By VDC staff

The Agency of Commerce and Community Development has announced just over $3.7 million in tax credit funding for 41 rehabilitation and revitalization projects in 31 of Vermont’s designated downtown and village centers. 

State officials say the awards will generate over $20 million in building improvements. The targeted investments enable community projects, support of new small businesses, create and rehab housing in walkable centers, and improve important community centers that support arts, culture, and community.

Projects include:

• 212 Pleasant Street, Bennington: Rehabs rental housing in downtown Bennington while returning a long-vacant 1895 historic building to productive use. State tax credits will support façade repairs and important code compliance investments to bring 11 market-rate apartments back online.
• 25 South Main Street, Hardwick: restores and maintains six market-rate rental units in this historic mixed-use block and restores three currently vacant commercial storefronts for three new locally owned small businesses. State tax credits will help to address deferred maintenance on the building’s exterior, along with required code upgrades.
• 57 Freight Yard Way, Northfield: A former Central Vermont Railway freight/lumber building (c. 1852) in Northfield’s designated village center, now vacant, will be converted into six new two-bedroom rental apartments. State tax credits will support façade repairs as well as critical investments in code compliance for this adaptive reuse project.
• 60 Park Street, Springfield: The Springfield Regional Development Corporation has raised funding for the reuse of the former Park Street School. State tax credits will help to fund major investments, including a sprinkler system and a new split-stop elevator to provide ADA-compliant entry and access. The project will result in the creation of 24 new loft-style apartments.
• 88 South Main Street, Waterbury: Rehab project will create three affordable, 3-bedroom workforce housing units in downtown Waterbury. The project preserves original architectural features of a former 1890s house while completing an infrastructure overhaul. Improvements include significant investments in code compliance with funds from this state tax credit award.
• 97 South Main Street, White River Junction: Northern Stage, an important regional cultural center in the Upper Valley will expand into the neighboring former VFW building in downtown White River Junction, allowing them to operate theatrical education programs and offer additional professional performances. State tax credit support will go towards making the building code compliant, including installation of a sprinkler system.

For a complete list of new projects, and more information, visit the Department of Housing and Community Development website.

Local official recall vote 

Bradford voters will have a local item on their ballots on Nov. 3 when they will be asked to weigh in on a proposed amendment to the town charter. 

“The amendment would permit any elected municipal officer in Bradford, except justices of the peace, to be recalled,” writes Linda Buermeyer for this week’s Journal Opinion.

The proposal comes to voters via a petition. The lead petitioner, Marcey Carver, told the Journal Opinion that the amendment provides accountability when an elected official fails to fulfill the responsibilities of the office and other efforts to resolve the situation have failed.

At a previous hearing, opponents said the measure was unnecessary or prone to misuse.

Four-day muzzleloader doe season begins Oct. 29

Vermont’s four-day muzzleloader season for hunting antlerless deer begins October 29 and ends November 1 and is only for those hunters who received an antlerless deer hunting permit.

Antlerless permits may be used during this early muzzleloader season, or during the November 14–29 regular deer season, or during the November 30-December 13 muzzleloader season.  Only one antlerless deer may be taken per antlerless permit.

Hunters must report deer they harvest during the muzzleloader seasons within 48 hours either on Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s website or in person at a big game reporting station.  The online reporting link for deer as well as a map and list of big game reporting stations is available under “Hunt” on the left side of Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s website.  Photos are required for online reporting. Deer must be field-dressed prior to reporting, and a hunter must take a warden to the kill site of a deer if requested by a warden.

Balint mailed suspicious substance

The office of Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vermont) was mailed a letter containing what the post office calls ‘a suspicious substance.’ It was intercepted and post office authorities are investigating.

“We have been notified by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service that a letter intended for our office may contain a suspicious substance. We are working closely with postal inspectors and the appropriate law enforcement agencies to ensure the letter is safely intercepted and tested,” said  Balint. “Threats against public servants are serious, and the safety of my staff and the Vermonters we serve is my priority. We are grateful to the postal inspectors and law enforcement officials working to address these incidents, and we will continue serving Vermonters while the investigation proceeds.”

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is coordinating the safe handling and testing of the letter, with the results and any further investigation to be handled by the appropriate federal authorities.