A design competition intended to envision a sustainable redevelopment of Montpelier’s downtown includes some big ideas to more closely tie National Life into the central business district.
The competition, Sustainable Montpelier 2030, was organized by Net Zero Vermont and co-sponsored by the National Life Group Foundation along with Ben & Jerry’s, VSECU, All Earth Renewables, and Vermont Creamery.
Foundation President Beth Rusnock, who spoke at a news conference where the winning design was unveiled, said National Life got involved in the project because of the company’s commitment to its home town.
“This Net Zero project beautifully echoes our values to do good, be good and make good at National Life,” she said. “We were so impressed with the creative and forward-thinking proposals that were submitted.”
The winning design, called Team Bridges, envisions tying together Montpelier’s neighboring communities along an existing rail line that would become a key commuter link and help to reduce the number of cars in the city.
At the same time, the goal would be to increase Montpelier’s population substantially over coming years. New neighborhoods and offices would be created along the riverfront where parking lots now sit.
And the design team even envisions a new neighborhood on the National Life campus where it believes 250 housing units, 120 hotel rooms and conference facilities could be developed.
Then the National Life neighborhood would be linked to the downtown by an aerial tram that would carry passengers up and down the hill to a new transit center along the rail line.
The design team and Net Zero Vermont said they’re committed to pursuing the ideas and working with key stakeholders such as National Life to revitalize Montpelier.
National Life made no commitments to the project, but plans are in the works to organize a meeting among key executives and the design team.