By Patrick Adrian
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SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — Affordable housing developers joined local officials and community partners Wednesday afternoon to celebrate the start of construction on the Woolson Block building. The extensive project plans to renovate a historic former mill building into a multi-use facility combining affordable apartments, a residential youth program and street level commercial spaces.
The $8.7 million project, spearheaded in 2017 by the Springfield Housing Authority and Vermont Housing, will repurpose the vacant three-story building to include: 15 rental apartments designated for households with incomes at or below 60% of the area’s median income, four single-room occupancy and service-enriched apartments for homeless and at-risk youth ages 18 and 24 and more than 5,000 square feet of commercial space.
In a short speech to attendees at Springfield Cinema 3, across the street from the Woolson Block building, Springfield Housing Authority Executive Director Bill Morlock said the project is a significant step in Springfield’s downtown revitalization and demonstrates what can be achieved through collaboration.
“To be honest, if not for the collaboration between all the partners, I would never have undertaken this project,” Morlock said. “This was a humongous project. It wouldn’t have happened without everyone coming together.”
Morlock recognized a long list of contributors to this project, from financers to supporting agencies. PNC Bank invested over $5 million through the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit program, which the Vermont Housing Finance Agency administered. PNC’s investment covered 70% of the total project funding. Additional funders included: the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board ($1.75 million), the Vermont Community Development Program ($450,000), the Vermont Community Foundation ($250,000) and the Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission ($175,000 in EPA Brownfield funds).
The Town of Springfield also approved $200,000 from its revolving loan fund.
Springfield Selectboard Chair Kristi Morris said that these investments are driven by direct profit, but a long-term vision for economic growth.
“We all know that capital investment for these types of projects requires more money than the value of the building,” Morris said.
These projects, according to Morris, show the town’s initiative to promote itself rather than wait for hypothetical millionaires to come to Springfield and purchase these buildings.
The rehabilitation of Woolson is as challenging architecturally as financially, Morlock said. Many building sections, including southwest corner and the back portion, needed to be removed due to condition. The back portion, added in 1909, runs directly to the edge of the Black River.
Additionally, because of the building’s historical status, the original windows and brick from the building must be salvaged when possible and reused.
Holly Major, a representative from the office of Sen. Patrick Leahy, said that these projects should be measured by their “community value” rather than their property value.
“When going by its community value, this project is worth every penny and every drop of sweat,” Major said.
The choice of Springfield Cinema 3 as the ceremony’s venue was not incidental. After a 2008 fire destroyed the Ellis Block, the Springfield Housing Authority and Housing Vermont formed a similar partnership to renovate the structure. Today, that building houses nine affordable one-bedroom apartments, as well as Springfield Cinemas 3.
“Eight years ago people thought I was crazy to take on that project too,” Morlock said.
Morlock also paused to credit Springfield Town Manager Tom Yennerell, who plans to retire in December. Yennerell, hired five years ago in part for his economic development expertise, was a key figure in Springfield’s downtown revitalization plan.
“Working with him has been a joy,” Morlock said. “I’m sad about him retiring. He is one amazing guy.”
Renovations on the Woolson Block are estimated to be completed in June 2020.
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