Broad Coalition of Support for Mall Redevelopment

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Broad Coalition of Community Organizations and Local Businesses Announce Support for Burlington Town Center Mall Project

Burlington, VT – Kelly Devine, Executive Director of the Burlington Business Association, along with representatives from various community organizations, non-profits, and local businesses, today announced support for the proposed redevelopment of the Burlington Town Center Mall. Today’s broad coalition of support shows the numerous benefits of mixed-use downtown infill redevelopment of these two central blocks, including the creation of at least 270 additional housing units at a range of income levels and the re-opening of St. Paul and Pine Streets, again enlivening our shared community space and reconnecting the Old North End with downtown Burlington.

“The redevelopment of the mall site is critical to the future economic vitality of Burlington,” said Devine. “The Burlington Business Association is excited to bring together a growing coalition of supporters of the project. The predevelopment agreement is a testament to the many hours of hard work and important collaboration by the City Council, City Administration, and the project owner.”

Organizations, non-profits, and businesses supportive of the Burlington Town Center Mall redevelopment include:

  • AARP Vermont
  • Burlington Business Association
  • Burton
  • Champlain College
  • Champlain Housing Trust
  • Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission
  • Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman Realty
  • Courtyard Marriott and Hotel Vermont
  • Dealer.com
  • Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce
  • Local Motion
  • Patagonia
  • Paw Print & Mail
  • Select
  • Seventh Generation
  • SkiRack
  • The Spot
  • TruexCullins Vermont Architecture and Interior Design
  • Turning Point Center
  • United Way of Northwest Vermont
  • University of Vermont
  • University of Vermont Medical Center
  • Vermont Chamber of Commerce
  • Vermont Interfaith Action
  • Vermont Natural Resources Council
  • WND & WVS

 

This list continues to grow, if you would like to add your organization’s name please email Executive Director, Kelly Devine.  In addition, the Church Street Marketplace has gathered a list of supporters from among Church Street businesses.

 

Key project elements of the Burlington Town Center Mall redevelopment:

  • Directly result in more than 500 construction jobs and more than 900 permanent jobs in a range of retail and office operations, including 350-400 UVM Medical Center jobs to be housed in the rebuilt mall;
  • Create at least 270 new homes across a range of income levels, including 54 units that will be permanently affordable under the City’s Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance, as well as 110 units of Champlain College student housing to provide options for students outside of Burlington’s historic family neighborhoods;
  • Re-establish St. Paul Street and Pine Street as full City thoroughfares, restoring connectivity and vibrancy between downtown Burlington and the Old North End neighborhood, which positively impacts those who walk, bike, and drive in these corridors of the City;
  • The mall redevelopment is a product of the incredible planBTV Downtown & Waterfront public engagement process, during which thousands of Burlingtonians participated and was adopted by the City Council in 2013; and
  • The mall property owner will pay livable wages to all construction workers and strengthen local workforce opportunities in Burlington.

“We are happy to keep our close connection to Burlington and to strengthen its downtown with 350-400 highly-skilled administrative employees,” said Dr. John Brumsted, Chief Executive Officer of the UVM Medical Center.  “We expect the BTC site will provide cost-effective and efficient space for us in a newly-vibrant downtown location. We are very pleased to be right here in Burlington.”


“AARP Vermont is most excited about the commitment to universal design principles allowing for greater accessibility, enabling older adults to age in place and allowing people with disabilities to remain involved in family and community life, said Greg Marchildon, State Director for AARP Vermont. “Rather than being geared solely to older adults and people with disabilities, universal design features are intended to have general utility and market appeal for all ages.”

“We are encouraged to see that public input is being incorporated into the evolving design for the Burlington Town Center Mall, “said Emily Boedecker, Executive Director of Local Motion. “Reconnecting both Pine Street and St. Paul Street will bring more foot and bike traffic to the mall and to adjoining streets and businesses, and with a commitment to incorporate state of the art bike commuting facilities the redevelopment will be both an attraction and a destination for people on bikes.”

“As people of faith, Vermont Interfaith Action strongly supports the redevelopment of the Burlington Town Center Mall in order to supply more units of much-needed housing and more jobs for our community. Nothing works better than housing and job opportunities to lift people out of poverty and provide them with justice,” said Debbie Ingram, Executive Director of Vermont Interfaith Action.


“Now is the time to expand on the amazing success of Burlington with this critical project, said Zandy Wheeler, owner of SkiRack and Patagonia. “Growth in the side streets needs to be a part of our future. As a retailer, I am excited about the new vitality it will bring.”

“The redevelopment of the BTC will add to the vibrancy and livability of Burlington’s downtown and provide much needed downtown housing and office space for current and prospective tenants,” said Tom Torti, President of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce.


“In recent years I have sensed an emerging consensus among Burlingtonians of the need for mixed-use infill redevelopment of underutilized properties within our downtown to meet our economic, housing, transportation, and environmental goals,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “Today’s support for the redevelopment of the mall by this broad group coalition bodes well for this project, and for the prospects of a more vibrant, affordable, walkable, bikeable, and sustainable future for Burlington.”