Bridport mapping out housing strategy

A Bridport citizens group has come up with ideas for boosting the town’s limited housing stock and is working with a local landowner to map a hypothetical new neighborhood.

The Bristol selectboard last month agreed to opt into Tier 1B status for the town’s eligible village area, which is expected to reduce Act 250 permitting requirements.

Homes First Vermont is building a 527-square-foot, one-story home at the intersection of Seymour Street and Lucius Shaw Lane in Middlebury.

Advocates for affordable housing in Addison County are concerned the loss of these voucher could endanger people’s ability to make ends meet and remain in their homes.

After multiple years of planning and permitting, the largest subdivision in Middlebury’s history is quickly moving from two-dimensional drawings to vertical construction on a 30-acre site off Seminary Street Extension.

The recent article on preparations to market land in Middlebury’s industrial park rightly notes the opportunity ahead. But as the town readies nearly 200 acres for commercial development, the time is ripe to think bigger — and more holistically — about th … (read more)

From establishing a community fund to pursuing wastewater treatment system upgrades, there are several opportunities for Bristol officials to encourage the development of housing around town.

Governor Phil Scott and U.S. Senator Peter Welch joined local town and college leaders at Town Hall Theater’s new space on Monday, February 3, for the official groundbreaking of Middlebury’s Stonecrop Meadows mixed-income housing development.

Only four years ago, the notion of siting a new, 254-home neighborhood anywhere near Middlebury Village seemed like a pipedream.

The Vermont Housing Finance Agency, the Vermont Economic Development Authority, and the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development in January announced results of a new study they jointly commissioned that examines the potential of off-site home … (read more)

Housing remained out of reach for many in 2024, as the cost of building and buying homes has skyrocketed. Though, local organizations and municipalities saw some progress this year in their efforts to alleviate the housing crunch.

Carly Berlin’s informative piece entitled “Vermont loosened Act 250 rules for housing. Here’s where developers are responding” highlighted some progress that has been made since the passage of the much-needed HOME Act in 2023.

I’ve been glad to see robust local coverage of housing issues in the Addy Indy. I’d like to elaborate on a few pieces from last week.

“Housing,” said Nevon Neary, executive director of the Rutland Regional Planning Commission, “doesn’t just pop up out of nowhere.”

U.S. Sen. Peter Welch brought together housing developers, construction industry experts, and local and state leaders in Vergennes on Oct. 16 to discuss barriers to building housing quickly and more affordably in Vermont. They also discussed ways the stat … (read more)