We will host an open house at the Gilman Schoolhouse on Sunday, November 8th, from 2-6pm to announce progress updates on our redevelopment work to transform the building into a multi-use community center. Community members are invited to stop in to participate in activities at the gym, share food with neighbors, hear updates on environmental testing, see building design plans and explore what’s next for the Gilman Schoolhouse.

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The Gilman Schoolhouse Redevelopment Project was selected to participate in the highly competitive Village Trust Initiative (VTI) in 2024. This program came with technical assistance and funding to ensure the building will be returned to the community as a safe, well planned space they can use for decades to come.

An award from this program of $650,000 allowed us to hire Stone Environmental to conduct a comprehensive 2-year environmental review of all potential hazardous materials as well as a hazard remediation plan. North Country Architect was hired to develop a complete blueprint for the entire complex that meets the needs expressed by the community over the past 1.5 years. And we hired Stackpole and French to navigate the complicated legal due diligence necessary to complete a project of this magnitude.

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We are highly aware of the PCBs issues identified in the schoolhouse gymnasium and safety concerns for residents. Understanding the building's environmental conditions has been central to the project feasibility work under the VTI program. we have worked closely with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation and Stone Environmental to gain a better understanding of how the evidence of PCBs affects gym usage. Based on the environmental data and the anticipated use of the space for occasional community activities, the Vermont Department of Health, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation and the Kingdom East School District support community use of the gymnasium.

 

This is exciting news for the community!

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Please join us on November 8 so we can share our progress.

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