An effort years in the making culminated today in a ceremonial ribbon cutting ceremony in Shelburne, marking the transformation of a former motel which provided temporary housing for homeless Vermonters into a new neighborhood with affordable apartments and condominiums. Over a hundred people gathered to mark the occasion.
The new Bay Ridge neighborhood, developed by Champlain Housing Trust and Evernorth, includes 68 affordable apartments and 26 new affordable condominiums. All will become homes that will be affordable to generations of Shelburne residents – a hallmark of Vermont’s policy to safeguard taxpayer investment in affordable housing.
“When Vermont’s communities, local leaders, and our government work together, great things are possible. The Champlain Housing Trust’s and Evernorth’s Bay Ridge neighborhood, which combines state and federal resources to create affordable housing in Shelburne, is a perfect example. This project is a major step in addressing the state’s affordable housing crisis and will help more Vermonters access housing. I’m proud to have helped secure federal funds for these homes which will be an asset to Vermonters for decades and help ensure that homes remain affordable,” said United States Senator Peter Welch.
“So many Vermont families face the crushing burden of the housing crisis. We have to take urgent action to alleviate this growing crisis. Today is a celebration of taking the right steps to create permanently affordable solutions. Addressing America’s housing needs is essential in tackling so many of the other issues hurting working people. After securing critical federal funds for this project, I’m so thrilled to be able to welcome folks to homes that will provide generations of Shelburne residents with an affordable option,” added Representative Becca Balint.
More than half of Chittenden County renters are “cost burdened,” meaning that more than half of renters pay more than 30% of their income on housing – and more than a quarter pay more than 50% of their income on rent, putting some in an even more precarious situation. To address this, Champlain Housing Trust and Evernorth have worked with the Burlington Housing Authority to secure 30 federal Housing Choice Vouchers, capping housing costs for residents at 30% of their income. Further, 20 of the apartments are reserved for those exiting homelessness – a critical response as Vermont has the fourth highest rate of homelessness in the country.
And at a time when home prices continue to outpace what people can afford – the median price of a home exceeded $500,000 in Chittenden County the first half of 2025 – Champlain Housing Trust’s work at Bay Ridge is bringing 26 homes for sale onto the market below $200,000, meaning everyday workers can access homeownership.
“This is a great new neighborhood,” said Michael Monte, CEO of the Champlain Housing Trust. “But it’s more than a bunch of buildings, it’s really about the people: new residents will include workers at Wake Robin, Shelburne Farms, nurses, preschool teachers, and others – including some people who had been homeless. Bay Ridge is a neighborhood where we want all to feel welcome.”
The two nonprofits assembled over two dozen sources of funds and financing to build the development with a total cost of about $55 million including significant support from state partners Vermont Housing & Conservation Board and Vermont Housing Finance Agency. The development also included almost $5 million of infrastructure investments including a new road, Margaret’s Way, a stormwater pond to protect Lake Champlain from polluting runoff, and more. Another $1 million was invested in solar arrays, reducing the housing’s carbon footprint and saving residents some money.
“We are grateful for the hard work of our partners, for the community’s unwavering support, and for the vital investments of our funders,” added Nancy Owens, President of Evernorth. “At a time when Vermont faces the most severe housing shortage in our history, Bay Ridge is an inspiring example of how to build a beautiful, inclusive community. These permanently affordable homes ensure that Shelburne will have safe, stable places for people of all incomes to live, forever.”
The condominiums were built by Snyder Homes. All but one of the 26 homes has been reserved, and new owners started moving in this summer. They are a mix of 2- and 3-bedrooms.
The first renters moved into apartments last week in two buildings that existed on the site previously when it was a motel. Those were rehabbed by Naylor and Breen Builders with design by Scott + Partners Architecture. Two new buildings, up along Shelburne Road, were designed by Duncan Wisniewski Architecture and constructed by DEW Construction. There is a mix of apartment sizes and rents, from studios to four-bedrooms to accommodate larger families. A three-bedroom apartment will rent for as low as $1,725 a month, including heat and hot water. Occupancy of these two buildings is expected in the next month.
Champlain Housing Trust purchased the property more than 10 years ago and operated Harbor Place, a motel which provided temporary, emergency housing and services for people experiencing homelessness. Harbor Place has been relocated across Shelburne Road, allowing for the redevelopment of the property into Bay Ridge. The new street, Margaret’s Way, was named after Margaret Bozik who was the architect of much of CHT’s work to address homelessness and who passed away in 2021.