design similar to one of the alternatives advanced by the Vermont Smart Growth Collaborative. While still a new roadway, the route would be moved away from some sensitive wetlands. While the new design is better for the communities and the environment compared with the original plan, it is not clear that building an entirely new roadway is justified in order to save four minutes of travel time. Improving existing roads would limit sprawl, have less environmental impact, lower cost and still meet the safety and transportation needs of the county.
View details of new design.
A final environmental impact statement is due in early 2010.
Redstone Receives Housing Endorsement For Banknorth Block
- View of Banknorth Block from the Southwest corner of Pine Street.
Redevelopment of Burlington’s Banknorth Block, which is planned to be complete with the plan for addition of a 125-room hotel, 36-unit apartment building, and 238 space parking garage in the mid-block, has received Housing Endorsement from the Vermont Smart Growth Collaborative.
“This project received a high score from our review committee,” said Smart Growth Vermont Executive Director Noelle MacKay, “due to its mixture of housing types, integration of a mixture of uses, proximity to key services, access to transportation options and infill development of a key city block.”
In scoring the development, Collaborative members looked at the proposed project as well as the first phase of development which recently received a Smart Growth Award from Smart Growth Vermont. The first phase combined a mix of homes and office space all within easy walking distance of several bus routes, jobs, shops, schools and Burlington’s waterfront. Through a partnership of Housing Vermont, the Champlain Housing Trust, Redstone, and Farrell Real Estate, an historic was restored and converted to 15 modern condos, and two historic homes were renovated into apartments, and Champlain Housing Trust is now headquartered in a modern building includes 17 fixed rated and 3 market rate apartments.
“This project not only boosts Burlington’s tax base, it also enhances the urban fabric of a prominent block in Vermont’s largest city,” said MacKay.
“Redstone is pleased to accept an endorsement from the Vermont Smart Growth Collaborative for the multi-phased redevelopment of the BankNorth Block in downtown Burlington,” said Erik Hoekstra, Redstone Development Manager. “This project involves historic rehab, adaptive reuse,brownfield cleanup, and dense urban infill on a site in center of the Queen City. Projects like this present a level of complication requiring a broad coalition of support. Having the organizations involved in the Smart Growth Collaborative onboard will help Redstone put the pieces together to complete this innovative development.” Their target for groundbreaking is summer 2010, and completion by 2012.