U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, VHFA Executive Director Sarah Carpenter and officials from many other housing organizations attended a groundbreaking ceremony at the Ellis Block in Springfield today.
Sen. Leahy announced he's secured a $125,000 federal appropriation to help rebuild the block, which was lost to fire in 2008. The funding, acquired in partnership with the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board and the Preservation Trust of Vermont's Village Revitalization Initiative, helped assure the project could break ground.
Housing Vermont and an affiliate of the Springfield Housing Authority have partnered to redevelop the historic block into nine affordable apartments and a three-screen movie theater.
The $3.4 million project also includes a nearly $1.3 million federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program grant.
VHFA allocated $403,000 in state tax credits.
William Maclay Architects redesigned the building and Ingram Construction is the general contractor.
Construction is scheduled to be completed in Spring 2011.