FERRISBURGH — As the owner of some high-profile properties in Vergennes — on Grist Mill Island and on nearby Canal Street — considers updates there, he also looks to move forward with a long planned residential development in Ferrisburgh.
Ferrisburgh resident David Shlansky said the future of a 21-lot planned residential development, or PRD, off the south side of Stage Road in Ferrisburgh, with Lewis Creek at its southern end, looks promising.
Known as Pierce Woods in honor of former landowners John and Irene Pierce, from whom Shlansky bought the 115-acre parcel in 2004, the fully approved PRD features lots ranging in size from 0.4 to 1.7 acres with common ownership of the remaining land, much of which is protected by conservation easements.
It remains the second-largest residential subdivision ever approved in Ferrisburgh, and the first to take advantage of PRD regulations.
But development of Pierce Woods was delayed by lawsuits filed by a neighbor, in all of which Ferrisburgh Realty Investors LLC (FRI), the ownership entity of record, prevailed, and then by the 2008 recession.
In 2012, Shlansky said it would take up to $500,000 to complete common elements in the PRD — such as the road, a shared septic system, power lines and a fire pond — and ready the lots for the market. At that time Shlansky said lots will have six-figure price tags.
Now, he said, the time to seek buyers for the land might have finally arrived.
“That (project) actually we’re moving forward with,” Shlansky said. “It’s been a really tough market, but I think it’s sort of been crawling forward, so we’re going to do that.”
Construction will probably begin in the fall.
“I’m excited,” Shlansky said. “That will be fun and gratifying after 10 years,”
Andy Kirkaldy may be reached at [email protected].