This story by Chris Mays was first published in the Brattleboro Reformer on Oct. 6, 2026.
BRATTLEBORO — Brattleboro Housing Partnerships celebrated $1.75 million in congressionally directed funding for the redevelopment of Melrose Terrace as West Brattleboro Terrace.
The approximately $19 million project will replace remaining buildings outside the floodway with 30 energy-efficient units for residents age 62 and older. Other funding includes $3.8 million from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, $1 million in National Housing Trust funds, $815,000 in equity and nearly $3 million in tax credits.
Redevelopment follows damage wrought by Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, which prompted the relocation of residents to new Brattleboro Housing Partnerships developments at Red Clover Commons. Completed flood mitigation work is now anticipated to protect housing along the brook while restoring flood plain capacity.
At the celebration Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., called the redevelopment “a smart community development project.” Christine Hazzard, executive director of Brattleboro Housing Partnerships, said she expects a groundbreaking in the next few months and a ribbon-cutting ceremony in early 2028.
Melrose Terrace was developed in 1966 with 80 households and was significantly affected by Irene. Completed flood mitigation changes the flood map and protects housing along the brook.
“This was the first property developed by the town-formed Brattleboro Housing Authority,” Hazzard said. “The property was developed to provide housing for many of Brattleboro’s lowest-income elderly residents and in the late 1990s began including adults with disabilities. Vermont’s only example of mid-20th century garden apartment design with winding walkways and ample green space, this property has been loved by most people who have lived here and for all of us who have gotten the fortunate opportunity to work in this space over the 60-year history.”
Hazzard said communities throughout Vermont “will need to find ways to preserve their historic downtown and village centers and housing that are along the floodway by creating space for the water to go.”
“This will hopefully create parcels of land across Vermont outside of the floodway for future use,” she said.
Hazzard thanked Chris Hart, former executive director of Brattleboro Housing Partnerships, M&S Development and the BHP Board of Commissioners.
“Fifteen-year projects need a champion,” Hazzard said, “and Brattleboro Housing has been that champion when making every major decision on this project.”
Hazzard said Balint “has been with us throughout this whole way and was a firsthand participant in the development of Red Clover Commons One and Two, and the story of Melrose Terrace, and she has undoubtedly supported the progress each step.”
“It takes a lot of people to bring a project like this across the finish line,” Balint said. “And although we’re not at the finish line yet, I’m grateful that we are working together every step of the way.”
Balint called Brattleboro “home to me.”
“This is my hometown, and this is where I live,” she said. “This is where I’m raising my kids. This is a special community, and I made a commitment to myself when I was in the state Legislature, and again, when I was fortunate enough to be able to represent Brattleboro in Congress, that I was going to always have a special eye for the southern part of the state because I know oftentimes we feel like we get forgotten down here, so this is exactly where I want to be today.”
Balint said she’s “so proud that even in the midst of all of this dysfunction in Washington, D.C., that we can be here today celebrating some good that came out of it.” Brattleboro needs about 500 new units of housing right now, she estimates.
Balint said the Melrose Terrace redevelopment is about “making sure that people can retire with dignity in a beautiful place, a place that feels like home.”
Rural communities struggle with similar issues, Balint told reporters, including housing and healthcare. Lawmakers from different parties finding common ground makes programs such as congressionally directed funds “continue to work even when you have forces that would like it so that we don’t get anything done,” she said.
“For me, it’s making sure that the more rural areas don’t get forgotten when it comes to rehabbing housing and building new housing because we have the same struggle that is happening in Chittenden County,” she said. “We have a very low occupation rate, and so it’s very obviously very special for me to be able to do this here in Brattleboro, but I feel that way whenever we are able to invest in housing because I know it’s one of our biggest challenges right now.”
