Vermont Housing & Conservation Board

1. Vermont Housing & Conservation Board Since 1987, creating affordable housing for Vermonters, and conserving and protecting Vermont's agricultural land, historic properties, important natural areas and recreational lands

2. Vermont village showing traditional compact settlement surrounded by agricultural land.

3. Vermont Statutes Annotated • Title 10 Chapter 15 • Vermont Housing and Conservation Trust Fund • § 302. Policy, findings and purpose • 1) The dual goals of creating affordable housing for Vermonters, and conserving and protecting Vermont's agricultural land, historic properties, important natural areas and recreational lands are of primary importance to the economic vitality and quality of life of the state. • 2) In the best interests of all of its citizens and in order to improve the quality of life for Vermonters and to maintain for the benefit of future generations the essential characteristics of the Vermont countryside, Vermont should encourage and assist in creating affordable housing and in preserving the state's agricultural land, historic properties, important natural areas and recreational lands.

4. VHCB uses non-regulatory tools to stimulate investment and achieve the dual housing and conservation goals set forth in its enabling statute. • 9,800 affordable homes created or preserved • 378,200 acres conserved • 250,000 acres of recreational land and natural areas • 500 farms with 128,400 acres of agricultural land • $230 million in grants over 21 years • Leveraging $800 million in federal and private funds

5. Vermont Housing & Conservation Board INTEGRATING HOUSING AND CONSERVATION GOALS Reframing the dialogue to improve quality of life – both human and wild – and foster economic vitality REDUCING SPRAWL Focusing development in town and village centers STRENGTHENING FARM COMMUNITIES Protecting large blocks of farmland RESTORING HISTORIC LANDMARKS Community assets with public use

6. REDUCING SPRAWL • historic downtown locations; infill development • adaptive reuse of existing structures Community development project -- rehabilitation of several buildings with affordable apartments. Keeping the post office in the village center. Baldwin Block and post office, Wells River

7. STRENGTHENING FARM COMMUNITIES Conserved farmland in the Champlain Valley

8. RESTORING HISTORIC LANDMARKS The Latchis Hotel and Theater, one of only two Art Deco buildings in Vermont. The Brattleboro Arts Initiative is creating a regional center for the performing arts, bringing theatre, music and dance performances to the complex.

9. RESTORING COMMUNITY ASSETS Wilder Block, Brattleboro Restored following a fire; apartments and office space with retail space on ground floor

10. CONSERVING NATURAL AREAS Green River Reservoir, Hyde Park and Eden5,113 acres plus the reservoir, conserved by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation and the The Nature Conservancy of Vermont. Federal Forest Legacy funds. State park with 28 primitive, remote campsites accessible by canoes and kayaks or small craft with up to 5mph electric motors.

11. Cheryl DeVos and son on their farm in Charlotte and Ferrisburgh

12. MULTI-GOAL -- Historic rehabilitation of 16 family rental apartments, a branch of the local library, and behind the building is a ball field for the Little League.

13. Sheridan Mountain, Guildhall, Essex County Vermont’s northernmost red oak forest, 66 acres conserved by The Nature Conservancy of Vermont

14. Kempton Farm, Peacham and Cabot, conserved in 1990.

15. Single Family Home in Brookline

16. Black Falls -- acquisition of 3,764 acres with black bear habitat and buffer to 4 miles of the Long Trail, Vermont’s end-to-end hiking trail.

17. Buttermilk Falls a swimming hole in Ludlow protected by the Vermont River Conservancy

18. Worcester Village -- the meadow in the foreground was conserved for open space and public recreational use.

19. Vermont Housing & Conservation Board • PERMANENT AFFORDABILITY/CONSERVATION • Housing subsidy covenants and conservation easements recorded in the land records require permanent affordability and permanent conservation. • State investments are captured for long-term community benefit • The public does not pay twice – once at the beginning and later to buy the property to keep it affordable when use restrictions expire. • Housing affordability is preserved in appreciating markets and gentrifying neighborhoods

20. 58 East State St., Montpelier, Vermont telephone: 802 828-3250 www.vhcb.org Vermont Housing & Conservation Board