Lgn4 & Community Revitglizgtion
BROWNFIELPS SUCCESS IN NEW EN6LAN
COSSE COURT ARMORY
BURLINGTON, VERMONT
Property Details
Property Address:
Property Size:
Former Use:
Contaminants Found:
126 Gosse Court, Burlington, Vermont
1.0 acre
Farm, Vermont Army National Guard Facility
Lead, Asbestos
Current Use: Robert Miller Community & Recreation Center, Sarah
Holbrook New North End Teen Center
Current Owner: City of Burlington, Vermont
Project Partners
Amy Tarrant Foundation, Burlington Department of Parks and
Recreation, Burlington residents, City of Burlington,
R.E.M Development Company, Sarah Holbrook New North End
Teen Center, Vermont Army National Guard, Vermont Department of
Environmental Conservation
Drivers for Redevelopment: The Gosse Court Armory is located north
of the central business district and between Burlington's New North
End, one of its most affluent communities, and the Old North End, one
of its oldest, most densely populated and diverse communities. The Old
North End is characterized by low-income and affordable housing - as a
Vermont Refugee Resettlement Community, many global refugees call
the Old North End home.
In 2004, with the closing of the Gosse Court Armory, several state, local
and community leaders engaged in conversations with the Vermont
National Guard over the potential repurposing of the Armory as a
needed community recreation center. From 2005-2007, the Burlington
Parks and Recreation Department, Citizen Advisory Groups, state and
local governments, nonprofits, and neighborhood residents engaged in
a community-driven process to develop and design a plan for the center
recommending the Armory be repurposed for a multi-use community
and recreation center. In 2008, long-time Burlington resident Robert
Miller, President of R.E.M. Development Company, graciously agreed
to donate his time and labor to manage the entire renovation project.
Property History: In 1958, the 42,558-square feet Gosse Court
Armory was built by the State of Vermont on a former farm. For the
past 14 years, the nonprofit organization Sara Holbrook North End Teen
Center provided programs for at-risk youth out of the Armory. After the
Armory's closure, the state transferred the building and its land to the
city allowing the Teen Center to stay open. Due to age and prior training
activities, such as the firing range, there were concerns of possible onsite
environmental contamination.
The City of Burlington utilized funding from an EPA Brownfields
grant to conduct assessments which revealed lead paint and asbestos
contamination of the building and the soil closest to the building was
contaminated with lead. With funding assistance from the Vermont
National Guard, cleanup activities were completed by ATC Associates
in August 2008 and included the removal of: asbestos and lead dust
Funding Details
EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant:
Vermont Army National Guard:
Public and Private Donors:
$63,000
$20,000
$1,200,000
Project Highlights
Assessment and cleanup activities removed the final barrier to
sustainable reuse allowing a community-driven and led project to
move forward
Leveraged $20,000 for cleanup activities from Vermont Army
National Guard and over $1.2 million for redevelopment through
fundraising, private donors and public dollars
Transformed the Gosse Court Armory building into a community-
wide asset and demonstrated Burlington's commitment to sustainable
practices through adaptive reuse as a community and recreation
center and incorporation of green infrastructure elements such as a
separate stormwater treatment system including swells and natural
wetland area, and pervious concrete walkways.
from the building, an underground storage tank, and lead contaminated
soil—which was restored with clean material.
Project Results: The former Gosse Court Armory was fully renovated
as a 20,000-square foot community and recreation center outfitted with
high energy efficient heating and lighting systems designed to reduce
the center's carbon footprint and long-term operating costs. This $1.2
million project includes a full size gymnasium, 130-person community
room, children's space, teen center, fitness room, programs for seniors,
arts and crafts room, warming kitchen and other multi-purpose rooms.
The center helps meet the demand for indoor recreation in Burlington,
and already attracts thousands of users from all ages and interests. The
Sarah Holbrook New North End Teen Center continues its invaluable
services from the center. In addition, there is space for lease with a
separate entrance to an organization in the business of child care, health
care or government. The city and its citizens renamed the Armory, the
Robert Miller Community and Recreation Center as a tribute to his
contribution to it and other projects in Burlington. Through shared vision,
philanthropy and community leadership, a brownfield was transformed
into a community asset offering something of interest to everyone and
creating life-long value and opportunities for generations to come.
Project Timeline
December 3, 2004 Phase I Assessment Completed
February 2, 2005
June 28, 2005
August 2008
November 2008
January 5, 2009
Phase II Assessment Completed
Additional Soil Sampling Completed
Cleanup Completed
Amory Renovation Completed
Robert Miller Community & Rec Center Opened
October 2009
Local Contact: Nick Warner, Burlington Community and Economic Development • (802) 865-7173
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