The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) has made a grant of nearly a quarter-million dollars to improve energy efficiency at Windsor Village.
The $243,500 grant will be used to improve the 77-unit housing development in Windsor.
Housing Vermont began work on the $5 million improvement project last month. It's expected to be completed in about a year.
“The renovations to Windsor Village acknowledge our commitments to both preserving this important senior housing resource and to sharply decreasing our reliance on fossil fuels,” said Housing Vermont President Nancy Owens. “Sen. (Bernie) Sanders’s help in securing HUD funds will greatly benefit our current residents and seniors for years to come.”
The building, which is on the State Register of Historic Sites, was a state prison from 1808 to 1975, before being converted to senior and family housing in 1978.
VHFA is providing construction and permanent financing to the renovation, and allocating federal and state Housing Credits.
The permanent loan will be insured through the HUD Risk Share program, and funded from the Treasury’s New Issue Bond Program, which will allow VHFA to provide long-term fixed rate affordable financing to the project.
The renovation involves installing energy-saving windows, enhanced insulation, solar hot water heater, wood pellet-fired boiler, and improvements to sealing and ventilation.
The improvements are expected to reduce fuel consumption at Windsor Village by up to 50 percent.
Each apartment will receive new flooring, kitchen cabinets, lighting, bathroom fixtures and paint. The renovation also will upgrade the facility’s flooring, roofing, drainage, painting and open two new laundry rooms.