City officials in Rutland say a strong private-public partnership has helped transform one of the city’s major corridors from an eyesore to a thriving downtown business district.
Brennan Duffy, executive director of the Rutland Redevelopment Authority, remembers how it used to look.
“When I got came here a little over three years ago, that entire block was really just empty store fronts," he said.
He was talking about the downtown segment of West Street, a major east-west corridor through the city.
In the past three years, Duffy said, the amount of new businesses and renovation on the street has been stunning. Probably the most impressive new addition, he said, is the $8.5 million Community College of Vermont building.
But there are also new boutiques, an apple computer store, a popular new bakery café, a new bank, office space and a restaurant.
Duffy said renovation work was finally finished on the post office annex. Originally a car dealership built in 1927, the elaborately tiled structure is the only art deco terra cotta building in the state. It was covered with scaffolding for years, Duffy said, but is beautiful now.
Down the street, community volunteers helped turn a rundown industrial complex into an indoor farmer’s market, and a brand new veterans health care clinic opened across the street.
“Success breeds success,” Duffy said, “and if people see investment being made they’re more likely to make investments of their own and the city did a good job being a part of that.”
Duffy said the improvements came through renovated sidewalks and drainage, and tax stabilization programs for eligible businesses that create jobs.
Ground floor occupancy rates in the city are above 90 percent, Duffy said, smiling. Rates in Rutland haven’t been that high in years.
