Economic Development Plan
Our Commercial Neighborhoods

Downtown, the Central Business District

Goals: To enhance the quality of life in Burlington with a strong, diverse and vital downtown.

The ability to enhance and maintain the vitality of the Burlington’s downtown is a core economic development strategy for the City. A strong and vital downtown with a mix of retail, cultural, office and housing development can generate substantial state and local tax revenues. Also, a strong and vital downtown enhances the “quality of life” for local residents.

In this section:

• Five Year Focus, an Overview
• Key Indicators
• Recent Accomplishments
• Present Projects
• Programs and Strategies

Five-Year Focus, An Overview:

• Strengthen the institutional capacity to maintain and enhance the downtown retail environment.
• Work with the Burlington Business Association (BBA) and the Church Street Marketplace to enhance the organization's capacity to undertake the planning, advocacy, marketing, and development functions necessary to maintain the viability of the downtown retail district.
• Maintain and enhance the viability of Burlington's downtown retail sector, including a two-pronged approach of fighting to prevent excessive suburban retail development while at the same time providing local businesses with the assistance necessary to prepare themselves to compete with suburban malls and mega-retailers.
• Assist retailers to continue examining and adjusting their marketing, merchandising, and product offerings as necessary to capitalize on the changing retail environment.
• Enhance job opportunities in the retail sector for Burlington residents.
• Promote the use of tax incentives available through the Renewal Community and the Vermont Downtown Programs.
• Promote improvements and incentives in energy efficiency through CEDO's BE3 program for the critical restaurant and food market industry.
• Pursue planned and proposed initiatives to enhance the cultural, recreational, and entertainment amenities in or near downtown.
• Support the development of new housing.
• Support the business utilization and capacities of Burlington Telecom.
• Support the development of new parking opportunities.
• Maintain a safe, comfortable retail environment, and a safe, tolerant environment for residents, including minorities, youth, and persons with disabilities.

Downtown: Key Indicators

Key Indicators: Retail and Office Vacancy Rate

Retail is one key measure of downtown vitality. Retail in the Central Business District suffered over the last four years due to the renovation of the downtown mall, the Burlington Town Center. With renovations now complete, and with less than 32,000 sq. ft. still vacant, retail is recovering. However, the Central Business District also continues to face ever-increasing competition from suburban retail centers.

Measures of the strength of the retail sector include retail vacancy and retail sales – both within Burlington’s downtown and in comparison to the surrounding region.

Retail vacancy in the Central Business District has rebounded with the renovation of the Burlington Town Center. Retail vacancy downtown stood at 4.6% as of December 2002, compared with a county retail vacancy rate of 10.0%. (Allen & Brooks Report) Low vacancy rates, with associated higher rents and property values, helps to maintain a balance in the City’s property tax base between commercial and residential properties.

The office vacancy rate for the downtown stood at 5.7% as of December 2002 - below the county rate of 7.7% for that same time and below the nine-year average for the Central Business District of 7.2%. (Allen & Brooks Report)

Key Indicators: Sales Tax Receipts & Gross Receipts Tax

In fiscal year 2002, the City’s share of countywide retail sales was 18.5%. Because of a change in state policy making clothing purchases under $110 exempt from sales tax, it is not possible to directly compare retail sales over the last decade. The City’s share of county retail sales, however, continues to suffer from the development of suburban big box stores, as reflected in comparative retail sales tax receipts over the last three years – although this time period also reflects a significant loss of retail from the downtown mall renovations:

 * Period from July 1, 2003 through November 30, 2003.

Taxable Retail Sales Receipts FY2001 - FY2002

Another sector reflecting the vitality of the downtown is hospitality, as measured by rooms and meals tax receipts. According to the Vermont Tax Department, the rooms and meals tax revenue in Burlington has increased fairly steadily over the past five years from $4.8 million in FY 1997 to $7.6 million in FY 2001 (a 57% increase overall) and has remained steady at about 30% of the total county rooms and meals revenue.

Downtown: Recent Accomplishments

During the past 30 years, the City has supported several major public and private sector investments, acted to attract and retain retail and new commercial development, and continued to invest resources in maintaining a quality retail environment. The City has also continued its efforts on behalf of downtown retailers to work to combat sprawl that threatens downtown viability. A number of important projects have been completed or set in motion during the past eight years, including:

• Renewal Community - Burlington was designated by the federal government as a Renewal Community for the period from January 2002 through December 2009. Both the downtown and the waterfront – as well as the Old North End - are included in the designation. Federal tax incentives – including wage credits and accelerated depreciation for construction and redevelopment costs - are targeted to this district. There are over 11,000 people (around 5,300 households) who live in the Renewal Community. Around 30% of the City's total labor force - or roughly 7,000 workers - live in this area. There are at least 500 businesses in the Renewal Community - including over 300 retail businesses and around 30 manufacturers. To understand the impact, if 850 Renewal Community workers are each worth an extra $1,500 in wage credits per year to local businesses, then over the course of 8 years those businesses will have saved over $10 million to invest in higher wages/better benefits, workforce training, expansion and new jobs, new equipment and technologies, and other strategies. In 2003, Commercial Revitalization Deductions (a tax incentive for development and redevelopment projects) totaled over $12,000,000.
• Retail Feasibility Study - Last year, the Community & Economic Development Office commissioned a Retail Feasibility Study of the downtown district, completed by the Market Insite Group in December 2002. The purpose of the study was to identify potential retail voids in the downtown area, identify potential retailers to fill the voids, and forecast sales that could be achieved by retailers that would fill the identified retail voids. Three retailers used this information to open a store in Burlington.  See Appendix for detailed information.
• Burlington Town Center – The downtown mall has been completely renovated. General Growth purchased the mall and is the managing partner.
• Main Street - A $10 million rehabilitation of the main artery in the City improved access to downtown and the waterfront from the interstate.
• Filenes Department Store and parking garage - A 150,000 sq. ft. anchor department store is open with an adjacent 400-space parking garage located in the Urban Renewal district. 278 parking spaces will be added to this garage in 2005.
• Designated Downtown – Burlington’s downtown was designated by the State of Vermont as a “designated downtown” – which makes it eligible for a number of benefits including tax credits and loans and grants from various state agencies. To qualify, Burlington developed a comprehensive revitalization strategy for the downtown district and demonstrated broad-based community support. The strategy involves a long-term commitment to enhancing economic opportunities, preserving historic buildings, and improving public space and infrastructure in the commercial district.
• Condominium Housing on College Street - Development of 80 units of housing located in the Urban Renewal District
• Park Place - A mixed-use redevelopment project located across from City Hall. This $5 million redevelopment of a building destroyed by fire includes 34 units of affordable housing and 7 commercial spaces for rent.
• Gateway Plaza - A 60,000 square foot office building with a 200-car parking garage. A new 27,000 square foot building was constructed adjacent to the existing building.
• Chittenden Bank Building - Restoration of the building housing Chittenden Bank (formerly housing Vermont National Bank) on Bank Street.
• Senior Center building - Rehabilitation of the building that formerly housed the Senior Center and converting this space into retail use.
• Origanum building - Removal of 7,000 square foot vacant building that used to house Origanum located across from Memorial Auditorium.
• Flynn Center for the Performing Arts - The once proud Flynn Theatre has been transformed into a multi faceted, multi level Performing Arts Center. A $4 million renovation and addition added a black box theatre.
• Woolworths building - Rehabilitation of 25,000 sq. ft. of retail space formerly housing Woolworths, for Old Navy. The lower level, with 25,000 sq. ft. is available for rent.
• 53 Main Street - Rehabilitation of a three-story building that has been vacant for seven years located across from the Lake Champlain Chamber of Commerce now housing Architectural Salvage Warehouse.
• College Street - Conversion and rehabilitation of vacant second and third story office space into 8 units of housing located across the street from the Burlington Free Press.
• 142-144 Church Street and Ken’s Pizza Building - Conversion and rehabilitation of vacant second and third story office space into 4 units of housing. These buildings were also brought up to current building codes by adding sprinklers to suppress fires.
• City Market - Price Chopper closed in June 1999, leaving the downtown and the Old North End without a supermarket. A new 31,000 sq. ft. supermarket opened in 2002 on the site of the former Police Department building. By 2005 they created 111 jobs, serve 850,000 shoppers annually and with sales over $15 million per year.
• Firehouse Center for the Visual Arts – The $3.5 million complete redevelopment of a five-story former fire station next to City Hall into gallery and arts education space.
• Hall Block – Redstone Commercial obtained $1.8 million in federal and state Historic Tax Credits for the restoration of the Hall Block building on the corner of So. Winooski Avenue and College Street, creating $14,000 in new annual property taxes and rehabilitating 15,000 sq. ft. of vacant upper story space.
• Merchants Bank - Spent $750,000 to completely renovate their College Street branch office, its busiest branch office in the state.
• 156 St. Paul Street – Completely renovated vacant upper story into office space and reconstructed the main floor into the Waiting Room restaurant.
• Victoria Place – A new mixed-use building on Pearl Street added 10,000 sq. ft. of commercial space, including a new branch for the Vermont State Employees Credit Union and a new Laundromat.
• Bard Home Decorating and Periwinkle Jewelry Store - Restore façade of 235 Main Street and rehabilitate approx. 8,000 square feet retail space for Periwinkle Jewelry Store.
• Corner of Church and College Street - Rehabilitation of 8,900 sq. ft. three-story building located on the Northeast corner of Church and College Streets for retail and office space.

Downtown: Present Projects

• Church Street Marketplace - Having passed its 20th birthday, Church Street Marketplace – which, together with the Burlington Town Center, anchors downtown retail - is in the midst of renovations. CEDO helped obtain a $1.5 million grant from the federal government to update the infrastructure and has hired a project manager to oversee renovations.
• Transportation Center – Efforts are underway to improve the existing downtown transit facilities on Cherry Street.
• Hotel and Parking Garage - The City of Burlington has borrowed $1.8 million of Section 108 funds to purchase a downtown parcel of land, located at the corner of Cherry and Battery Streets and currently used by the landowner for surface parking. The downtown parcel purchase will facilitate development of a 127-room Marriott, 43 unit mixed income housing, retail units, and an adjacent parking garage.
• Bank North - Redstone Commercial proposes to buy the BankNorth property bounded by Main, St. Paul, Pine, and King Streets, except for the BankNorth building located on Main Street. They propose to build approximately 99 units of housing, renovate the 15,000 sq. ft. Hines office building located on 161 St. Paul Street, historically renovate the former Armory building on the corner of Main and Pine Street, and build a parking garage.
• Investors Corporation of Vermont – ICV plans on building a multi-story building on the corner of College and Pine Streets for approximately 40 units of housing. They also plan on building a mixed-use development on the corner of Battery and King Streets- that is commercial on the first floor and approximately 40 units of residential units above that- with an underground parking facility for the benefit of the development.
• Redevelopment of the “Superblock” (Memorial Auditorium block) - Plans are underway for the redevelopment of the Memorial Auditorium block, including Memorial Auditorium (as part of the Recreation Center), the Midtown Motel, and the City owned surface parking lots.
• Federal Courthouse – The Vermont Federal District Court has announced plans to construct a new federal courthouse over the next decade.
• Chittenden County Courthouse - The County Court is renovating their building at the corner of Church and Main Street.  The $1.8 million dollar voter approved bond will be used to repair the historic structure's marble façade and to improve the building's aging electrical, heating and cooling systems.
• State Facilities - The redevelopment of State owned properties in the City of Burlington.

Downtown: Programs & Strategies

• TIF District - Burlington has regularly used tax increment financing to assist in the development of downtown, the waterfront, and the City’s Enterprise Zone.
• Downtown PARC Program - Low cost shuttle service for downtown workers from the South End to downtown Burlington.
• Two Hours of Free Parking and more On-Street Parking - The City has established two hours of free parking in city-owned garages and in the garage owned by Burlington Town Center. The city has added 75 new on-street parking spaces by changing to diagonal parking.
• College Street Shuttle - A free bus service linking the downtown waterfront and the University of Vermont, used by over 200,000 people a year.
• Street Worker Project - Social service program assisting troubled residents who frequent downtown.
• Brownfield Redevelopment Program - Business assistance for revitalizing contaminated property.
• Burlington Technical Assistance and Financing Program - Business loan and technical assistance program, including a new energy efficiency program targeted to restaurants and food markets.
• Section 108 - Infrastructure improvements on the waterfront and land acquisition.
• Zoning – Changes in the City’s zoning code have reduced parking requirements and increasing the height of buildings to allow more development of housing in downtown.
• Renewal Community – As described above, Burlington was designated by the federal government as a Renewal Community for the period from January 2002 through December 2009. Both the downtown and the waterfront – as well as the Old North End - are included in the designation. Federal tax incentives – including wage credits and accelerated depreciation for construction and redevelopment costs - are targeted to this district.
• Designated Downtown – As described above, Burlington developed a comprehensive revitalization strategy for the downtown district. The strategy involves a long-term commitment to enhancing economic opportunities, preserving historic buildings, and improving public space and infrastructure in the commercial district.

The Waterfront

Goals: Burlington’s waterfront is developed as a cultural, recreational, social, and economic resource for the entire community through the implementation of the Urban Renewal Plan for the Waterfront Revitalization District.

The City has assumed the lead role in efforts to redevelop the Burlington waterfront, one of the community’s most important visual and recreational resources, and has spearheaded a number of planning and infrastructure development efforts. Major milestones in the waterfront development process include rezoning, approval of two bond issues, land acquisition, establishing a tax increment-financing district, and public improvements. A priority for the City is to continue redevelopment of the waterfront as a mixed-use neighborhood accessible to all city residents for business, housing, and recreation needs. In 1998, the voters approved a revised Waterfront Revitalization Plan. The City will continue to implement that Plan.

In this section:

• Five Year Focus, an Overview
• Recent Accomplishments
• Present Projects
• Programs and Strategies

Five-Year Focus, An Overview:

• Support redevelopment of the Moran Plant.
• Support the development of the privately owned lands adjacent to Lake Street.
• Implement the Interim Use and Stewardship Plan for the Urban Reserve.
• Develop infrastructure for the Interim Development Area
• Relocate the Bike path between College Street and King Street.
• Underground utility lines on the waterfront.

Waterfront: Recent Accomplishments

Section 108 funds have helped significant waterfront infrastructure improvements, including the reconstruction of Lake Street, upgrading of shower facilities at the Boathouse and stabilizing the Moran Plant. These funds helped with water/wastewater system and other infrastructure improvements for Lake Street Extension.

During the past eight years, the City has improved park and open space, removed vacant structures, cleaned up contaminated land, and made infrastructure improvements to ensure pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle access. Today, the waterfront provides a range of cultural, recreational, social, and economic activities for the entire community.

• Leahy Center for Lake Champlain – Construction of a new lake education center was just completed last year, along with a new park honoring the Naval Reserve.
• UVM Rubenstein science lab - Development of a building studying the ecology of Lake Champlain.
• Rehabilitation of Lake Street - Using Section 108 funds, the City rebuilt Lake Street, added a sidewalk, new streetlights, and improved access to the waterfront. The City also buried power lines along the street.
• Mossman housing - 16 units of housing have been built on Lake Street.
• Train Station - A new train station has been built using state funds for the commuter rail.
• Coast Guard Station - The Coast Guard built a building and a new breakwater to protect their boats. The area inside this breakwater is a new underwater state park.
• Skate Park - After 11 years of community discussion, a new skate park has been built at the foot of Depot Street.
• Fishing Pier - A new fishing pier has been built near the Moran generating station.
• Boathouse - A new dock was built around the Boat House.
• Breakwater - The breakwater has been rebuilt.
• Light Houses - Two replica historic lighthouses were rebuilt on either end of Burlington’s breakwater.
• Spirit of Ethan Allen - New 500-passenger luxury ship with 3 dining decks, heated and air-conditioned, and handicapped accessible.
• Lake Champlain Transportation Company new cruise boat Northern Lights - New 120 passenger cruise ship docks at the foot of King Street next to Breakwaters Café.
• Lake Champlain Maritime Museum – A community project to build a replica of a canal boat is ongoing at the shipyard.
• Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center - The Sailing Center built and installed a floating breakwall in front of the Center’s operations on the waterfront at the Moran Generating Station.
• Depot Street Housing - 40 units of mixed-income waterfront housing have been constructed and the storm water infrastructure on Lake Street has been improved.
• Breakwaters Restaurant - Breakwaters restaurant rehabilitated their restaurant.

Waterfront: Present Projects

• Main Street Landing Company - Main Street Landing Company is building a $13.5 million dollar project including a 34,000 sq. ft. office building, black box theatre, movie house, retail space. Seventh Generation will be moving their world headquarters here in 2006.
• Dolphin Removal – Assuming funding is obtained, these permanent docks – which used to provide barges a way to offload petroleum products without docking on the shores of Lake Champlain – will be removed.
• Moran Plant Property – Discussions are underway for its re-use.
• IDA infrastructure – Infrastructure for the entire area incorporated as the Interim Development Area (IDA) of the Urban Reserve needs to be undertaken.
• Overhead Utilities – Efforts are currently underway to insure that the utility lines are removed from the waterfront by 2005/2006.

Waterfront: Programs & Strategies

• Harbor Management Plan -- The beginning phases of a long-term plan to clean up pollution in Lake Champlain have received federal funding. The City has developed a Harbor Management Plan, based on public input, which designates uses within the harbor area and attempts to minimize conflicts between uses.
• Section 108 – Section 108 funds have helped significant waterfront infrastructure improvements, including the reconstruction of Lake Street, upgrading of shower facilities at the Boathouse and stabilizing the Moran Plant. These funds are being used for water/wastewater system and other infrastructure improvements as waterfront redevelopment continues.
• TIF District - Burlington has regularly used tax increment financing to assist in the development of downtown, the waterfront, and the City’s Enterprise Zone.
• Downtown PARC Program - Low cost shuttle service for downtown workers from the South End to downtown Burlington.
• College Street Shuttle - A free bus service linking the downtown waterfront and the University of Vermont, used by over 200,000 people a year.
• Brownfield Redevelopment Program - Business assistance for revitalizing contaminated property.
• Burlington Technical Assistance and Financing Program - Business loan and technical assistance program is available to all residents and businesses in Burlington.
• Designated Downtown District and Renewal Community - The Waterfront adjacent to downtown is largely in these two districts which bring wage, rehabilitation, and other tax credits and deductions

South End Arts & Business District

Goals: The startup and expansion of businesses is nurtured, including the support of a readily accessible core of centrally located business services ensuring the continued generation of quality jobs.

In this section:

• Five Year Focus, an Overview
• Recent Accomplishments
• Present Projects
• Programs and Strategies

Five-Year Focus:

• Support the redevelopment efforts of Gilbane Properties’ Innovation Center of Vermont.
• Develop more incubator space in the Pine Street area.
• Provide technical and other support to existing business in the Enterprise Zone.
• Support the South End Arts & Business Association’s “South End Art Hop,” now a major event for the City.
• Support the efforts of the South End Arts & Business Association to link the arts and technology-based businesses in the south end of Burlington.
• Implement the Smart Growth District initiative.
• Support the business utilization of Burlington Telecom.

South End: Recent Accomplishments

Several important projects have been set in motion in the South End:

• Innovation Center of Vermont – The redevelopment of the General Dynamics property is underway with the completion of Phase 1. Tenants in the facility south of Lakeside Avenue include General Dynamics, British Aerospace, Advanced Engineering Research Associates, UVM capital campaign, a café, and a gym. Proposed Phase II of Innovation Center of Vermont is being planned with the potential of 150,000 +/- SF of Class A office space in the parking lot across the street from General Dynamics.
• Blodgett Company/Middleby Corporation – The City has assisted the Blodgett Company in reducing costs, assuring that the Middleby Corporation will continue to support and invest in the Blodgett Company at its Lakeside Avenue location. This past year, for the first time since the transfer of ownership, experienced double-digit growth.
• Lake Champlain Chocolates - Leased former Nabisco 25,000 sq. ft. warehouse on Sears Lane. Plans for expansion to their existing building in 2006.
• CCTA - Built a new facility next to original headquarters on Industrial Parkway. CCTA plans an expansion to their headquarters.
• Recycle North - Established a Building Materials Exchange program across the street from their headquarters on Pine Street in the former Burlington Street Garage.
• Neighborhood Parks - A Sculpture Park has been constructed at the corner of Pine Street and Marble Avenue by the South End Arts and Business Association. Gilbane constructed a neighborhood park on Lakeside Avenue by General Dynamics.

South End: Programs & Strategies

• The Smart Growth District is a new initiative focused on the City’s industrial core, an area disproportionately impacted by contamination and underutilized properties. There are three concurrent project activities: 1) a comprehensive development analysis of environmental and engineering concerns; 2) creation of a development "toolkit" with data on topics critical to the redevelopment of commercial properties and; 3) a small grants program for site-specific analyses to guide the responsible redevelopment of contaminated parcels.
• The South End Arts and Business Association (SEABA) works to enhance the economic vitality and eclectic mix of Burlington’s arts and business community by promoting the area’s unique blend of art, commerce, industry, and entrepreneurial spirit. SEABA provides the annual Art Hop, which draws thousands of visitors to the area each year and which was recognized as one of Vermont’s Top Ten Fall Events by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. (See Creative Economy)
• TIF District - Burlington has regularly used tax increment financing to assist in the development of downtown, the waterfront, and the City’s Enterprise Zone.
• Downtown PARC Program - Low cost shuttle service for downtown workers from the South and New North End to downtown Burlington.
• Brownfield Redevelopment Program - Business assistance for revitalizing contaminated property.
• Burlington Technical Assistance and Financing Program - Business loan and technical assistance program is available to all residents and businesses in Burlington.
• Support the business utilization of Burlington Telecom.

Targeted Neighborhoods: North Street and North Winooski Avenue Commercial Corridors, The Intervale, and The New North End Marketplace

Goal: Businesses that offer essential goods and services are located within the City, readily available to all residents.

Working in concert with the housing and neighborhood programs to improve the aesthetic and economic vitality of the commercial corridors, make it more attractive, safer, and more conducive to retail and services. The “Main Street” of the Old North End and surrounding area are home to a number of small businesses that serve the immediate neighborhood. It is the only district in the City zoned Neighborhood Commercial and is identified as a Neighborhood Activity Center in the Municipal Plan, allowing for a 50%+ administrative parking waiver and a greater range of permitted uses to serve the neighborhood. The City adopted a neighborhood developed comprehensive plan to revitalize this district, which includes a $6.7 million reinvestment in the public infrastructure and targeting of the City’s community organizing, housing and economic development programs. This district is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Intervale, Burlington's 200+ acre agricultural breadbasket, is home to market farming, community supported agriculture, community gardens, farmer training, and composting.

The New North End commercial district is centered around the newly renovated and expanded Ethan Allen Shopping Center. The Center is critical to the 11,000 residents of this neighborhood. It is home to restaurants, a supermarket, a movie theater, hardware store, cleaners, and many other vital neighborhood services. The U.S. Post Office plans to renovate the former Hills Hardware store into a state-of-the-art Post Office in 2006.

In this section:

• Five Year Focus, an Overview
• Recent Accomplishments
• Present Projects
• Opportunities
• Programs and Tools

Five-Year Focus:

• Continue to implement the North Street Revitalization Project.
• Support small-scale commercial and mixed-use development in convenient neighborhood locations.
• Promote the use of Renewal Community tax incentives and the Vermont Downtown Program.
• Support self-employment opportunities created in agriculture and agriculturally related business through the Intervale Foundation.
• Build the Intervale Community Food Enterprise Center.
• Improve pedestrian access and safety along Intervale Road.
• Support the use of the Intervale for the production of market quality food crops.
• Support the redevelopment of the Calkin house for community education purposes.
• Support the redevelopment of long under-utilized properties along Riverside Ave.
• Support the development of a new US Post Office in the New North End.
• Support existing small businesses and start-ups through technical assistance, permitting, financing, advocacy and by providing timely information.
• Support refugee micro business development in cooperation with the MicroBusiness Development Programs’ Refugee Business Assistance grant.
• Support the business utilization of Burlington Telecom.

Recent Accomplishments

Several important projects have been set in motion:

• Mermaid Building at North Ave. & North Street, creating a new building with 8 units of housing and 2300 square feet of new commercial space.
• Dino’s (now under the name "Monaco's"), a family restaurant, replaced a neighborhood blight (Steer & Stein) at the corner of North Street and North Winooski Ave.
• Purchase and redevelopment of the old Stannards Market building, rehabilitating several units of housing and a corner commercial space.
• Community Health Center expansion included the establishment of a desperately needed dental clinic.
• Bus Barns Redevelopment created 25 apartments and 15,000 square feet of commercial space on a property previously blighted and vastly underutilized. This is now the new home to the Good News Garage.
• Old Spokes Home purchased and redeveloped a blighted property on N. Winooski Ave.
• Thai Phat, an Asian-style grocery, expanded their operations on North Street.
• Four Star Delivery purchased and rehabilitated a North Street building, filling a formerly vacant commercial space, and adding two new units of housing.
• Over 29 private properties have experienced reinvestment on North Street in the last five years.
• Scrumptious Café expanded and rehabilitated their operations at North and North Champlain. Renovations on the entire façade will be finished in spring 2005.
• Redevelopment of the Ethan Allen Shopping Center included a state of the art supermarket, hardware store, as well as other needed shops and services.
• Extension of the bike path connecting the Old North End with the New North End through the Intervale.
• Completed construction drawings, and obtained all permits for the construction of the Intervale Community Food Enterprise Center.
• Undergrounded utilities, moved/restored historic barn to new location on the Intervale, and began site preparation for Food Enterprise Center.
• Gardeners' Supply developed 11,000 square feet of new space at their facility, allowing their call center to expand and remain in the City. They redeveloped their parking area including moving their entrance to a safer location.

Present Projects

• North Street Revitalization Project is underway.
• CEDO, with a grant from Citizens Bank Foundation, has launched a façade improvement program for commercial buildings/businesses in the North Street Revitalization area.
• The Intervale Foundation is in the midst of a large capital campaign, which will fund expanded programming, the renovation of the Calkins Homestead, and the construction of the Food Enterprise Center.
• Burlington Public Works is soliciting design ideas for the improvement of pedestrian access, management of storm water, and traffic on Intervale Road.
• “Sugarsnap” restaurant has opened at the corner of Riverside Avenue and Intervale Road carrying food grown in the Intervale and other Vermont organic food producers.
• Koffee Kup Bakery - Purchased land adjacent to their property.
• Charlebois Truck Parts - In 2005 they plan to use the Renewal Community Commercial Revitalization Deduction to build a 15,000 sq. ft. addition to their multi-state headquarters. They tore down two dilapidated buildings in 2004.

Programs & Strategies

• Burlington Technical Assistance and Financing Program - Business loan and technical assistance program is available to all residents and businesses in Burlington.
• Ongoing Business Visitations - to listen and learn of small business needs, neighborhood concerns, and to deliver information on opportunities and area developments.
• Brownfield Redevelopment Program - Business assistance for revitalizing contaminated property.
• Financing Partnerships - Work with Vermont Development Credit Union, Vermont Community Loan fund, other alternative lenders, as well as utilize financing mechanisms such as the New Markets Tax Credits to broker financing for commercial development such as the Eco Park and small business financing.
• Target and connect long-vacant commercial spaces with potential local businesses looking to expand or relocate.
• Renewal Community - The Old North End and Intervale is largely in these two districts, which bring wage, rehabilitation, and other tax credits and deductions.
• Designated Downtown District - The Old North End along Pearl Street is in this designated area, which permits tax credits for qualified rehab projects.
• Support the business utilization of Burlington Telecom.