French Block

Nature of Work: 15,000 SF rehabilitation of the top two floors of a three-story, historic brick block building dating from 1875, creating 18 one-bedroom apartments, with a mix of affordable and market-rate rents.

Retail business on the ground floor remained fully operational throughout the Project.

This Project was subject to Davis-Bacon wage requirements and Section 3 reporting.

Location: Montpelier, Vermont

The French Block is significant as the longest commercial block in downtown Montpelier. It was built by James French in 1875 following a serious downtown fire. The Italianate style building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing structure in the Montpelier Historic District.

Special care was made to preserve the historic features of the building.
Housing Vermont and Downstreet Housing and Community Development partnered on the redevelopment.

The 18 new housing units are served by laundry facilities and a new elevator and stair tower. One unit was made H/C accessible; all other units are adaptable.

Additional work included lead and asbestos abatement, structural work to improve the lateral strength of the building, new mechanical, electrical and fire protection systems, new roofing and masonry repairs on the exterior and parapet.