Park Place

1999 Burlington, VT
Renovation of fire damaged buildings into housing/commercial space. $3.4M
Principal: Bob Duncan
Photography:  Michael Wisniewski & Sidney Eley

Park Place comprised two attached historic brick buildings that had been damaged by fire and partially gutted before acquisition by Housing VT. Constrained by historic tax credits, the program required the maximum number of housing units and an interior circulation system for both buildings while ensuring that the first building could meet all code requirements in the event the second building was not acquired. All of the ground floor and much of the basement level were to be renovated for retail and office space, including Housing VT’s own offices.

Both buildings were built as hotels over retail space. The historic tax credit requirements mandated preservation of any remaining historic corridor patterns, so the unit layout had to consider this while still incorporating access to windows and views. Phase 1 included 20 units, Housing VT’s offices, and first floor retail space. Phase 2 added 14 units and additional first floor and basement commercial space. Storefront facades were created in contemporary interpretations of the historic versions. The project received the “Architectural Excellence Award” from the Burlington Business Association.