Statement in support of TCB's planned development at Village HillLetter in Support of TCB Planned Development at Village Hill
(November 2018)
Last November to this same body, I presented a letter in support of The Community Builders planned developments at Village Hill. It was undersigned by over twenty residents of the Village
Hill neighborhood. The Community Builders have now received funding for the first of their two proposed developments about which I (and others) are very pleased. I am not able to
be with you tonight, so my husband has graciously offered to read my statement of support.
I and many other residents of the Village Hill neighborhood strongly support of The Community Builders remaining planned development at Village Hill.
As you are aware, Village Hill is a planned community designed to provide a variety of housing options that incorporate sustainable, energy-efficient design and that are available for
folks with a wide range of incomes.
The Community Builders (known as TCB) was the first developer at Village Hill and the first builder of new residences and remodeler of existing buildings here. TCB set a standard for
green building and aesthetic design for affordable housing which was then continued in the construction that followed for market rate residences.
TCB is incredibly receptive to community input in their pre-design stages, design stages, and in post-design stages of construction. They have listened to concerns and responded with
changes to their plans and/or inclusivity of community ideas and wishes into their plans. Initial neighborhood concerns focused on creating building plans that preserved as much green
space as possible which they have done so.
In their original stages of design, they organized meetings for the whole community, with small groups, and individual community members in the evening and on weekends. They have attended
monthly Village Hill Resident Association meetings and have always responded promptly and thoughtfully to community requests or overtures.
It is a testament to both the overall design and the maintenance and care given to the existing TCB properties already in place at Village Hill that many homeowners in the neighborhood
are unaware that these apartments are mixed income housing properties for which there are also perpetual waiting lists for renters.
With the first building now funded, TCB is focusing intently on the larger project which will benefit the community as a whole beyond providing more, much needed housing for the populations
they serve. The following are some of the benefits of the project:
It will preserve in perpetuity close to 30 acres of open space adjacent to the Mill River with a conservation restriction.
It will provide a much needed and creatively designed playground space for all of the neighborhood – for which the larger community has shown much interest and support, both in enthusiasm
and offers of financial backing.
The entire passive house design for this project will achieve minimum energy usage.
In addition, TCB is committed to providing new and extending existing walking paths, an important, greatly supported component of this new neighborhood.
As a whole, our community has applauded the efforts of TCB in bringing this new development to Village Hill. We welcome them as an already established good neighbor who have shown great
effort in considering the community in their plans and show continued interest in being a strong, positive presence in the community.
Beth Grams Haxby – 74 Village Hill Rd.
Bob Haxby – 74 Village Hill Rd.
Vanitha Virudachalam and Rajan Mehta – 100 Moser St.
Grace Simonette – 75 Musante Drive .
Ingrid Defosse and Fernando Madero – 50 Musante Drive
Candace and Gary Drimmer – Musante Drive
Andy Turrett – Musante Drive
Kim Wolfson – 75 Musante Drive
Janet Taft – 21 Moser St.
Robert Dorin and Lesley Peebles – 111 Moser St.
Mindy Theroux – 29 Moser St.
Lin and Tucker Respess – 6 Moser St.
Dick and Pat Aslin – Higgins Way
Nick Warren – Olander Drive
Sam Gindin and Larry Picard – 74 Village Hill Rd.
Sura Levine – 74 Village Hill Rd.
Richard Wilby and Sheila LeGrenade – 73 Village Hill Rd.
Linda Baker – 53 Ford Crossing
Meg and Jonathan Wright – Olander Drive
Douglas McCarroll and Virginia Sandman – 15 Higgins Way
Arlene Avakian – Olander Drive
Ross and Nancy Vinocur – Higgins Way
Sarah Bachrach – Moser St.
Janet and Brian Grant – Olander Drive