Yearly Archives: 2013

Neighbors Work Together to Protect Panton Farmland from Development

Ed and Beverly Biello were not considering conservation when they bought a home and land in Panton in 2000. Their property had scenic views of Lake Champlain with good access from Adams Ferry Road so they looked into selling house lots. The fate of the land changed after the Biellos were approached by the Allens, neighboring farmers who were interested in buying all the land to support their dairy farm. To make such prime land affordable for farming, the Biellos sold a conservation easement on 104 acres to the Vermont Land Trust before selling the land to the Allens.

225 Acres in Hinesburg Conserved and Donated to UVM

The late Henry H. Carse spent much of his life in service to Vermonters. For decades, he served in the Vermont legislature, as the town moderator, and the town school director. Now, through his family, his legacy of service will continue in the form of a new 225-acre natural area that was conserved with the Vermont Land Trust and donated to the University of Vermont by way of the UVM Foundation

Forestland, Natural Features, and Habitat Conserved in Sharon

Anne and Peter Silberfarb bought their property in the 1960s. Over the past 50 years they have been committed to stewarding the land’s ecologically rich forests and wetlands. This month, they donated a conservation easement to the Vermont Land Trust on 196 acres of the property, ensuring that it will remain undeveloped for generations to come.

Vermont Attorney General joins $2.1 billion national settlement with Ocwen Financial

Some Vermonters will benefit from settlement of a $2.1 billion national multistate-federal settlement with the fourth-largest mortgage servicer in the United States, Ocwen Financial Corporation of Atlanta, Georgia, and its subsidiary, Ocwen Loan Servicing.

Conservation Easement Helps Connect Other Protected Land

Anne Sincerbeaux of Hartland donated a conservation easement to the Vermont Land Trust on 38 acres of woodland that connects two significant stretches of conserved land in Hartland and Woodstock.

Devino Family Conserves Farm in Milton

Milton - December 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Devino family conserved 170 acres of their prominent farm on North Road with the Vermont Land Trust on December 13, 2013. This is the fifth property in Milton to be conserved by the Vermont Land Trust.

Blackmer Family Conserves Hill Farm on Taylor Road in Tunbridge

Tunbridge - December 13, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Donald Blackmer and his late wife, Joan, purchased their Tunbridge hill farm in 1972. Since then, several generations of the Blackmer family have enjoyed the land’s trails, rolling pastureland, northern hardwood forest, and its mid-nineteenth century farmhouse. To permanently protect the land from development, the family donated a conservation easement on the 50-acre property to the Vermont Land Trust

VHFA to donate clothing, candy to Women Helping Battered Women

BURLINGTON, VT - December 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) will donate a pair of mittens stuffed with holiday candy to Burlington’s Women Helping Battered Women office for every new “like” of the Agency’s Facebook page through Sunday, December 15

Attorney General sues Bank of America for violating state foreclosure mediation law

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Office of Vermont Attorney General William H. Sorrell has filed suit against Bank of America for violating Vermont’s foreclosure mediation statute and Consumer Protection Act in foreclosure actions brought by the Bank against local homeowners.

State recommends actions to make mobile homes and parks less vulnerable to disaster

MONTPELIER, Vt. - December 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) - Mobile homes are nearly twice as likely to be located in a flood hazard area as stick built homes and were disproportionately impacted by Tropical Storm Irene. Unfortunately, mobile home residents often lack the resources necessary to repair or replace their homes, and difficult lessons were learned about the state’s preparedness for responding to disasters affecting this housing segment.

Public comment solicited on draft property tax exemption legislation

Montpelier, Vermont - December 9, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The special interim Property Tax Exemption Study Committee has draft legislation that would make statutory changes to property tax exemptions for certain nonprofits. The hearing will be held in the State House on Monday, December 16th at 1:00 pm in Room 11.

ISC leads HUD’s capacity building for Sustainable Communities Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 28, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The US Department Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has selected the Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC) to lead Phase II of their Capacity Building for Sustainable Communities Program, awarding $4.625 million over the course of 18 months.

Soles4Souls shoes and socks for homeless event Wednesday at COTS

BURLINGTON - November 27, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fletcher Allen’s Orthopedics department holds its sixth annual Soles4Souls shoe event at the COTS Daystation at 9-10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2012.

Public comment solicited on draft property tax exemption legislation at meeting Dec. 16

MONTPELIER - November 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The special interim Property Tax Exemption Study Committee has draft legislation that would make statutory changes to property tax exemptions for certain nonprofits. The hearing will be held in the State House on Monday, December 16th at 1:00 pm in Room 11

The Second Annual Vermont Downtown 5050 Challenge and Small Business Saturday Kickoff Nov. 30

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- This Giving Season, purchasing gifts can spread cheer and also strengthen communities. The Department of Housing and Community Development’s Downtown Program and American Express announce Small Business Saturday, November 30 as a day for Vermonters to shop outside the ‘box,’ and purchase gifts that support local businesses and communities alike. Small Business Saturday also kicks off the second annual 5050 Challenge, a season-long promotion that encourages Vermonters to support local communities by purchasing half their holiday gifts with local retailers, artisans and craftspeople. Fourteen of Vermont's 24 downtowns are celebrating the season with 5050 Challenge events and holiday promotions.

St. Michael’s stages Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 18, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- “We’re good at responding to global issues–global awareness is excellent at Saint Michael’s,” said Heidi St. Peter, director of volunteer services at the college. “But right around the corner things are difficult for local families, and we must respond to them as well,” she said.

PC Construction participates in dedication of St. Michael’s building

Colchester, Vt. - November 18, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- PC Construction recently joined students, staff, alumni, trustees and benefactors at the dedication of the Dion Family Student Center and the Quad Commons Residential Hall on the campus of Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont

Gov. Shumlin announces $350,000 investment in Vermont Rural Housing from USDA

MONTPELIER - November 15, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Gov. Peter Shumlin today announced that four rural housing programs in Vermont have received funding through the USDA Rural Development’s Housing Preservation Grant program. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack selected recipients in 45 states to improve housing conditions for low- and very-low-income rural residents

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STUDY SHOWS RECESSION MAKES VERMONT’S HOUSING PROBLEMS HARDER TO SOLVE

MONTPELIER, VT - April 28, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The recession hasn’t made finding affordable housing for average Vermonters any easier, according to a new report released today.

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