Proctorsville Green Housing Official Ribbon Cutting

Rockingham Area Community Land Trust, Town of Cavendish and Housing Vermont held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Proctorsville Green Housing project on May 13^th. Located in Proctorsville, Vermont, the Proctorsville Green Housing project incorporates rental, homeownership and village commercial development into a single project. Following the event, RACLT’s NeighborWorks^® HomeOwnership Center of Southeastern Vermont hosted an open house at the townhouse condominiums. 

Speakers included Gus Seelig, Executive Director of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, Andy Broderick, President of Housing Vermont, Ronald McDonald, USDA RD, Cindy Reid of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency, and Donna Allen, RACLT President.  

Richard Svec, Cavendish Town Manager, spoke of the history of the project According to Svec, a 1982 fire left the site with little but a burned out mill shell but “thanks to the partnerships with other agencies including RACLT the town was able to create green space, historic farm house converted for elder housing, family housing, commercial space – this is really a considerable accomplishment for a village of our size.”  Svec continued, “The evolution of this site over the past 15 years has really helped the town of Cavendish.”  

The Proctorsville Green Housing project consists of the rehabbed Pollard Block, two new units of rental housing and four new condominiums built on land donated by the Town of Cavendish. Jeff Staudinger, RACLT Executive Director, explained the project grew from the Town of Cavendish’s concern that rental units in the community were being converted to vacation use.  

The Pollard Block houses eight apartments and two commercial spaces. Each apartment has been completely renovated, adding both functional living spaces and energy efficiency improvements. Commercial units in the Pollard Block were preserved and enhanced Andy Broderick, Housing Vermont President, thanked the Preservation Trust of Vermont for their contribution of $35k for the preservation of historic features at the Pollard Block. 

Seelig commented that the existing Freeman House which provides six units of housing for elders, enhanced the project, the building itself was moved to the green by RACLT and the Town in 1998. Seelig praised the community for making, “The vision over the last 10 years came into focus. What we do here really adds value to our communities and this in turn aids in building communities.”  

Following the Grand Opening, RACLT’s NeighborWorks^® HomeOwnership Center of Southeastern Vermont provided tours of the townhouses. These “perpetually affordable” homes under the Trust’s Homeland program sponsored by Vermont Housing and Conservation Board will assist working families to become homeowners. The condominiums cost $150,000 to eligible households, which includes substantial down-payment assistance grants.

Bruce Whitney, HomeOwnership Center Director says “I was extremely pleased that there was a good turn out for the open house. There seems to be an increased interest in these homes during the last month and one is under contract at this time.”

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About Rockingham Area Community Land Trust
RACLT’s mission is to maximize affordable housing opportunities for the people of southeastern Vermont. RACLT owns 350 apartments and several mobile home lots which are affordable to low and moderate income families. This year, RACLT is developing affordable housing in Windsor, Cavendish, Springfield and Rockingham. RACLT’s NeighborWorks^® HomeOwnership Center of Southeastern Vermont assists over 60 Windsor and Windham county families to become first time homebuyers each year.

For information contact:
Rockingham Area Community Land Trust
Jeff Staudinger
Executive Director
Office-802-885-3220 ext. 220