After facing months of criticism for a lack of communication about its plans for construction on the CityPlace project in Burlington’s downtown, developers with Brookfield Asset Management appeared at City Hall Thursday for two public forums.

Over the first hour-long meeting, developers told a crowded auditorium that funding for the project was not yet finalized, their permits have yet to go through, and construction could not start until August at the earliest. 

Nevertheless, Brookfield left the room to a round of applause.

“The community is not going to trust them until people actually see them communicating on a regular basis,” said Brian Williams, a Burlington resident. “Because we’re going to fill in the blanks if they don’t.”

Williams, like many others in the room, said he was mostly just happy to finally hear from Brookfield officials himself, and get a chance to ask his own questions to the new developer.

The first 10 minutes of the meeting were spent on a Powerpoint presentation with mockups of the new development, while developers from Brookfield gave an overview of how the building would be split between affordable and market-rate housing, a hotel, and retail space. 

They highlighted the project’s environmental features (a green roof, solar panels, and energy-efficient water and heating systems) and its benefits for the community (public meeting space, affordable housing, and an open overlook area). 

They then faced dozens of residents with questions ranging from the hyper-specific (what direction will the hotel’s restaurant face?) to bigger questions about funding and timelines. 

The Brookfield representatives said city and state permitting processes will take six months to complete, which is why ground can’t be broken until at least August. 

They said “all avenues are being explored” for funding, and they noted that the Bank of the Ozarks is still “very interested” in financing the project. They said they are also looking into Opportunity Zone status for the site, which would provide the developers with federal tax benefits for the project’s construction.

Toward the end of the meeting, one resident stood up and asked the developers what’s in the project for them, what they’re hoping to get out of it.

“What this property kind represents, in one city block, is the thesis for retail space and real estate everywhere that is mixed-use and vibrant,” said Aanen Olsen, a vice president of Brookfield Asset Management.

Olsen said malls used to be the center of commerce in cities like Burlington, but in many places, that’s no longer the case. He said they want to figure out what the new model looks like.

“What you guys have here organically, what was built on Church Street over the last 50 years, is incredible,” Olsen said. “There’s lots of cities around the country that are trying to create what you’ve created: sometimes successfully, sometimes not. So what we’d love to do is just enhance what you already have.”

After nearly an hour of questions and answers, the meeting came to an end.

“I liked what I saw,” said Burlington resident Dawn O’Brien. “But a couple things stood out: They don’t have the financing. They don’t have the permits. And I don’t know if it’s going to be built this year. So we’ll have to wait and see.”

Another resident, Robert Herendeen, said he was actively involved in the opposition to the project when there was a 14-story building planned. He said the current plan for 10 stories was acceptable. 

“I’m a scientist, so doubt is always one of my strategies,” Herendeen said. “I’m not unhappy — but I’m waiting for bliss.”