Vermont Housing & Conservation Board - Vermont Legislature

Champlain Housing Trust photoCross Vermont Trail Association photos The Champlain Housing Trust and HousingVermont completed development of 33 newenergy effiicient homes with solar hot waterat Avenue Apartments in the New North Endneighborhood of Burlington. Cathedral Squaredeveloped 64 apartments, Thayer SeniorHousing, at the same site on North Avenue.s VHCB AmeriCorps members and staffcreating a new section of the Cross VermontTrail in East Montpelier. The trail easement runsalong the boundary of a Habitat for Humanityhouse lot.VHCB25 hAnniversaryDear Members of the General Assembly,We are pleased to present the 25 th Anniversary Report of the Vermont Housing &Conservation Board. We thank the successive bienniums of the General Assembly,members of five Administrations and our Congressional delegation that haveall joined in supporting vhcb’s mission to build and strengthen the economicvitality and quality of life of our communities and citizens by investing in affordablehousing, conservation and historic preservation. Senator Leahy invented twofederal programs to supplement our conservation efforts. Senator Sanders’ supportof the Community Land Trust model gave rise to a state policy prioritizingpermanent affordability. Congressman Welch was among the 30 Vermont Houseand Senate members to sponsor creation of vhcb in 1987.While each of these supporters was key in establishing vhcb, the program hasgrown and flourished primarily because of your constituents and the non-profitcommunity organizations they work with to implement our programs. They areat the heart of our work because they design and develop the projects we fund.Farmers choose to sell development rights; communities choose to develop therecreational resources that enhance our quality of life; citizens work to maintainthe vitality of our historic downtowns and village centers.The numbers tell a story of effectiveness. Vermonters have used the appropriationsyou provided to raise an additional $1 billion in private equity, philanthropicgifts and federal grants. The stories of the last 25 years include both the biggesthousing and conservation deals ever done in Vermont—336 homes at Northgatein Burlington or conservation of the former Champion lands protecting 133,000acres for hunting, fishing snowmobiling, hiking and biodiversity—but also heroiccommunity efforts that have revitalized downtowns in places as diverse as Richford,Groton and Bellows Falls.Farmers have led our conservation effort, utilizing the proceeds from the sale ofdevelopment rights to invest in expansion, efficiency and diversification along withtransfers to the next generation, who are key to a nascent local food movement. Asour partner Bob Klein retires after a 34-year career with the Nature Conservancy,the imprint of his organization is seen in dozens of state parks and wildlife areasand some very exciting preserves they own and manage that are recorded in their50 th Anniversary edition of Places to Walk, Paddle and Explore in Vermont.Across the state, Vermonters enjoy premier historic and cultural resources suchas the Latchis, Paramount and Flynn Theaters along with facilities like the LamoilleGrange Hall, the Montpelier Senior Center and the General Store in Algiers, andsmart growth housing built in walking distance of those facilities.The goals of the Board have remained constant for 25 years—to help buildcommunity through investment in permanently affordable housing and conservation.We consider our work to be an ongoing conspiracy of good will. We thankthousands of Vermonters who have participated. There is much to be proud ofand much more to do.Sincerely,2 / Celebrating 25 YearsChristine HartBoard ChairGustave SeeligExecutive Director