Moran Plant Redevelopment

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Your Ideas and Comments: July 12, 2005 - Part I

Thank you to all who have submitted ideas for the future of Moran!!

Tear down the Moran Plant. Make it a pleasant park and marina for picnics and get-togethers. Social gatherings. Put in restrooms for people who go there for picnics. Lock them up by 9:30 pm. A marina for boats from out of state who want to visit Burlington for a few hours, for shopping, go to restaurants, movies or just sightseeing our beautiful city. Open space and less clutter. Flower gardens. A fountain in the rest rooms for people who get thirsty.

Community center with space for yoga, tai chi, art classes, computer classes, cooking classes, Champlain Valley and Vermont history classes, etc. Also, spaces for events, meetings (non-profit and civic organizations).

Take down existing plant building. Use majority of space as open space for public�greenspace, landscaped with benches and picnic tables and possible beach or fishing access. A very small sailing center and slip would be okay. No commercial ventures or housing. The density along the street is oppressive.

1. A museum�maritime or history of the waterfront/City of Burlington. 2. An IMAX theatre??? 3. A stage theatre with more seating than the Flynn. (parking elsewhere, people bussed in, walking and biking encouraged). Or, take it down, make more park space! Marty French.

Renovate the building for nonprofit offices, exhibition space and don�t forget Sailing Center needs a better space.

It is an awful place but it should be used for the benefit of Burlington. The Sailing Center is there now, could the LC Maritime Museum be induce[d] to use the building for their year-round home?

1. Tear it down. 2. Keep public access/some private develop�no taxpayer subsidy. 3. Restaurant , boat moorings. 4. Outdoor amphitheater.

1. Pull it down! It is so ugly, and has no redeeming features whatever. 2. Preserve some of the area as an environmentally-based park with indigenous grasses and trees. With a nature trail? X-country ski trails?

Tear the Moran Plant down and return it to greenspace, It is an eyesore, beyond redemption, and any �redevelopment� would require more roads and parking lots where they do not belong. Removal of the oil tanks and the establishment of Waterfront Park were a huge gift to the City and everyone who visits Burlington. Don�t ruin it with buildings and pavement for the sake of revenue. Lucy Totten

Tear it down and stop embarrassing yourselves since you failed in your previous resolutions by preempting the vox populi with the absurd idea of the Y debacle! Signed: Michael Kehoe, Burlington Native.

[Enclosed] is a letter I wrote to the Free Press earlier this year.] A Fanueil Hall type facility modeled on the one in Boston would be a perfect fit. The 1st floors could have sliding doors that open in the summer (like at Leunig�s Rest.). In the winter, it could be an enclosed place to shop, eat, rent skis, skates, community events, etc. Maybe it could be leased out or owned as a coop/condo operation with each business owning a share and allowing transfer of ownership. A restaurant featuring Vermont products such as cheese, milk, meats, veggies could be a draw with a great view! Tom Licata

Tear down Moran Plant. Add more docks so more boats can tie up! Use electric vehicles to ferry people into Burlington. Expand the sailing center. More open space for public enjoy the lake.

I suggest that the Moran Plant be demolished�because of its age it will be in constant future repairs (more $$$ for expenses!). The new buildings constructed at the gateway to the waterfront (I still don�t know who authorized them, or what they are) obscure the view of our beautiful Lake Champlain. Please no more constructions that will cut out the view of our lake. C.M. Nanna

Has it been confirmed that there isn�t too much deterioration inside the Moran Plant for the building to be remodeled for another purpose? Immediately I would hope the steel scaffolding on the northern side of the plant could be removed even before final decisions are made. I live behind the plant and the brick building isn�t bad�it�s the ugly scaffolding that is? I�m open to other ideas for use of building or take it down entirely. Ann Livingston

1. Maintain as is, with sailing center there, or 2.a. tear �eyesore� Moran Plant down. Recycle all materials possible (steel, bricks, etc.) grass area over/mow/enjoy the view. b. Create small sailing center. c. Avoid big box indoor buildings down there. e. Don�t rush into putting anything else there.

1. Tear down and grassover: There are no place like that next to H2O down there.2. Other: Needs to be public if fixed or torn down. A low impact plan that will not [increase] cars in the area. When there are summer festivals on the waterfront�I do not notice [increased] cars. We have other buildings in town (old Hunts) that can house things that do not �need� the waterfront. So look towards water access for swimming lake viewing. Meeting place/concert hall/historic museum/planetarium.

I would like: full public access, more (not less) green space, beauty that matches the beauty of the Lake and the rest of waterfront park.

Re: The Moran Plant. With Vermont�s well-deserved reputation for high quality ART�What a great space for a Visual Arts Museum (no offense meant to the Fleming, but we could use another museum/gallery. Feature Modern and current New England art. Or, rent small commercial spaces for retail and recreation businesses (such as a cross-country ski rental) and/or office spaces and/or artists studios (multiple use facility). Summer bike rental. Branch library? M. Keir

Change zoning. Remove property restriction. Area should be commercial residential, hotel, upscale condos, etc. Bernie Sanders had same idea in the past�ask him [for] more tax income to spend.

Please! Let�s tear the Moran Plant down!

Tear the Moran Plant down. Leave that property open to the public-no buildings-forever.

I recommend open play space for young children during the winter months, as well as an extension/lifelong learning �college� for adults.

Tear Moran Plant down. Mix of commercial/recreational space. Boating slips for Burlington residents only. More commercial space, no more tax free organizations. Go to Montpelier to make the changes.

Using Moran, plus field next door. Keep sail school at facilities. Add a theater such as Santa Fe Opera which incorporates the incredible landscapes across the lake and protection from the weather, for theater professionals and amateurs and community events. Moran buildings upper floors should have rooms for community meetings and dance, drum, musical instrument, voice, etc. rehearsal rooms. Possibly a teen recreation center, climb wall sounds good. Thank you for asking for our opinions! Ansley and Kelly Curnahan.

Page last updated July 12, 2005

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