The plan for the development of the former Catholic diocese/Burlington College land should be of great concern to all of us. We will be saying farewell to the lake view, animal habitat, and open space. Instead we will have a dense collection of multi-storied buildings with 770 housing units on this space. The orphanage is being converted to rental housing ($1200-$1600/month), but that is only the beginning of this huge project.
As citizens of the North End of Burlington, we need the answers to these questions:
• Who is funding the effect of 2,000 additional residents on schools, fire protection, water treatment, roads, and transportation?
• Why is the city entertaining changes in regulations that permit the height and density of these buildings, most of which are definitely NOT affordable housing?
• How will the estimated 1155 additional vehicles be handled on North Avenue?
• Why is the city paying the developer $2000 for a beach and a bluff which cannot be built on, anyway?
• What adjustments is the developer willing to make to show his good will as a North End neighbor? How about eliminating the market rate housing that interrupts the open area toward the lake and interferes with the space the city is calling a park?
• What will be the impact on Lake Champlain of the runoff from this enormous development project?
This project was made with nominal but very little actual public input. The results are visible at http://burlingtoncollegeplan.com/ . The plan was made by Eric Farrell, a developer who now owns the former Catholic diocese/Burlington College property, with partners Vermont Land Trust, Champlain Housing Trust, and the City of Burlington. Our city is investing in this plan and we as taxpayers and residents will pay the price. Unfortunately, the highest cost will be in the irreversible loss of the open space on this property and the quality of life of the present and new residents of this neighborhood.
I will be asking questions and hope that you will be, too. The next City Council meeting is Tuesday, September 8, 7:00pm, in Contois Auditorium (City Hall), and the next Ward 4 & 7 NPAs meeting is Wednesday, September 23,
6:45pm, at the Miller (130 Gosse Court).
-- by Martha Molpus (mmolpus@sover.net)