Proposal to legalize dense multi-family housing in the South End for the first time, create a vibrant new mixed-use neighborhood   

Burlington, Vt. – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger and area stakeholders discussed the impacts of the proposed zoning amendment to create the South End Innovation District (SEID), which will legalize housing in Burlington’s South End. The proposal would enhance the already bustling manufacturing and arts district by enabling dense, mixed-use development of a large swath of the city that is currently dominated by undeveloped or underutilized parcels. Sharing their support for the SEID, were: Owner and Developer of Hula Lakeside Russ Scully, South End resident and member of Vermonters for People Oriented Places (VPOP) Jake Tiano, Deputy Director of Burlington Business Association Colin Hilliard, Chief Executive Officer of Champlain Housing Trust Michael Monte, and Champlain College President Alex Hernandez. The Burlington City Council is slated to take action on the SEID at their regular meeting this evening.  

“The South End Innovation District overlay will be one of the most substantial pro-housing steps the City has ever taken. It is through major reforms like this that we will eventually end the homelessness crisis,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “I am struck by the diverse and engaged coalition of support behind this zoning amendment which includes businesses, residents, artists, and developers who all understand that we need more housing and we need it now.”  

The proposed amendment to the Comprehensive Development Ordinance creates an overlay that applies to a portion of the South End Enterprise Light Manufacturing Zone (E-LM), to facilitate dense, mixed-use development including multifamily housing for the first time in the core of the South End. The SEID advances a key planBTV: South End policy, adopted in 2019, to create a mixed-use innovation district centered around Lakeside Avenue, and a key component of the Mayor’s 2021 10-point Housing Action Plan which directed the city to explore the inclusion of housing in this area.  

The SEID is intended to guide development on largely undeveloped and underutilized land, including 13-acres of existing surface parking lots, in a way that will make it possible to build a variety of new housing types, while supporting public and ecological health by improving walking, biking and green stormwater infrastructure and guiding the redevelopment of formerly industrial and brownfield properties.   

The total rezoned area is 81 acres and currently has no residential homes in it. The City, Ride Your Bike, and Champlain College are working under an MOU that could result in approximately 700 hundred new homes in the south half of the new district if the zoning is approved. The rezoning could ultimately enable approximately 1,200 hundred new homes in the entire district. 

“The South End Innovation District creates a live-work-play-learn community that will boost innovation, entrepreneurship and affordable housing,” says Champlain College president Alex Hernandez. “Champlain College is excited to be an academic partner in this effort and help more people build a better future in our city.” 

“CHT is ready to participate in this exciting and new initiative to create housing in Burlington’s south end,” said Michael Monte, Chief Executive Officer of the Champlain Housing Trust. “The need for housing, especially affordable housing, is greater than ever. Turning parking lots into housing is the right thing to do.” 

Colin Hilliard, Deputy Director, Burlington Business Association (BBA) said: “The Burlington Business Association enthusiastically supports the proposed changes to create a South End Innovation District (SEID). We’ve heard from countless local businesses about the challenge of hiring staff simply because they can’t find housing. And too many employees must commute from outside Chittenden County when they'd like to bike or walk to work. For these reasons, over 17 South End businesses employing over 750 people have signed on in support of this proposal. The BBA and its members hope to see further advances in housing just like this one, with more members in our community saying Yes to more neighbors and Yes in My Backyard.”  

Background: 

• The concept of a new multi-use district, including housing, in the South End has long been discussed, and was formally introduced in the 2014 planBTV: South End process. 

• The planBTV: South End process explored housing options within and outside of the ELM zone. While the plan, at the time of adoption in 2019, ultimately did not recommend housing in this new district, it directed continued discussions about housing needs in the South End and necessary changes to zoning policies to meet those needs. 

• In December 2021 Mayor Weinberger announced a 10-point Action Plan to Fulfill Housing as Human Right in Burlington, which identified two priority goals to double housing production and end homelessness over five years, supported by ten new initiatives. The plan’s initiative to “open new housing opportunities through the creation of a mixed-use Enterprise Innovation District in a portion of the South End” provided the forum for this much-needed discussion to continue. 

• The SEID was formally introduced to the Planning Commission in August 2022, and was approved by the Commission and referred to the City Council in January 2023. The full council referred the amendment to the Ordinance Committee in February 2023, and the Committee voted unanimously to recommend approval last month.  

• The Burlington City Council will consider the SEID for action following a public hearing at its regular meeting tonight, July 24.  

More Information:  

The SEID amendment will facilitate the development of a mixed-use urban district that supports the South End’s arts and innovation economy, while also providing access to housing. It establishes specific standards for new development within the district, including: 

• Land Use standards that allow for multi-unit housing and non-residential uses, including arts and making, office and innovation, and light manufacturing as well as other commercial uses that support a mixed-use neighborhood such as child care, small groceries, cafes, and laundry services.  

• Residential developments within the overlay will be required to comply with the city’s Inclusionary Housing standards, including that a minimum of 15% of housing units meet affordability limits, creating an opportunity for hundreds of new permanently affordable homes.  

• Standards for building height which range from four up to eight stories, while limiting overall building size and requiring upper story variation to create a high-quality and livable urban form that facilitates residential and economic growth. 

• Standards that require new blocks to be created on very large sites and that govern lot coverage and ground floor uses to guide the development of a walkable, dense, and human-scaled urban district. 

• Standards that require buildings be close to streets and occupy the majority of a block’s frontage, while providing a greater degree of flexibility and open space than downtown zoning districts. 

• Parking standards that limit surface parking and guide the development of parking in a way that mitigates negative impacts. 

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Neighbors,   

As the stormwaters recede, the City team has been hard at work assessing and repairing damages and supporting community members and other Vermont towns impacted by the floods.  

The major impacts of this emergency on Burlington and our local recovery efforts are focused on two serious events, a sewer line break under the Winooski River which brings wastewater from the east-side of the New North End to the City’s North Plant, and substantial flooding at the Intervale – which has devastated several small farms in our community with a near total loss at the height of their productive growing season.  

This update includes more information about the City’s ongoing response, and information about how to travel and recreate safely in the days and weeks ahead. 

Wastewater Break  

On July 12, DPW Water Resources staff discovered a break underneath the Winooski River at North Plant. We immediately mobilized to prevent as much untreated flow as possible from entering the Winooski. The DPW team is working rapidly to 1. reduce discharge into the river 2. re-route the wastewater temporarily 3. repair the line as soon conditions allow. 

For the last several years the City has prioritized needed improvements and repairs to public infrastructure, and as a result Burlington’s stormwater systems operated well during this serious weather event. This pipe undergoes dye testing twice a year and periodic inspections by a diver and the last inspection was actually just last month, with no significant findings. We believe this break was due to heavy scouring caused by the extreme stormwater conditions in the Winooski River, leading to erosion around the pipe that led to failure, or possibly large debris that could have hit the pipe. It is currently unsafe to send a diver to inspect the pipe now, but as soon as conditions allow, they will be assessing the damage and the DPW team can then plan for permanent repairs.  

In the meantime, our first phase of leak mitigation is underway and it involves using sewage pumping/hauling trucks (4000 gallons each) 24/7 to intercept and haul as much sewage as possible to prevent it from entering the river.  

Our second and more robust phase of leak mitigation involves constructing a temporary bypass piping system over a significant distance to be able to handle all of the flow that usually goes through this river crossing and safely convey it to North Plant for treatment. To get more information and updates, sign up for VT-Alert and visit burlingtonvt.gov/water/winooskibreakjuly12 for an ongoing incident response page and more details.  

Water Conservation Request for some homes in the New North End 

In an effort to support the emergency mitigation efforts we are asking customers in the Priority area of the North Plant Sewer System to reduce the amount of water/waste that is reaching the sewer system via their drains (sinks, showers, clothes and dishwashers) and toilets until further notice (likely at least 2 weeks), especially during peak usage hours (6 – 8 am, and 6 – 8 pm). 

This is extremely important for users who are in the area that flows to the river crossing (see map here). This includes but is not limited to: 

1. Limit toilet flushing, when possible. 

2. Running dishwashers and washers only with full loads. 

3. Taking short showers and limiting bath tub use. 

4. Turn off faucet when brushing teeth or washing hands. 

5. Disconnecting sump pumps from discharging to the sewer system and running the discharge pipe onto your lawn (this is a best practice always) 

Email water-resources@burlingtonvt.gov with questions (expect a reply within 1 business day). For urgent questions, please call 802-863-4501. 

The Intervale  

Substantial floodwaters from the Winooski River inundated the Intervale and its small-scale farms between late Monday night and Wednesday afternoon. Virtually every farm was flooded. Thanks to the work of many volunteers to answered the call on Monday afternoon, thousands of pounds of produce was saved and stored before the flood, however, most tenants will experience a total loss of crops left in the ground. This a heartbreaking hit to our community, the farms and farmers at the Intervale are critical to our local food systems and this vibrant, beautiful part of the City will need substantial work to rebuild.  

The Intervale Board and Staff are still evaluating the damage and overall impact. Burlington’s Department of Business and Workforce Development (BWD) has begun outreach to the affected farms and is able to provide technical assistance, including to access relief funds and navigate insurance claims, translation services, and in some cases low or no interest loans and grants to certain farm businesses who qualify. Any farms or businesses affected by the extreme weather should contact BWD for help.  

Mutal Aid 

At my direction many City departments have extended offers of mutual aid to communities across Vermont. Burlington Electric has sent trucks and lineworkers to assist GMP and Washington Electric, and the Department of Public Works has lent staff and equipment to Johnson to support a wastewater repair, to Waterbury to pump our flooded homes and businesses, and to Barre to sweep silt-laden streets. We expect several other departments including BCA, Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront, and the Airport to all join mutual efforts in the coming weeks.  

Notably, six specially trained members of the Burlington Fire Department have been deployed throughout the week to the state’s Urban Rescue Taske Force. Over many days and with little rest, thirteen of these rescue teams from across Vermont joined by several from other states performed over 100 rescues and over 60 evacuations.  

Stay Safe  

We continue to operate under a State of Emergency, and more heavy rain is expected Sunday. Again, I urge you to heed all road closures and all directions from state and local officials, including to stay away from the river banks, brooks, and streams where flash floods can happen quickly. If you are traveling to and from the City, pay careful attention for road closures and obstructions and do not attempt to walk or drive across moving floodwaters for any reason. You can find a list of road closures here.

City programming is able to continue uninterrupted. For Burlingtonians and anyone who can safely travel to the City, we have many regularly scheduled events and opportunities coming up to enjoy the downtown and waterfront. Visit burlingtoncityarts.org and loveburlington.org to see upcoming events and programs. 

We have faced crises before, as a City and together as Vermonters, and we will rise to today’s challenges as we have every time before – with caring and generosity for our neighbors, and with hard work and determination to emerge stronger than before. 

Stay safe,   

Miro  Weinberger 

Mayor of Burlington 

Neighbors,  

Our community has fared relatively well during last night’s catastrophic weather event. I am grateful and relieved that our neighbors, public infrastructure, and local businesses in Burlington have largely been spared, and like you, I’m heartbroken by the devastating images of communities across Vermont still facing dangerously high floodwaters and likely, months and years of recovery and rebuilding efforts. 

Conditions in Burlington are stable and the City team continues to monitor for emerging issues, including impacts on our stormwater and wastewater systems, utilities, and conditions at the Winooski One Hydro Plant. As of now, no major impacts or damages to public infrastructure have been reported. However, the water level of the Winooski River remains high and this is a serious, sustained weather event. We continue to operate under a State of Emergency. 

It is incumbent on each of us to do what we can to avoid risk and ensure safety for the people around us, including for our first responders and road crews. I urge you to heed all road closures and all directions from state and local officials, including to stay away from the river banks, brooks, and streams where flash floods can happen quickly. If you are traveling to and from the City, pay careful attention for road closures and obstructions and do not attempt to walk or drive across moving floodwaters for any reason.  

I have been in touch with numerous state officials and municipal leaders and at my direction numerous City departments have extended offers of mutual aid to state agencies and other municipalities. Several members of the Burlington Fire Department have been deployed with the Urban Rescue Task Force since Sunday night and some Burlington Police Officers remain on call to assist with rescue if needed. The Burlington Electric Department has sent two trucks and three lineworkers to assist GMP.  

Below is a list of resources for ongoing emergency communications, and we will continue to share information about how to help Vermonters in need as that information becomes available.  

Burlington is doing what it can to support the emergency response now – and we will continue forward in solidarity and with generosity toward our neighbors in every way that we can in the long recovery ahead. That is the Burlington spirit. 

Stay safe,  

Miro  Weinberger

Mayor of Burlington

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Report emerging but non-life-threatening issues to the City of Burlington through See-Click-Fix, such as power outages. For emergencies, call 9-1-1. If you are in need of shelter or other basic services call 2-1-1. 

Emergency information is available here:  

NWS Burlington Weather: https://www.weather.gov/btv/  

NWS River Observations: https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=btv  

Sign up for VTalert: www.vtalert.gov  

511 for road closures: https://newengland511.org/&nbsp 

Vermont Department of Public Safety, Emergency Management: https://vem.vermont.gov/news/preps_7.9.23  

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger released the following statement regarding the current State of Emergency:  

“Today’s major flooding events have so far spared our community. Our thoughts are with our fellow Vermonters already experiencing catastrophic damage from this storm, and as long as conditions remain stable in Burlington, we will be sending mutual aid crews soon to support statewide recovery efforts. Already, members of the Burlington Fire Department have been deployed to the Urban Search and Rescue Task Force.  

This is a serious, sustained weather event and flash flood warnings remain in effect. I urge Burlingtonians to stay off the roads and avoid all non-essential travel. If you are traveling, pay careful attention to road closures and never attempt to walk or drive across moving floodwaters. This is an emergency, and it is incumbent on each of us to do what we can to avoid risk and ensure safety for the people around us, including for our first responders and road crews.” 

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Emergency information is available here:  

NWS Burlington Weather: https://www.weather.gov/btv/  

NWS River Observations: https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=btv  

Sign up for VTalert: www.vtalert.gov  

511 for road closures: https://newengland511.org/&nbsp 

Vermont Department of Public Safety, Emergency Management: https://vem.vermont.gov/news/preps_7.9.23  

Report emerging but non-life-threatening issues to the City of Burlington through See-Click-Fix, such as power outages. For emergencies, call 9-1-1. If you are in need of shelter or other basic services call 2-1-1.  

Mayor’s budget advances key priorities amidst historic inflation and post-pandemic volatility in City revenues; Uses non-service-related spending cuts, federal investment, and one-time funds to lower taxpayer impact 

Burlington, Vt. – At its meeting tonight, the City Council approved the Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) budget by a 10 – 2 vote. Councilors went on to approve the accompanying resolution to set the municipal property tax rate, which raises 42% of funds for the coming year’s public expenditures, by a vote of 9 – 3. Despite historic inflation and lingering pandemic impacts to City revenues, the Mayor’s budget advances key priorities for Burlingtonians, including in the areas of public safety, climate action, racial equity, affordable housing and homeless initiatives, and to combat the opioid crisis. The FY24 budget deploys roughly $750,000 in non-personnel and non-service-related spending cuts, federal relief dollars, and other one-time funds to mitigate taxpayer impacts, and funds multiple studies of City operations and revenues to prepare for future year budget challenges. 

“This budget reflects the clear priorities of our community while acknowledging the real concerns of taxpayers as we continue to face uncertain and challenging economic times as Burlingtonians and local businesses work to recover from the pandemic and absorb the debt burden of the new high school,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “Despite severe and sustained inflationary pressures across all City operations, with this budget we will make new investments in the coming year to rebuild and expand our police department, maintain our historic levels of infrastructure investment, and retain all current City employees and public services including to support our ongoing work to advance racial equity and to achieve a Net Zero Energy future, while minimizing increases to taxes and fees.” 

A Challenging Budget Period  

Factors contributing to challenges in the FY24 budget, and likely future years, include:  

• Inflation-driven COLA increases across all unions for FY23 and FY24 add substantial costs to the operating budget. 

• Increases to most of the City’s non-personnel operating costs are driven by significant and sustained inflation rates (an average of 8.0% across all months in 2022, and 5.26% across the first 5 months of 2023). 

• We are in the third and final year of phasing out federal support for dramatically expanded city-wide equity initiatives, including the creation of the Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (REIB) Department, paying board and commission members, our language access program, and paying all City employees a livable wage. In FY22 the General Fund budget allocated $2.76M to launch these initiatives, the FY24 the budget commits only $800k of federal dollars to REIB and $170K to CEDO to support these initiatives. 

• Pandemic-impacted revenue shortfalls persist across numerous sources, such as boat slip rental at the waterfront and parking across the City. 

• Our largest revenue source, property taxes, can only increase by 1) growing the Grand List (which historically drives a <1% increase in tax revenue per year) or 2) voter-approved tax rate increases. 

• Rebuilding of police officer ranks (in alignment with the Rebuilding Plan, the budget assumes 7 additional officers in FY24), hiring three new firefighters, and fully staffing the CSL (6) and CSO (11) programs, also contribute to considerable public safety cost increase. 

Significant Public Investments in FY24 

Despite the major challenges detailed above, the FY24 budget avoids any service cuts, layoffs, or hiring freezes on existing positions and will continue to forge critical progress in our highest priority areas, including: 

• Robust investments in green stimulus incentives for BED ratepayers and work underway to ready the electric grid for future increased electricity demand will continue, funded in part by the voter-approved $20 million Net Zero Energy Revenue Bond passed in 2021. 

• Expanded resources, recruitment tools, and new hires for public safety, including $1.3 million of increased Police Department personnel costs, and $950,000 of increased Fire Department personnel costs. 

• Major public infrastructure investments supported by the 2022 voter-approved Capital Bond, federal and state awards, and more than $1 million in Street Capital funds for paving and large patching repairs. 

• New deployment of $183,000 in annual Opioid Settlement funds to support the City’s expanded efforts to advance harm reduction and expand access to medically-assisted treatment and contingency management.  

• A $1.7 million budget for the Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Department, which includes the structural reorganization of 10 full-time employees to advance the Department’s key initiatives, including cultural events, programs to address racism as a public health emergency, the continuation of the Empowerment Fund, and the planned Neighborhood Equity Index. 

New Property Tax Rates and Preparing for Future Budget Years  

The FY24 budget is level funded and will require an increased tax rate of $.7523 from the FY23 tax rate of $.7082 -- or an increase of 6.2%, which is comparable to this year’s projected State Education tax rate increase. This includes an addition of $.05 to the dedicated Street Capital and Greenbelt tax to increase patching and paving, and an additional $.02 to the dedicated Parks tax which will generate an additional $1.1 million of revenue to pay for BPRW expenses the City is already incurring. 

The total year over year increase in the municipal property tax rate represents a $13.60 per month, or $163.20 per year, increase for homeowners with a home with median tax assessed value of $370,000. 

The budget also funds several studies that will analyze cost-saving efficiencies in City government and explore new potential revenue sources other than the property tax, including: 

• Fleet Management Study to establish sustainable funding for City vehicles. 

• Operational analysis of City operations to ensure functions aren’t duplicated across the City and to increase inter-department efficiencies. 

• Continued support for the Impact Fee Study (for which the City allocated $100,000 in FY23) so that a leading expert firm can advise the City and CCRPC on an update of our impact fee program. 

• Financial Sustainability Study for CEDO funded by HUD. 

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Funds Complete a nearly $50 Million Budget to Rebuild two new City Blocks Lost During Urban Renewal and Renovate Eight Existing Blocks to Great Street Standards 

Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger with local, state and federal partners, announced plans for the over $22 million in funding from the Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant program. The federal funds complete a nearly $50 million projected budget to rebuild St. Paul and Pine Streets through the site of the former mall, and to revitalize eight existing City blocks on Cherry Street and Bank Street between the Church Street Marketplace and the Waterfront.  

“From the start, this project has been an attempt to repair the damage done to this part of town when Burlington, like so many other American communities, tore down a large swath of its downtown as part of the federal Urban Renewal program. When we went to voters nearly a decade ago with a vision to rebuild and reconnect this once vibrant neighborhood, we were trying to accomplish three big things; building a lot more homes, restoring the street grid, and updating aging public infrastructure,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger “Big goals like these are not easy to achieve -- they require vision, hard work, and persistence. There were many times it seemed this effort would fail, but our City team kept fighting to see this lost residential neighborhood reimagined in the heart of our City. Today we are excited to announce a more than $22 million RAISE Grant that ensures that this project to reconnect downtown Burlington will be realized.”  

“The Reconnecting Downtown Burlington project is a once-in-a-generation infrastructure investment in the City of Burlington. When this project is complete, we’ll have created new opportunities to grow small businesses, build new affordable housing, and expand access to green, accessible transit in our city center,” said Senator Peter Welch. “I am so glad to see the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law come to life in such an incredible way and was proud to do my part in passing and implementing this transformative bill. Congratulations to Mayor Weinberger and the City of Burlington for this major step forward to making this revitalization project a reality. Through collaboration and partnership, we’re going to bring new infrastructure and green innovation to downtown Burlington, and importantly, create good-paying jobs right here in Vermont.”    

Division Direct at the Vermont Agency of Transportation Michele Boomhower said, “Over the past decade the Agency of Transportation has partnered with the Mayor and his staff to improve safety, connectivity and multimodal connections; the RAISE grant will bring tremendous resources to the City which will have generational impacts supporting equitable access and mobility for residents, workers, and visitors to the City.” 

Also present for the announcement were area businesses, Mark Sherman from Outdoor Gear Exchange and Hans Van Wees from Hotel Vermont, and a former resident of the neighborhood once located in the north-west corner of downtown Burlington before it was removed during Urban Renewal, Monica Farrington, who each spoke to the importance of public investment in this vital part of Burlington.  

Mark Sherman said, “The work done by the Weinberger Administration to bring downtown blocks up to the Great Streets standards has been key in keeping Burlington growing and improving. Adding Bank and Cherry to the Great Streets program over the coming years will be another huge step in keeping the Queen City on the forefront of vitalization. This, along with the completion of the CityPlace project, will continue to expand the shopping district beyond Church Street, and in doing so bring more strength and diversity to the downtown.”  

Reconnecting Downtown Burlington 

This project to build two new City blocks on St. Paul and Pine Streets and to revitalize eight blocks of existing streets on Cherry and Bank Streets will establish new, direct access to public transit, reduce emissions and travel time for all modes of transportation, and establish new opportunities to rebuild a once vibrant residential neighborhood lost to Urban Renewal, and improve economic conditions for residents in the area disproportionally impacted by the pandemic.  

• The streets in this project will be built to Great Streets standards. Utilizing these standards, Burlingtonians will have well-designed streets that creates new great outdoor spaces that are lively in all seasons; are multi-use and accommodate all modes of transportation; manifest the natural beauty of Vermont in the urban forest and landscaping; and capture rain in a way that keeps pollutants out of Lake Champlain and helps manage stormwater runoff. 

• At the end of this project, the city will have reconstructed 4,900 feet of new granite curbing, 5,000 cubic yards of accessible sidewalk, 1,800 cubic yards of pervious brick pavers, relocated all overhead utilities into underground conduit, replaced aged and failing subsurface utilities, and replaced standalone parking meters with kiosks.  

• More than 70 new street trees will be installed and more than 1,800 new shrubs and perennials will be installed within new raingardens to infiltrate stormwater runoff before it reaches Lake Champlain.  

• Every intersection will be necked down with curb extensions or converted to raised intersections for pedestrian safety and visibility and to slow traffic and prevent injuries and public art, benches, and pedestrian scale lighting will provide new spaces for people to enjoy. 

• The projected budget uses approximately $16M in Waterfront TIF funds, along with $12M in congressionally directed funds secured by Senator Leahy, and $19.5M from the RAISE grant. 

Workforce Development and Job Training  

The RAISE Grant includes approximately $1.5 million in project related funds to create a new workforce development and job training program which aims train approximately 120 youth over a 5-year period with in-demand skills, as identified by a Youth Development and Skills Gap study, and to build community for enhanced safety in downtown Burlington. 

 “Data shows that significant racial disparities persist in almost every measure of economic well-being, including employment, income, and poverty status, particularly in and adjacent to the project area supported by the RAISE grant,” said CEDO Assistant Director, Gillian Nanton. “Youth can be a positive force for development and will thrive when given the opportunities to succeed. The City is thrilled to receive this grant funding and looks forward to working with its community partners to support underserved youth in Burlington disproportionately impacted as a result of the pandemic so they can realize the far-reaching benefits of good jobs.” 

Reversing the Legacies of Urban Renewal in Burlington  

In the 1950s, like many urban communities, Burlington focused its redevelopment efforts on the downtown. Voters approved the Champlain Street Urban Renewal Project in an effort to acquire enough developable land for commercial expansion, focusing on “Little Italy”, a neighborhood centered along Champlain Street. It relocated every resident, demolished every structure, rezoned the area for commercial development, and created large parcels to incentivize commercial expansion. Sections of St Paul Street, Pine Street, Bank Street, and Champlain Street were clipped in order to build a series of hotels, a courthouse, parking garages, senior housing, and a suburban-style mall. Burlington’s approach to Downtown Urban Renewal created a legacy of harm as neighborhoods and small businesses were eliminated, street patterns were altered, and the historic context of downtown was significantly changed to attract large scale, suburban-style development.  

In 2014, Burlington undertook a generational initiative to reconnect and rebuild this once vibrant part of the downtown. In 2018 Don Sinex demolished the windowless suburban mall that disconnected Bank and Cherry Streets. In 2021, following a lawsuit by the City, the CityPlace Burlington developers subdivided the main, central parcel of the former mall and transferred ownership of the previously abandoned sections of Pine Street and St Paul Street to the City at no cost, and committed to a public-private partnership to rebuild these streets. Three additional downtown property owners have signed agreements pledging the transfer of ancillary property rights to guarantee the reconstruction of these streets.  

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More information on the RAISE Grant is available here: https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2023-06/RAISE%202023%20Fact%20Sheets_2.pdf  

More information on the Great Streets initiative is available here: https://greatstreetsbtv.com/about  

Burlington, Vt. – Today, Mayor Weinberger released the following statement regarding potential legislative action during the Legislature’s June Veto Session:  

“The rushed and mismanaged conclusion of the state-run motel program has put many vulnerable people on the street and exacerbated the already serious challenges facing Burlington and other communities in meeting the needs of homeless community members. With the second-highest rate of homelessness in the nation, Vermont’s shelter and service systems are predictably overwhelmed by the sudden expulsion of hundreds of new people, leaving many to suffer without support. 

We are headed towards even greater disaster this July if the State chooses to stay the course chosen by the Governor and evict hundreds more vulnerable households, including young children, disabled, and elderly Vermonters, with no plan to shelter or house them. With just over a month until these evictions happen, the Scott Administration has so far been unable to demonstrate any reasonable strategy to address this crisis of their own making.  

In the absence of clear leadership from the State, Burlington and other ground-level organizations across Vermont have responded – here in Chittenden County the City along with 27 partnered organizations and municipalities in the Chittenden County Homeless Alliance have proposed and committed to a focused and coordinated effort to house all of the 165 vulnerable households remaining in motels in our region in a deliberate and humane way. Our plan is achievable and affordable within the Legislature’s budget – but it will take time to implement as well as a commitment from the State to work in partnership with our community. 

I am relieved that legislative leadership has now come forward with a new path for Vermont that supports the regional plan we announced earlier this month by explicitly elevating “coordinated entry” as a key strategy for ending this crisis and prescribing a high level of legislative oversight to ensure that its implementation by the Scott Administration includes proper coordination with local agencies going forward. As the Legislature convenes today for its Veto Session, I urge the House and Senate to pass this bill and the Governor to sign it so that we can move forward with focus and collaboration.  

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Attachments:   

City of Burlington, Letter of Interest  

Chittenden County Homeless Alliance, Letter of Interest  

Vermont Department of Children and Family Services, Letter RE: Interest in Resources and Support for 2023 Homeless Response Efforts  

Households Experiencing Homelessness in Chittenden County, Data Spring 2023 

Burlington, Vt. – Today, Mayor Weinberger announced the launch of a new and expanded BTVstat Data Hub on the City’s website, and released the 2023 Housing Report, prepared by the Burlington Planning Department with collaboration from the Burlington Department of Planning and Inspection and the Burlington Community and Economic Development Office.  

"Throughout my time as Mayor, collecting, examining, and sharing data has been a critical step in the process of developing good policy based on evidence, not intuitions, and this approach has driven progress on some of our greatest challenges including climate change, public safety, and the City’s financial health,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “The only way to make good on the promise of housing as a human right is to build a lot more homes now and for many years to come. Our refreshed and expanded housing dashboard, with information that is continuously updated, is intended to keep the City team and the whole community focused on our progress towards this critical goal.” 

“It has long been the City’s practice to use and share data related to crafting policy and decision-making across the Administration. In our response to the pandemic, we built on and improved those practices, particularly in the way we shared data with the public in an accessible way,” said Meagan Tuttle, Planning Director for the City of Burlington. “The Planning Department is excited to launch the new BTVstat Data Hub as an improved tool for the community to use and learn from key data about the most pressing issues facing the City today.”  

Background  

The City began sharing city data publicly in 2014, and in 2016, Mayor Weinberger implemented BTVstat. BTVstat is a performance management program to review operational and equity performance metrics for City Departments, identify challenges, track progress, control costs, and promote accountability, learning, and collaboration. 

In 2020, Mayor Weinberger issued an Executive Order on Open Data Policy, developed in cooperation with the Sunlight Foundation, which outlined principles, standards, and a governance framework to guide the City’s efforts to share its data publicly.  

For several years, data dashboards have been available on key priorities including Financial Health and Public Safety, and in 2022, the Housing Dashboard was launched to provide insight and accountability into the City’s work and progress toward the Housing Action Plan goals. Previously, these dashboards could be found by navigating to individual City Departments’ web pages.  

BTVstat Data Hub 

The new BTVstat Data Hub is a resource that brings together the existing data dashboards with other featured data visualizations—such as the City’s workforce demographics. It also includes key datasets from the City and US Census that are machine-readable and can be downloaded. The Hub will continue to expand to include other information about priority issues and track progress on major initiatives.

On the new BTVstat Data Hub, community members are invited to explore the data, create maps and charts, or build apps using APIs. To explore the BTVstat Data Hub, visit: data.burlingtonvt.gov.  

BTVstat Housing Data  

The most recent BTVstat presentation by the City’s analysts explored housing trends and the impacts of housing policy initiatives over recent years:  

New Residential Housing Units: In late 2021, Mayor Weinberger announced a 10-point housing plan, which included a target of doubling the rate of housing production over the following 5 years to create 1,250 new homes.  In 2012, the ten-year average was 61 new units per year; in 2022, this average was 115 units per year. Since the development of this plan, 1,058 new units have been built or are in the permitting and construction pipeline, representing 84% of this goal. 

New residential units (left), Progress toward Mayor’s 2021 goal to build 1,250 homes in 5 years 

Renters and Owners: 38% of Burlington housing units are owner-occupied, a rate lower than many peer communities. Although the rate has increased over the last 5 years, (from 2% to 10%), Black households in Burlington are still much less likely to own their home than their White counterparts. The large majority of housing in the center of the city are rentals, limiting options for those looking to own a home. 

Population in Owner-Occupied Housing (left), Percent Owner-Occupied by Census Tract (right) 

Housing Costs: Single-family home prices in Burlington have declined since their peak in the second quarter of 2022, but remain substantially higher than pre-pandemic levels. A home at the current median price would cost $3,240/mo (including mortgage, property tax, and insurance), and would be affordable to a household earning $129,600 or more. More than a third of Burlington renters are severely cost-burdened – paying more than half their household income on rent.  

Median Single Family Home Sale Price 

Affordable Housing Development: The creation of permanently affordable housing has been a priority of the City for decades. Recent changes in local housing policy including increased investment for the Housing Trust Fund, changes to the Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance, and changes to Burlington’s land use laws, including eliminating parking minimums and the creation of a downtown form-based code, have helped accelerate housing development and the creation of new affordable units. Since 2012, 27% of all units built are permanently affordable.  

Households Experiencing Homelessness: Also in the Mayor’s 2021 10-point housing plan, were proposals later approved by the City Council to strengthen the Coordinated Entry System with the addition of new staff resources and to create the Special Assistant to End Homelessness in CEDO. Since those investments were made in 2022, Coordinated Entry is successfully connecting an average of 25 households per month to permanent housing, and is now central to the proposed Chittenden Country strategy in response to the end of the State motel program. 

The complete 2023 BTVstat Housing Report is available here. 

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City Ahead of Pace in Ground Transportation Sector; More Progress Needed in Building Sector; Overall Emissions Remain Lower than 2018 Baseline 

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger and Burlington Electric Department (BED), joined by partners from CarShare Vermont, Champlain Housing Trust (CHT), and Vermont Low Income Trust for Electricity (VLITE), announced today the annual update to the City’s Net Zero Energy (NZE) Roadmap from newly installed electric vehicle charging stations in the parking lot of the Old North End (ONE) Community Center.

The new 2022 data provided by Synapse Energy Economics showed that Burlington continues to be ahead of Roadmap pace in the ground transportation sector; natural gas consumption, particularly in the commercial sector, has rebounded moderately since hitting pandemic-era lows; and Burlington emissions remain lower overall by 11.2 percent compared to the 2018 baseline.

“What our third annual Net Zero report shows is that local action matters on energy and climate policy, and that we have more work to do to decarbonize Burlington – and when we do, we will realize a cleaner, more affordable, and more vibrant future,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “Parallel to our efforts to make ‘electrifying everything’ as easy and affordable as possible – Burlington has also sought out new regulatory authorities and passed new ordinances aimed at reducing the use of fossil fuels for building heat – the greatest driver of Burlington’s carbon emissions. It is through fiscally responsible, well-structured and innovative tactics like these that Burlington has become a national leader in climate action.”

“The 2022 Roadmap update shows both continued progress and a need for more work to be done through policy and customer incentives to further reduce fossil fuel use in Burlington,” stated Darren Springer, General Manager, Burlington Electric Department. “We have made great strides in the ground transportation sector and seen firsthand how BED’s electric vehicle rebates combined with fewer vehicle miles traveled are making a difference. While the buildings sector remains a challenge, we have strong solutions on the horizon, including local policies that are just beginning to have an impact, like rental weatherization and new construction renewable heating. Additionally, there are new steps such as implementing the carbon pricing approved on Town Meeting Day, as well as advancing district energy, which would provide the single biggest step we can take toward Net Zero Energy. We also continue to partner with organizations such as CarShare Vermont to expand access to electric vehicles, and with VLITE and Champlain Housing Trust to make charging more accessible, including at the ONE Community Center.”

Ground Transportation Emissions Ahead of Ambitious Roadmap Pace
For the third year in a row, Burlington continues to be ahead of the NZE Roadmap pace in the ground transportation sector, with fuel consumption 10.6 percent lower than the NZE 2030 benchmark. The City’s progress comes from a reduction in the number of vehicles registered in Burlington and the number of vehicle miles traveled, as well as increases in electric vehicle (EV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) adoption, supported by BED’s incentives and EV charging station investments.

                          Gasoline and Diesel Consumption

Post-pandemic Rebound in Commercial Sector Emissions
Burlington experienced a rebound in natural gas emissions in 2022, particularly in the commercial sector (see graphs below). Factors causing the increase may include weather variability, additional natural gas usage for building ventilation coming out of the pandemic, and new construction permitted prior to the renewable heating ordinance coming online.

Overall Burlington Emissions Down
Burlington greenhouse gas emissions in the ground transportation and building sectors tracked were down 11.2 percent in 2022 compared to 2018 (from 215 to 191 thousand metric tons), despite having experienced a mild 3.2 percent increase in 2022 compared to pandemic-impacted 2020 (see graph below). The City is performing better compared with national emissions metrics, where emissions increased by 1.3 percent in 2022 compared to 2021, following a 6.5 percent in 2021 compared to 2020. To help make progress toward those goals, in January, BED announced new and expanded electrification incentives for 2023 that, coupled with State of Vermont and Federal Inflation Reduction Act funds, provide significant financial assistance to Burlingtonians when purchasing cold-climate heat pumps, electric vehicles and charging stations, electric lawn care equipment, heat and energy recovery ventilators, and programmable controllers.

Next Steps to Reduce Emissions
The City plans to make significant gains in reducing commercial sector emissions by using local building policies like rental weatherization, new construction renewable heating, a carbon pollution impact fee, and the state’s new Clean Heat Standard. Additionally, a district energy system in Burlington would reduce commercial sector buildings’ fossil fuel use by 16 percent. Further, benefits from the upcoming Inflation Reduction Act incentives will provide more help toward reducing emissions through a boost to electric vehicle and heat pump adoption.

Driving Electric along the Road to Net Zero Energy
A recent partnership among CarShare Vermont, CHT, VLITE, and BED is now making driving electric a reality for more members of the Old North End community, without the burden of car ownership. Thanks to funding from VLITE and incentives from BED to purchase both an electric vehicle and a charging station, CarShare Vermont has added a fifth all-electric vehicle to its 25-vehicle fleet. The 2023 all-electric Chevy Bolt named Fabio, has a dedicated spot at the ONE Community Center parking lot, thanks to CHT having provided the space. CHT, BED, and VLITE also partnered to provide an electric vehicle charging station at the same location that will be available to the public during non-business hours (5pm to 7 am). The charging fee is 25 cents per kilowatt hour.

“CarShare Vermont is excited to collaborate with CHT, BED, and VLITE to bring electric carsharing to the ONE Community Center," stated Annie Bourdon, Executive Director, CarShare Vermont. “Most of our 1,000+ members do not own vehicles by necessity or choice. By making electric vehicles available in our shared fleet, we can ensure they have access to the most efficient vehicles when they need to drive. In its first month in service, Fabio was taken on 75 unique trips and used an average of seven hours per day – it is meeting the mobility needs of dozens of neighbors who may otherwise struggle to get around.”

"The Champlain Housing Trust team is delighted to have partnered with CarShare Vermont, BED, and VLITE to enable us to serve the diverse Old North End community even better," stated Michael Monte, Chief Executive Office, Champlain Housing Trust. "This partnership is in line with our mission to develop and provide not only permanently affordable homes, but also community assets that help Burlingtonians succeed in their daily lives. The opportunity for low and moderate income Burlingtonians to drive electric through CarShare Vermont, without purchasing a vehicle or to feel comfortable purchasing an electric vehicle knowing that nearby charging is available, provides an beneficial impact to our community."

“VLITE is excited to be part of bringing this EV charger to the Old North End and supporting the work of CarShare Vermont in making electric vehicles more accessible to Burlingtonians of all income levels,” stated Gabrielle Malina, Executive Director, VLITE.

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General Manager Darren Springer will be presenting a Net Zero Energy Roadmap data update both at the Burlington Electric Commission (BEC) meeting on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 and the City Council meeting, along with BEC Chair, Scott Moody on Tuesday, June 20, 2023.

Burlington, Vt. – Mayor Miro Weinberger announces the City of Burlington will once again host a celebration of culture, history, and community for Juneteenth. This year’s Juneteenth festivities are presented by the City of Burlington’s Office of Racial, Equity Inclusion & Belonging (REIB) and Northfield Savings Bank, and will take place on Saturday, June 17th from 11 am to 11 pm. 

The "Embrace & Belonging" themed Juneteenth celebration will showcase various arts and cultural expressions for every Burlingtonian to enjoy. The unforgettable day-long event is free and open to all, and promises 12 hours of nonstop entertainment featuring over 50 performers across multiple iconic locations in Burlington's vibrant downtown.  

“I am very proud to be part of a city that celebrates Juneteenth's rich history and culture. This year's theme, 'Embrace & Belonging,' is a testament to Burlington's commitment to inclusivity, unity, and community,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “As we gather on this important day, let us also reflect on our collective responsibility to foster an environment of understanding, respect, and equality for all Burlingtonians. I invite every resident and visitor to join us on June 17th to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved Blacks, celebrate Black culture, and to acknowledge the continuous journey towards a more equitable society.”  

"We are thrilled to present this year's Juneteenth Celebration, which promises to be a day of inspiration, unity, and celebration," said REIB Director, Kim Carson. "Through music, art, dialogue, and shared experiences, we continue to recognize that the fight for racial equality is ongoing and that Black voices must continue to be amplified and elevated, centered on both Black liberation and progress. We hope to honor the significance of Juneteenth, and those often-muted voices and foster a shared sense of belonging and empowerment within our community." 

The Juneteenth celebration will take place across multiple locations, including City Hall Park, Contois Theatre, Burlington City Arts, The Flynn Theatre, Lower Church Street, Main Street, Flynn Space, and Amy E. Tarrant Gallery. This diverse range of venues will provide a dynamic backdrop for the celebration, showcasing the rich cultural tapestry of our community. The city expects over 1,500 attendees. 

Vermonters and visitors alike are invited to Burlington on June 17th to come together to commemorate Juneteenth and embrace the values of racial equity, social justice, and community.  

Attendees will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a variety of engaging activities and experiences, including: 

• Gospel Brunch: Join us for a soulful gospel brunch experience that will uplift your spirit and celebrate unity hosted by Reverend Mark Hughes of Vermont's only Black Church New Alpha Missionary Baptist Church with acknowledgements by Deacon Roy V. and Shirley Hill, all backed by the Juneteenth Community Choir led by Musical Director, Dexter Criss. 

• Music: Enjoy live musical performances spanning various genres from the area's most talented artists, all leading up to internationally renowned and two-time Grammy-winning Conscious Hip Hop group, Arrested Development, performing at the Flynn Theater. 

• Poetry: Hosted by Rajnii Eddins, get captivated by the power of the spoken word and poetry, with performances celebrating self-expression's beauty and speaking truth to power. 

• Comedy: Hosted by Marlon Fisher, get prepared to laugh out loud as local comedians remind us that laughing is food for the soul. 

• Community Conversations: Engage in meaningful discussions and dialogues exploring essential topics related to The History of Juneteenth Youth Empowerment. Bobby Dean Hackney will tell tales with accompanying photos of his new book chronicling "The Vermont Reggae Fest." 

• Visual Art: Community Canvases is an inclusive art project that aims to inspire artistic collaboration among all members of our community. This program provides a platform for individuals of all ages and backgrounds to come together and express their creativity. With art supplies and canvases readily available, participants are encouraged to contribute their unique artistic perspectives to a collective masterpiece. 

• Food & Beverages: The Juneteenth Supper Club is an integral part of our evening celebration, where we bring the community together for a shared meal in the heart of Main Street. From 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm, we will transform Main Street into a long dining table, symbolizing unity and fostering a sense of belonging for all. This unique dining experience will be surrounded by other food, beverage, and dessert vendors in the enclosed area, allowing us to create a vibrant and communal atmosphere. This is free to the public. 

• Wellness Workshops: While centered around BIPOC participants, it welcomes everyone, fostering diversity. Through yoga, meditation, and massage, we create an environment celebrating and supporting BIPOC experiences while promoting unity. Join us to collectively revive, nourish, and thrive, regardless of your background. 

• Family Fun: Welcome to the Adventure Playground, where the spirit of excitement thrives, and joy knows no bounds. This vibrant space is dedicated to igniting fun, laughter, and limitless joy for young people of all ages and their families.  

• BTV Market: As part of our commitment to uplifting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) vendors, we have partnered with the BCA to prioritize BIPOC artisans, organizations and food and beverage vendors where possible. 

Juneteenth is the oldest American holiday celebrating Black Americans descended from the formerly enslaved.  

Known as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, and Jubilee Day, it has been celebrated by Black Americans since the late 1800s. The holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the end of slavery, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. In 1980, Texas became the first state to recognize Juneteenth as an official state holiday. In 2021, it was officially recognized as a U.S. federal holiday and in 2022 Mayor Weinberger announced it would be an official municipal holiday, it is commemorated through various events across Burlington, Vermont, and the country.  

This year's Juneteenth celebration theme, "Embrace & Belonging," speaks to the collective work we must do as a community to continue the efforts to actualize the promises of freedom and the right and privileges afforded to full citizenship in the United States, Burlington, and Vermont. "Embrace & Belonging" encourages Burlingtonians to intentionally practice and support Black people living authentically in all places and spaces. 

For more information and a detailed schedule of events, please visit www.btvjuneteenth.com. 

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