City of Burlington Offers Free Exterior Paint - Summer 2008

Every painting season, exterior paint grants are available through Burlington's Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO) for residential properties located in Burlington's Enterprise Community, King Street Neighborhood and the Lakeside Avenue Community. Owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied single and multi-unit residential buildings in need of paint may be eligible (eligible properties with 7 or less rental units will be considered for the program). To qualify for free paint, owners or a percentage of tenants must meet certain income limits.

Additionally, grant recipients must attend a free Essential Maintenance Practices (EMP) training. Funding is available to eligible Burlington property owners on a first-come, first-served basis. An EMP class provides important information for anyone living in a home built prior to 1978, especially if there are children aged 6 or under in the household. The Vermont Lead Law already requires that landlords take this class which covers the requirements of the law, the health effects of lead in children and adults, lead-safe work practices and maintenance procedures, and specialized cleaning techniques and equipment for removing lead-contaminated dust. All property owners must present proof that they or their representative have completed the EMP training and that they will have an EMP trained person overseeing their paint project and following EMP requirements. Landlords, homeowners, contractors and tenants with young children are welcome to attend this essential training throughout the year. The next training scheduled in Burlington is on Thursday, May 29, 2008 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm at City Hall in Contois Auditorium. To register for EMP classes offered in Burlington, call the Burlington Lead Program at 865-LEAD.  For classes held outside of Burlington, call VT Department of Health at 802-652-0358 or Vermont Housing Conservation Board at 1-800-290-0527 or go to www.leadsafevermont.org.

Property owners must be able to have their building painted during the 2008 painting season and are required to attend a free Lead Paint Safety training (Essential Maintenance Practices). Additionally, the building and occupants must meet the following guidelines:

Income Limits

Property Requirements

The Paint Program covers a portion of the cost of paint only and does not include painting supplies. The property owner(s) is responsible for paying a portion of the paint costs, including taxes. Paint Program Awards will be as follows:

• Owner-Occupied Single Family House will receive up to $500.00 total
• Owner-Occupied Residential Rental Property with less than 7 units will receive up to $500.00 total
• Residential Rental Property with less than 7 units will receive ½ the cost of the paint or up to $500.00, whichever is less

The City of Burlington has been providing free exterior paint to eligible properties since 1983. For applications, contact Lisa Chicoine at CEDO at 865-7183. For information on lead safety, call the Burlington Lead Program at 865-LEAD or go to http://www.cedoburlington.org/housing/lead_program.htm or www.leadsafevermont.org.  EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

City of Burlington Receives Housing Award

The City of Burlington’s Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO) was recently given the “Welcome to the Neighborhood Award” by the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB). The award, which was received by CEDO Director Michael Monte and Housing Director Brian Pine, was presented at a Montpelier conference celebrating the VHCB’s 20th anniversary.

The City was recognized “for developing initiatives and programs to promote permanently affordable housing, demonstrating leadership in policy development and implementation, and for welcoming workers from all sectors of our economy.” While there’s more work to do in order to guarantee access to safe, decent and affordable housing for everyone, we should be proud of our efforts and our results. This recognition by VHCB confirms a belief that local government can make a real difference in the lives of people.

Browns Court Mixed-Income Rental Housing Project

The City Council unanimously endorsed converting the City-owned parking lot located on Browns Court and King Street into mixed-income rental housing. This culminates many years of consideration for making better use of this prime piece of downtown real estate. Both the City Council and the administration are committed to seeing this project come to fruition with minimal impact on public parking.

CEDO issued a Request For Qualifications (RFQ) on May 14 inviting developers to submit letters by June 4th detailing their experience, expertise and financial capacity to undertake a major development project. CEDO received letters from six (6) interested developers.  We will review the letters and make a determination regarding a qualified developer by the end of July 2007.

For more information, email Brian Pine at bpine@ci.burlington.vt.us.

Champlain Housing Trust and Housing Vermont Announce Preservation of Twenty-Eight Perpetually Affordable Apartments in Burlington

The grand opening also coincided with the kick-off of National NeighborWorks® Week, a week long series of events in over 200 communities across the country to recognize the accomplishments of organizations and efforts of volunteers actively involved in developing and maintaining affordable housing.

“It is remarkable what can be done when all of these people and organizations pull together to make neighborhoods livable,” said Mia Joiner-Moore of NeighborWorks® America’s New England Office in Boston. NeighborWorks® America provided funding for the project.

Of the six buildings, the property at the corner of North and Rose Streets needed the most significant rehabilitation. It has eleven studio and one-bedroom apartments all with new wood floors, appliances and fresh paint. Also included in the scattered site project is the Callahan Building built in 1835 and located at 33 North Street, the namesake for the project, and four former cooperative housing buildings on Intervale Avenue and Front Streets. Lakewind Construction did the construction work.

Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss explained how important nonprofit partners like the Champlain Housing Trust are to the City’s efforts to invest in the Old North End. “Burlington has directed over $6 million to revitalize the North Street corridor, and seeing this type of rehabilitation project follow is a testament to the strength of our community. We are thrilled to have supported this project.” In addition to over $660,000 in deferred loans, the City also provided grant support through the Burlington Housing Trust Fund, and the City’s Lead Program helped fund the remediation of lead paint in the properties.

Other financing partners for the six building project included the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and the Chittenden Trust Company, which successfully applied to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston’s Affordable Housing Program. Liz Nickerson of FHLBB attended the celebration and described the subsidized loan made through the Chittenden Trust Company and a $130,000 grant. “This is exactly the type of housing preservation we want to invest in with our partners,” Nickerson said. “It is great to see this transformation.”

Gus Seelig, of VHCB, echoed those comments. “VHCB has long supported efforts to preserve and maintain the integrity of the neighborhoods of the Old North End. This was a challenging project with six occupied buildings, and it is obviously a success.” VHCB supports affordable housing, and the conservation of agricultural land, natural areas and historic properties throughout the state, and is marking their 20th anniversary on June 11 with a service day just down the street at another of the Champlain Housing Trust’s properties.

In addition to providing development assistance, Housing Vermont raised over $2.5 million in tax credit equity through its Green Mountain Housing Equity Fund. The ten state, regional and national investors in the Fund provided nearly 60% of the project’s total development cost of $4.4 million. Andy Broderick, President of Housing Vermont said, “This type of investment and focus in existing neighborhoods is not only critical to keeping Vermont and Burlington special, but it also represents smart public policy. We are happy to be a partner in this project.”

The Vermont Housing Finance Agency awarded Housing Vermont tax credits. Sarah Carpenter, Executive Director of VHFA noted, “It takes a lot of effort, commitment and vision from a lot of different partners on the local, state, regional and national levels. It isn’t easy to do this work, but it has never been more important.”

The Citizens Bank provided construction financing and the Burlington Electric Department and Vermont Gas provided energy efficiency technical assistance and grant funds.

“We have a long history of preserving safe and decent homes for people to live in this neighborhood, and it is heartening to see such a change over the last twenty-plus years,” added Brenda Torpy, CEO of the Champlain Housing Trust. “There is more work to be done, but with friends like these gathered today I’m convinced we will succeed.”

Housing "Out of Reach" Report Released

Burlington area renters must earn $18.90 an hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment including essential utilities - 56% of Burlington area renters cannot afford the average rent of $983 for a two-bedroom apartment without paying more than 30% of their income on rent plus utilities. The Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition's December 12, 2006 press release is available here. (NOTE: If you get a message asking for a password, click Cancel.) You can view the full report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition at www.nlihc.org.

Affordable Condos For Sale in Old North End

A prviate developer is constructing 15 affordable condos at 354 Manhattan Drive. For more information, contact Don Marcelino of Prudential Realty Mart at 802-846-8470 or 800-488-5609 x 270, or go to: http://www.donmarcelino.com.

Champlain Housing Trust is converting several existing buildings to perpetually affordable condos on Blodgett Street near North Street. For a listing of available units for sale, go to: http://www.getahome.org/homes_for_sale.htm.

City Council Committee Considers Making Some Condo Conversions Easier

As a way to increase the rate of homeownership in the Old North End and King Street neighborhoods, the City has drafted an amendment to its Condo Conversion Ordinance. As proposed, the amendment would exempt from the City's ordinance condo conversions of rental properties with 10 or fewer apartments located in areas with less than 50% homeownership rates. In order to qualify for the exemption, no less than 25% of the condos must be perpetually affordable to households at 80% of HUD area median income. For the full text of the proposed ordinance amendment, click here. (NOTE: If you get a message asking for a password, click Cancel.) The City Council Ordinance Committee voted in favor of this amendment on Wednesday, December 20, 2006, and it will be taken up at a City Council meeting in January.

Groundbreaking Celebration for the Northern Lights Program at Varney House

The community celebrated the renovation of the Varney House into a transitional housing program for women returning from prison to the Burlington area on Thursday, November 30th.  A reception and house tour began at 10 a.m., with a groundbreaking ceremony at 10:30 a.m.  the project is located at 76 Cherry Street. The Northern Lights Program will be a residential environment for women under supervision of the Department of Corrections that emphasizes individual & group responsibility, self development and determination while creating a sense of community to support women’s success in living healthy, productive lives. It is anticipated to open in late Spring 2007.

The Northern Lights Consortium includes: Howard Center for Human Services, Vermont Works for Women, Burlington Housing Authority, Vermont Children’s Aid Society, Mercy Connections Inc. Women Helping Battered Women, Lund Family Center and the Community Justice Center.

A printable brochure on the project is available here.

 

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Sophie's Place Receives Grant and Advance Subsidy Award

The Federal Home Loan Bank announced that its Affordable Housing Program (AHP) will be supporting a new transitional housing project in Burlington for victims of domestic violence.  AHP funds are used to create or preserve affordable housing and help pay construction, acquisition, or rehabilitation costs. Member financial institutions work with local developers to apply for AHP funding, awarded twice a year through a competitive scoring process.  This project, Sophie's Place, is an action item in the Moving Towards Home, the City's ten-year plan for ending homelessness.

The Project:  Sophie’s Place. 
Amount and Type of Subsidy: $519,940 and subsidy, $800,000 advance to support the acquisition and rehabilitation of an existing single-family home and construction of a new building to create 11 units of service-enriched housing for very low-income, homeless families recovering from domestic violence.

The sponsor, Burlington Housing Authority, is partnering with Women Helping Battered Women to provide a variety of supportive services. This initiative will reuse land and buildings, is accessible to mass transit, includes high-performance, energy-efficient features, and contributes to public safety through a crime watch. Merchants Bank will provide permanent financing through the AHP-subsidized advance. Additional funding includes sponsor equity, a grant through the Vermont Residential Energy Efficiency Program, city HOME funds, the City of Burlington Trust Fund, and grants from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board.

In the true spirit of regional collaboration on the issue of domestic violence, the Town of Colchester plans to sponsor an application to the Vermont Community Development Program in January for grant funds in support of this project.

 

Hazelnut Hill Co-Housing Under Construction Thirty-two new homeownership units with varying levels of affordability are now under construction at the former Turner Property on East Avenue.  Five will be sold to households at or below 75% of area median income; four to households at or below 80% of area median income; eight to households up to 100% of area median income; and the remaining fifteen at market prices.  The Executive Committee of the University of Vermont Trustees has approved a $75,000 contribution and has agreed that a three-acre parcel of the property will become part of the Centennial Woods Natural Area.  Project funding from the City includes a $1.029 million Section 108 loan together with HOME and Housing Trust Fund dollars.

City Council Adopts Housing Super Committee Report and Recommendations

March 27, 2006

At its March 27, 2006 meeting, Burlington City Council adopted the report and recommendations of the Housing Super Committee.  You can read the report and recommendations, together with the minutes from the three public hearings held last fall, here.

HUD RECOGNIZES BURLINGTON FOR INCREASING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING:  Burlington cited as a model for removing regulatory barriers that drive up housing costs

July 20, 2005

WASHINGTON - They are teachers, police officers, nurses, firefighters and returning veterans-the sort of people anyone would be happy to call a neighbor. In some communities, however, excessive regulations are creating barriers that artificially drive up housing costs on working families. Today, the Department of Housing and Urban Development acknowledged Burlington for its efforts in breaking down these barriers and creating a more inclusive environment for families struggling to afford decent homes.

As more Americans become homeowners, rising housing costs are pricing out millions of hard-working families who hope to find homes close to their jobs and within their budgets. Often, regulations that drive up the cost of housing are to blame.

HUD is taking a fresh look at these barriers to affordable housing with its America’s Affordable Communities Initiative. This initiative is designed to combat the outdated, excessive and duplicative regulations that significantly increase the cost and limit the supply of affordable housing and is motivating communities like Burlington to take a look at their housing regulations and determine which ones no longer serve a valid public purpose.

“We know that regulatory barriers can increase housing costs by as much as 35 percent, making it impossible for many working families to live in the cities where we work,” said HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson. “Other communities around the country can learn from Burlington’s efforts to open more doors for the very people who should be our neighbors.”

Burlington has adopted Housing Replacement Ordinance that does not allow conversion of housing to other uses without one-for-one replacement or payment into a Housing Trust Fund.

Burlington's Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance mandates that affordable housing be included in all new developments of five (5) units or more or in adaptive reuse or conversion of a nonresidential to a residential use of ten (10) or more units. In rental developments, 15% of the units must be designated as inclusionary; 25% in the waterfront zone. In units for sale, if all units are sold to buyers at 80% or less median income, there is no inclusionary provision. The percentage rises as units become less affordable.

Burlington also offers developers a Density Bonus to give developers incentives to build more dwelling units per acre and use more lot coverage. Developers also have an Off-Site-Option allowing them to build inclusionary units on a different site to meet the requirements.

Barriers being targeted by HUD include public statutes, ordinances, regulations, fees, processes and procedures that significantly restrict the development of affordable housing without providing a commensurate health or safety benefit. These barriers can effectively exclude working individuals from living in the communities where they work. In addition, senior citizens often find it impossible to locate suitable homes or apartments near their adult children, and young families are unable to find a home in the communities where they were raised.

By recognizing communities like Burlington, HUD hopes to encourage others around the country to reexamine their own regulatory climate and work closely with builders and urban planners to find creative solutions to allow for the development of more affordable housing.

Carbon Monoxide Detector Ordinance

The Ordinance Committee has voted out a proposal that mirrors state law, but allows plug-in units in lieu of hard-wired units.  For more information, contact Brian Pine at 802·865·7232.

Affordable Housing on the Waterfront

This year, new waterfront homes became available for 40 families and individuals from diverse backgrounds – many of whom have been priced out of the housing market and never dreamed of living here on the shore of beautiful Lake Champlain. This project is a model of sustainable development in a city recognized internationally for leading the way toward a more sustainable future. A brief history illustrates how an engaged citizenry and activist municipal government laid the foundation for the project.

After a robust public process, zoning was amended in the 1980s to allow and encourage new housing development on waterfront land east of Lake Street.  The City acquired the land from the Central Vermont Railway for the sole purpose of encouraging mixed-income housing. Following an engaged community planning processes, Burlington voters approved waterfront revitalization plans in 1990 and again in 1999, both of which embraced the concept of a mixed-use and mixed-income waterfront.

Due to a groundswell of grassroots support for affordable housing, the City Council adopted an Inclusionary Zoning ordinance that required twenty-five percent (25%) of all new housing units created in a waterfront zoning district be perpetually affordable.

Over the years, numerous obstacles prevented a feasible affordable housing project from coming to fruition. The City twice solicited development proposals from the private sector, but the risks and hurdles overwhelmed even the most sophisticated developers.

In February 2001, after a competitive process, the City Council voted to select the Burlington Community Land Trust as the housing developer for Depot Street Triangle. The City’s Brownfields Program made a $35,000 grant of EPA funds to conduct Environmental Site Assessments. The contamination was remediated and the site deemed safe for human health.

The City secured approximately $850,000 for infrastructure improvements to extend Lake Street and address longstanding storm-water run-off issues. This project received the equivalent of the City’s entire annual allocation of federal HOME funds, together with one of the largest City Housing Trust Fund grants ever. The annual ground lease payments are considerably below market rates. Thanks to Senator Leahy’s efforts, the project won an $800,000 Special Purpose HUD grant. The City also spent $110,000 to purchase two-tenths of an acre to expand the developable area of the site.

Housing Vermont and the Burlington Community Land Trust went beyond just creating affordable housing with this development – they incorporated health and environmental concerns into the design and construction. They pioneered a model for how to build affordable housing in a sustainable manner that also creates ongoing operating efficiencies to help keep the housing perpetually affordable.

In addition to the environmental benefits of redeveloping a Brownfield, the developers undertook measures to control erosion and treat storm water to minimize impact on nearby Lake Champlain. The City had been unable to dedicate sufficient funds to address a storm-water run-off problem that was undermining two streets, a steep slope and the water quality of Lake Champlain. This project provided the capital to rectify the City’s storm water problem at this site.

The developers and their team worked collaboratively with the City’s municipal electric utility to maximize energy efficiency well beyond the requirements of the code. This building exceeds all EPA Energy Star standards for efficiency and will realize annual savings of tens of thousands of dollars. Reduced flow toilets, showers and faucets will conserve water and minimize the operating expense associated with water usage. The use of “cement board” siding, high quality interior finishes and other durable materials will further reduce maintenance costs. An integral component of the energy efficiency measures used in this building is the attention to moisture control through proper ventilation.

The Waterfront Housing project is the first LEED certified residential project in the state of Vermont.  It won the "Show us You're Green" award from the American Institute of Architects. Additionally, Waterfront has been honored with a Housing Endorsement from the Vermont Smart Growth Collaborative; Vermont Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence; and Excellence in Comprehensive Building Design from Efficiency Vermont.

Waterfront Housing is also under review for a smart growth award from the U.S. EPA and is one of the 10 finalists in the rental housing category of The Home Depot Foundation's Inaugural Awards of Excellence For Affordable Housing Built Responsibly.