FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 6, 2024
CONTACT: Lisa Patlis, (802) 861-3814
[Windsor, VT] Today, the Windsor community celebrated the groundbreaking of Central and Main Apartments. Co-owners and co-developers, Windham & Windsor Housing Trust (WWHT) and Evernorth partnered to develop these 25 newly constructed, highly energy-efficient, and permanently affordable apartments on Main Street in the heart of the Designated Downtown.
The Windsor Improvement Corporation generously donated the land for this project and garnered widespread community support to transform the previously vacant and underutilized site into the future home of Central and Main Apartments. This development will feature an all-electric building design, incorporating technologies such as heat pumps, whole-building ventilation systems, and a robust thermal shell. Accessibility is a top priority, with an elevator servicing all apartments for enhanced adaptability of residents. Additionally, residents will benefit from covered parking underneath the building and covered bike storage on the ground level, promoting convenience and sustainability.
“We are grateful to our partners and our funders for supporting these much-needed affordable homes,” said Elizabeth Bridgewater, WWHT’s Executive Director. “With Central and Main Apartments, we are creating homes right downtown where residents can thrive and engage in their community. These homes will be affordable to individuals and families with a range of income levels in Windsor that the market just doesn’t meet.”
The apartments will be well-located within Windsor’s central business district surrounded by essential amenities including medical services, schools, shopping, municipal services, library, grocery store, pharmacies, banks, and recreation and community services, including the local Senior Center. The Windsor Town Forest Paradise Park Area and Trailheads are one mile away.
Evernorth President and Co-Founder, Nancy Owens said, “We are so glad to be breaking ground today on homes that will remain a community asset in Windsor forever. Like investments made in roads, sewers, schools and municipal buildings, this housing will remain in Windsor to serve the community as a valuable resource you can rely on.”
Funding totaling more than $14.5 million from a mix of public and private sources was raised to cover the total development costs. Federal Tax Credit Equity administered by the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) and provided by Evernorth’s 481 Fund contributed to by TD Bank, totaled over $8.1 million. U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders provided $1 million to the project through HUD’s Housing and Economic Development Initiative. The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board contributed over $3 million, including $2.1 million in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding and $588,958 in National Housing Trust funds. Evernorth’s Upper Valley Loan Fund contributed $695,000 – the first development for the Loan Fund. Other funders include the VT Department of Economic Development, Brownfield Revitalization Fund, the VT Agency of Commerce & Community Development Dept. of Economic Development Community Recovery & Revitalization Program, Mount Ascutney Regional Commission, Brownfield Reuse Program, Town of Windsor ARPA Funds and Efficiency Vermont & Green Mountain Power Initiatives. The Vermont State Housing Authority (VSHA) awarded the project 8 project-based vouchers.
Duncan Wisniewski is the project architect. Neagley & Chase is the Construction Manager. Stewart Property Management will manage the property.
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Windham & Windsor Housing is a mission-driven non-profit organization, established 35 years ago in response to increasing threats to the region’s supply of affordable housing. Their mission is to strengthen the communities of Southeast Vermont through development and stewardship of permanently affordable housing through ongoing support and advocacy for its residents. WWHT builds concrete solutions to the region’s housing challenges and provides better housing opportunities to more than 1,500 Southeastern Vermonters each year. To learn more about our upcoming development work visit our webpage www.homemattershere.org and scroll to the FAQ section.
Evernorth is a nonprofit organization serving the low- and moderate-income people of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont with affordable housing and community investments. Evernorth has raised and deployed over $1.5B in equity capital for affordable housing and built more than 17,000 affordable homes and apartments for low- and moderate-income people across northern New England. Learn more at www.evernorthUS.org.
