North Street Revitalization  - Project Development and Current Status

Project Development

Project development was guided by a citizen task force and has involved over 800 local residents and business owners.  An AmeriCorps*VISTA and a citizen task force engaged the neighborhood for 18 months to create an action plan for the street which included community building, economic development and public improvements.

Community Building

• The North Street Area Association, a group of interested Old North End residents, joined with Burlington's AmeriCorps*VISTAs for the annual Old North End Spring-Up on the first Saturday in June in 1998 - 2002.  Each year folks removed over 8 tons of trash and hazardous waste, painted fences, swept the street and planted hundreds of flowers, then enjoyed a block party.

• An AmeriCorps*VISTA with the Burlington Neighborhood Project works to organize residents and businesses to respond to neighborhood issues.  Contact Beth Ruzansky at 865-7187.

• The Community & Economic Development Office is targeting its Housing Programs to the project area.  Zoning is being amended to make it clear that the maximum allowable number of housing units per acre is 25 rather than 20.

• The Wards 2/3 Neighborhood Planning Assemblies, made up of citizens from Burlington’s Old North End, committed $11,351 in Community Development Block Grant funds to the North Street Revitalization Project for new signs.

Economic Development

• The Community & Economic Development Office coordinated with businesses in the North Street Commercial District to create a direct marketing campaign for local businesses and a community calendar celebrating the neighborhood.

• Zoning changes in the project area (Neighborhood Commercial District) have reduced the local regulatory process required for some small neighborhood-oriented types of businesses by increasing the number of permitted uses.

• Businesses located in the project area can access alternative financing sources available through CEDO's Business Loan Program.

• The North Street Neighborhood Commercial District was successfully nominated by the City to the National Register of Historic Places.  Income-producing historic properties listed in the National Register are eligible for a federal tax credit of 20% of qualified rehabilitation costs.  

Public Improvements

• The City began construction on the North Street Revitalization project with the installation of the new fence at Elmwood Cemetery in 2003. The majority of construction will occur in 2004 and 2005 with any final landscaping in spring of 2006.

Page last updated June 3,  2004