BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – After more than a decade of debate, delays, and construction, officials on Wednesday officially cut the ribbon on the first phase of Burlington Square — a new AC Marriott hotel.
“A lot of work is going into it. A lot of work’s done,” said Dave Farrington, one of the partners behind Burlington Square, formerly known as CityPlace
Below the AC Hotel Burlington sits retail space, with one restaurant committed so far in the corner location. Above are four levels with 53 units of market-rate apartments. Thirty are ready for residents, with a handful of leases signed.
“S.D. Ireland has showings every afternoon, so they’ve been showing two or three people a day. There’s been a lot of interest,” Farrington said.
Reporter Claire Joines: Is there concern getting the rest of the apartments filled?”
Dave Farrington: It’ll happen. It’s called absorption. It’ll take a little while. We figured it might take three months to fill all 50 apartments.
On the same lot, the project’s north building still has a ways to go, but will offer much of the same — retail space, another hotel, more housing options. “We’re gonna have workforce housing, then there’s gonna be market rate, there’s going to be some nicer, larger units on the upper floors. We’re going to have this student housing component. So, a really good mix,” Farrington said.
Burlington Square isn’t the only development project going on downtown. Other properties are still owned by Don Sinex, who tells WCAX he will continue to develop the Macy’s, L.L. Bean, and other Church Street properties as CityPlace.
The property formerly occupied by the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is also in play and could also become housing, as leaders past and present celebrate what they hope is a new beginning for the downtown. “This was an exciting day in and of itself, one a lot of us have looked forward to for a long time,” said former Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger.
There’s also good news for drivers downtown. Officials say the Burlington Square project will also include a parking garage and will reconnect Pine and St. Paul Streets next year.
