by Miro Weinberger

We are finishing out the year strong by advancing several major housing initiatives here in Burlington. Here is an update on recent steps we have taken in December: 

• Announced a new housing agreement with the University of Vermont: The City of Burlington and UVM have overcome prior setbacks and reached a housing agreement intended to increase student beds, reduce student pressure on the broader local housing market, and support UVM’s admission goals.  The MOU, if approved by the City Council, will commit the university to providing a minimum of an additional 1.5 beds per every one undergraduate student it enrolls above the fall 2023 level. To facilitate the creation of on-campus beds, the Administration commits to work with UVM to advance several zoning amendments for UVM’s Trinity Campus on Colchester Ave, the 280 East Avenue parcel, and the Waterman block on South Prospect Street. Read more about it here.
• Reached major milestones toward 180 new affordable homes in Burlington: The City Council approved my request to commit $1.9 million in ARPA funds for two new Champlain Housing Trust projects, including new homeownership opportunities at Cambrian Rise, and CityPlace Partners now integrating affordable homes into mixed-income, mixed-use project. Over the next 2-3 years these projects will create a total of more than 180 new permanently affordable homes in Burlington. Read more here.
• Opened a new low-barrier, 30-bed emergency winter warming shelter: For the ninth year in a row, the City will have an emergency winter warming shelter.  Since local non-profits did not have the capacity, in the current housing crisis, to open and manage a new facility, the City used state and federal dollars to expand its internal capacity and take on operations of a shelter for the first time.  I used federal emergency dollars to create the Special Assistant to End Homelessness position two years ago as it was starting to become clear that we were facing unprecedented pressures, and I am grateful for the leadership, talent, and empathy Sarah Russell continues to bring to that new role.  

As always, I welcome you to join me every Wednesday at the Bagel Café to talk about these issues and anything else that is on your mind. You can also contact my office by email at mayor@burlingtonvt.gov or by replying to this email.