Construction crews are putting the finishing touches on the building at Central and Main, WWHT’s newest housing development in the heart of Windsor. Upon completion in June, the project will bring 25 new affordable homes to downtown Windsor.
Co-developed by Windham & Windsor Housing Trust and Evernorth, and with support from the Town of Windsor and the Windsor Improvement Corporation, this development revitalizes a difficult-to-develop lot in downtown Windsor and exemplifies smart growth development, Vermont’s traditional land use pattern.
When the former building on the site burned, the lot sat vacant for over a decade. With so much environmental remediation to complete and an infill-style development with little room to stage materials, the prospects of this being transformed once again to a building contributing to the downtown landscape, the vibrancy of town as well as the tax base were limited. Windsor brought the vision to fruition, however, with the foresight of the Windsor Improvement Corp. who acted as a land bank holding onto the site until it was feasible for this partnership to move forward. The support of the Town was outstanding, with the selectboard dedicating ARPA funds towards critical infrastructure investments, making the site viable.
“There are so many remarkable features of this development,” shares Elizabeth Bridgewater, Executive Director. “From how constructively engaged the community was to the outstanding quality of the building in terms of efficiency, to getting calls from folks in the community as soon as construction started looking to get on the leasing list. We look forward to the moment when construction finishes and we can celebrate welcoming 25 households into this beautiful space with incredible views, right in the heart of the birthplace of Vermont.”
Adding to the vibrancy of Central & Main will be a one-of-a-kind public art installation by Vermont artist Kerry O. Furlani. Specializing in slate carving, Furlani is creating a piece that will be integrated into the building’s exterior. Positioned along the pedestrian walkway connecting Central and Main streets, the installation will feature three bands of hand-carved Vermont slate, offset by metal panels and illuminated at night. These carvings, inspired by Windsor’s rich history and the stories of its residents, will celebrate the town’s legacy while creating a placemaking element to the property.
Community members played a key role in shaping this artwork, contributing stories and memories that served to inform the final design. The installation will be complemented by plantings significant to the Abenaki people, further connecting the space to its historical roots. We’re very grateful to our architect for donating his time on this portion of the project. Thank you Michael!
Our mission of creating permanently affordable homes is a collaborative effort. We’re deeply grateful to have the support from the following funders who made this possible for Central & Main: TD Bank, Vermont Housing Finance Agency, Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, Senator Bernie Sanders, Upper Valley Loan Fund, Vermont Department of Economic Development- Brownfield Revitalization Fund, US Department of HUD Housing National Trust Fund, Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development- Department of Economic Development- Community Recovery and Revitalization Program, Mount Ascutney Regional Commission Brownfield Reuse Program, Town of Windsor, Efficiency Vermont, and Green Mountain Power.
Please join us in celebrating the ribbon cutting on site in June!
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Architect: Duncan Wisniewski Architecture
General Contractor: Neagley & Chase Construction.
