Fairlee hears vision for Colby Block

By Cicely Richardson
for Journal Opinion

Journal Opinion/STPNS

March 26, 2008

BRADFORD, Vermont (STPNS) -- FAIRLEE-"It strikes me we're losing the next generation who can work here, live here and keep our communities vibrant," Bob Manchester told the Fairlee Selectboard on March 24. With a contract to buy the former Colby Block and two adjacent properties, the Burlington lawyer envisions a way to turn that around in Fairlee.

Manchester sees the need and opportunity for "workforce housing" in the area stimulated by the continuing growth of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC). "They're growing jobs there," and nurses, lab technicians and others earning between $35,000 and $80,000 need homes, he said. He proposed helping to fill that need at the Colby Block where DHMC's free buses already stop.

Last fall, Manchester learned of the Colby Block from development consultant Jill Michaels.  The land where cellar holes now outline the once-imposing, extended buildings that dominated the east side of Route 5 opposite Chapman's and the town common until they went up in flames on May 6, 2007 had later been put on the market by owner Alan Jesseman. Manchester and Michaels spoke with selectboard chair and architect Jay Barrett who encouraged him to "think big and think creatively."

Manchester has done exactly that. He has obtained purchase and sale agreements on the Colby Block and two parcels between the Connecticut River and the railroad station, Donald Davenport's property with apartment buildings next to the bridge on Bridge Street and land south of that belonging to Michael and Hallie Goelet-a total of four acres. The next property along the river is the four- to five-acre railroad station parcel owned by the town of Fairlee.

Focusing first on the Colby Block, Manchester proposed a large building with commercial space on the ground floor, parking below and two to four floors with up to 20 or 25 housing units above. These would be sold to qualified buyers in the target income range with covenants in their deeds to "protect this property for workers" in future sales as well, he said.

Saying he had seen pictures of the former buildings, he added that motifs from them could be incorporated in the design of the new building. He intends to build something "that will last, that works and that people want to be in."

"I'm not interested in retirement or second homes," said Manchester, "and I think the community would prefer ownership, not rentals." He also has no intention of building low-income housing that qualifies for U.S. Housing and Urban Development or Section 8 funding.

"I'm not here to alter the demographics of Fairlee," he said, emphasizing that he wants to work with the town. This is really intended for Dartmouth workers,"although," he added, "I don't think we'd prohibit someone in Fairlee from buying."

The best place for a septic system for this building would be on the far side of the railroad track on the town-owned parcel, Manchester said, where, according to Barrett, there are "hundreds of feet of sand and gravel." A community septic system would be owned either privately or publicly and could serve other properties with weak septic systems as well, Manchester said. He has other dreams for the land as well.

In the longer term and later phases, he said, low, small bungalow housing could fit in the landscape on the riverside and public uses could be developed. He also threw out the idea of a couple more buildings on the town's property behind the old station, moving it closer to the road.

"We Vermonters have never made good use of our rivers," said Manchester. He proposed to change that with public access from Bridge Street or under the railroad tracks by the station. Extolling the views from the "spectacular sunrise bluff" as well as easy access to the river itself at the mouth of the tributary behind the railroad station, he said "this is an amazing opportunity" for the townspeople to decide how they want to use their riverfront and what public access they want.

Fairlee's role

Michaels asked the selectboard to apply for Vermont Economic Development Authority grants to fund a septic feasibility study and a market study, as such applications must be made by municipalities. Michaels said it might also be wise to add archeological checking. She plans to help Fairlee Administrative Assistant Debby Messer by drafting the application and preparing for a public hearing before submission by April 29.

The selectboard set the hearing for April 21, the same evening a hearing is scheduled on the proposed 2008 town plan. Michaels said they will ask the state for $30,000 and Manchester will put up $30,000.

At the time of the fire and in later meetings, state officials have offered rebuilding assistance. They have also endorsed the concept of small community septic systems, Manchester said.

Asked for his most optimistic estimate of when phase one could be completed, Manchester replied, "in two years."

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