Brattleboro Housing Partnerships Moves Office for Melrose Terrace Redevelopment

The office will officially welcome visitors starting June 22, maintaining the same phone number, mailing address, and office hours throughout the relocation process.

With upcoming redevelopment efforts planned for Melrose Terrace, Brattleboro Housing Partnerships is set to transition its main office from Melrose Street to a temporary facility at Bliss House, located at 65 Experiment Way, beginning June 15. This location, situated on the north side of Brattleboro at the SIT Campus, is expected to accommodate the organization for approximately one year.

The executive director of BHP, Christine Hazzard, informed residents in a communication about the logistical aspects of the move, which is designed to ensure a seamless continuation of operations. The office will officially welcome visitors starting June 22, maintaining the same phone number, mailing address, and office hours throughout the relocation process.

In her letter, Hazzard expressed that the decision to relocate the office represents significant progress in the Melrose Terrace redevelopment initiative. She shared that extensive evaluations of various office locations had been conducted over the previous year, and Bliss House was determined to be the optimal solution, offering sufficient parking and the necessary infrastructure to support the office functions for 20 employees along with adequate storage for confidential documents.

The site encompasses a configuration that allows for privacy between resident services and occupancy personnel, something that Hazzard emphasized is critical due to the sensitive nature of the information handled by the agency. The cooperation from World Learning, the organization behind the campus, has been described as warmly supportive, facilitating BHP's transition to the new space.

During a recent annual meeting, Hazzard provided an update about the remaining unoccupied apartments and BHP's plans for their future, noting that they are now outside of the floodway zone following a remediation project. Engaging with neighbors of Melrose produced anticipation regarding the maintenance of architectural semblance to the original structures while addressing the needs of the increasing senior population in the community.

The plans include the transformation of the existing site into 31 one-bedroom apartments tailored for seniors. Dan Ridlehoover, who oversees project development at M&S Development, described the project as a comprehensive overhaul of the aging buildings, integrated into improvements for parking and walkways. This operation aims to rejuvenate the property, which has been in place for over 60 years, positioning it favorably for future generations.

Local zoning clearance from the Development Review Board was secured in April, while state permits under Act 250 were deemed unnecessary. Presently, efforts are being directed towards finalizing the designs and funding arrangements. The goal is to wrap up financial and contracting processes by autumn, enabling the start of construction shortly thereafter.

Ridlehoover indicated that a complex blend of financial sources has made the project feasible, including a grant from the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, support from U.S. Representative Becca Balint's office, and several federal tax credits related to housing and historic rehabilitation. The overall estimated budget for the redevelopment is approximately $12 million.

Following the devastation from Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, federal and state aid enabled BHP to demolish 11 buildings at Melrose Terrace. Changes to the land and the remapping of the floodplain by FEMA last year have resulted in the remaining structures being entirely removed from flood-risk areas. Additional properties along Western Avenue and Glen Park Mobile Home Park have also seen improvements in their flood status.

To accommodate residents displaced by the changes at Melrose Terrace, BHP constructed Red Clover Commons on Fairground Road in two phases, which now serves about 77 households near Brattleboro Union High School.