FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 15, 2024
CONTACT: Lisa Patlis, (802) 861-3814
Putney, VT – The proposed housing community on Alice Holway Drive in Putney is cleared to move forward. That was the ruling from the Vermont Supreme Court on November 15, 2024, siding with Windham & Windsor Housing Trust, owner of the property.
The ruling by the state’s highest court affirms the Environmental Court’s decision earlier this year rejecting a third appeal that claimed the project was subject to an ACT 250 review. It marks the final step in a lengthy legal process that began in March of 2022 when a first appeal was filed after the Putney Development Review Board approved the site plan.
“We are so grateful to the Vermont Supreme Court for its swift ruling which affirmed that this project is indeed exempt from an ACT 250 review, opening the door for 25 new homes to be built in Putney,” said Elizabeth Bridgewater, Executive Director of Windham & Windsor Housing Trust (WWHT). “We also appreciate the many Putney residents and project funders for their unwavering support. These failed appeal attempts have delayed this project for too long and we are excited to break ground this spring and welcome new residents in 2026.”
In the planning stages since September of 2019, the Alice Holway Drive development is planned to be 2 new buildings that will provide 25 mixed-income, highly energy efficient and accessible apartments in Putney Village. The development will provide community space for residents and will not impact existing community gardens and the Putney Farmers’ Market. The proposed community meets smart-growth principles by creating more homes in the designated neighborhood development area, is immediately accessible to public transportation, connects with the walkable infrastructure of the town, and preserves the cherished community garden and farmers market while also providing homes at an accessible rent.
As this project has been navigating appeals, construction prices have increased roughly 30% statewide, meaning this project has become much more expensive to construct. Despite this increase, the proposal has received funding from both state and federal sources including the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB) and Vermont Housing Finance Agency’s Tax Credit, both of whom have worked with the development team to sustain their commitment through the appeal.
WWHT is working in partnership with Evernorth, a statewide nonprofit housing developer, on the Putney development, tapping into their decades of experience and access to equity investors in the federal tax credits. The two organizations have a successful history together in Putney, having co-developed the new townhouses on Neumann Lane as well as the historic Noyes House.
“With this excellent result, WWHT and Evernorth can finally close on financing and begin construction,” says Kathy Beyer, Evernorth’s Senior Vice President for Real Estate Development. “We can finally set our sights on opening day, when 25 families will be able to open the door to their new apartments and breathe a sigh of relief, saying ‘we are home.’”
For more information and updates about Alice Holway Drive, visit homemattershere.org/alice-holway-drive-info-page
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.
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 $1.6B 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.
