Housing Action Plan

The final draft of the Housing Action Plan submitted to and approved by City Council is available here.

The most recent prior version is available here. 

CEDO created the original draft Plan based on the findings of the May 2014 Downtown Housing Strategy Report, along with public input gained since the report was issued.  Version two above (dated November 2014) reflects changes based on the initial comments. This second version of the Housing Action Plan was discussed by the City Council's Community Development and Neighborhood Revitalization Committee from November 2014 to January 2015, and the newest revisions have now been posted reflecting comments received during those discussions.

Public comments received on the first or second draft of the Housing Action Plan:

• University of Vermont
• Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Local Motion
• Joan Shannon, Burlington City Council, President
• Erik Hoekstra, Redstone
• Amber Christie, Burlington resident
• Neil Mickenberg, Burlington resident
• Glenn McRae, Burlington resident
• Ashley Bond, Burlington resident
• Kai Mikkel Forlie, Vermonters Against Toxic Sludge
• Gabrielle & Mike Sealy, Burlington residents
• Kirby Dunn, HomeShare Vermont
• John Caulo, Champlain College
• Richard Hillyard, Burlington resident
• Michael Long, Burlington resident
• Wayne Senville, Burlington resident
• Bill Church, Burlington resident
• Sandy Wynne, Burlington resident
• Tom Torti, Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Cindy Reid, Cathedral Square Corporation
• Sarah Carpenter, Vermont Housing Finance Agency
• Laura Massell, Burlington resident
• Heather Danis, Vermont Department of Health
• Erhard Mahnke, Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition (VAHC)
• Jane Knodell, Ward 2 City Councilor
• Selene Colburn, Ward 1 City Councilor
• Lea Terhune, Burlington resident
• Davis Testimony
• Report from Housing Summit, Charles Simpson, scribe
• Abnir Avilix, Burlington resident

Downtown Housing Strategy Report

In May 2014, Mayor Miro Weinberger released the Downtown Housing Strategy Report that found an “affordability crisis” caused by a lack of market rate housing – or housing built without subsidy - over the past decade in the City’s downtown.  Increased housing costs in Burlington’s downtown have risen to levels far higher than in “next tier” cities.  The report suggests that, while continuing to support the great work of Burlington’s renowned affordable housing programs and partners, the City embark on a coordinated effort to support downtown living for the full spectrum of residents, including young professionals, families, empty nesters, and seniors.

Mayor Weinberger and CEDO staff held a public hearing on Thursday, June 12, 2014 at City Hall to solicit feedback and comment on the HR&A Advisors, Inc. study.  Below are the public comments received relating to the Downtown Housing Strategy Report:

• David Provost, Sr. Vice President, Champlain College
• Thomas Gustafson, Vice President for University Relations & Administration, University of Vermont 
• Kirby Dunn, Executive Director, HomeShare Vermont
• Brenda Torpy, CEO, Champlain Housing Trust
• Katie Taylor, Government Affairs Specialist, Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Emily Piper, Graphic Designer & Director of Burlington Young Professionals, Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Bob Duncan, Duncan-Wisniewski Architecture
• Seth Bowden, Director of Business Development, GBIC
• Amy Wright, Ward 1 Resident
• Neil Mickenberg, Ward 1 Resident
• Elaine Zimmerman, Burlington Resident
• Charlie Baker, Executive Director, Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission
• Nancy Owens, President, HousingVermont
• Cynthia Rubin, Ward 3 Resident
• Erik Hoekstra, Development Manager, Redstone
• Heidi Baxter, Hanover NH
• Justin Worthley, Vice President, Human Resources, Burton Snowboards
• Sarah Carpenter, Executive Director, Vermont Housing Finance Agency
• Jan Demers, Executive Director, CVOEO
• John Emmeus Davis
• Cindy Reid, Director of Development, Cathedral Square Corporation
• Erhard Mahnke, Coordinator, Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition