MSK worked in conjunction with Shires and Sage City Syndicate, a community development organization in the Village of North Bennington, to provide much-needed affordable housing convenient to the Village and nearby Shaftsbury with the construction of Lake Paran Village.

Lake Paran Village is located within walking distance of the center of North Bennington, a prosperous village with a small, walkable commercial core surrounded by residences and recreational amenities, including walking trails and a popular lakeside recreational site. Village leadership supported the development of an affordable housing project near the village center in order to grow the region’s housing stock and increase quality of life and economic opportunity for area families.

Shires Housing, an affordable housing nonprofit in southwest Vermont, found a suitable parcel within walking distance of the village center and the lake, but it was completely undeveloped and needed water, wastewater, and stormwater solutions. The parcel was also under Act 250 jurisdiction.

MSK worked with Shires and Goldstone Architecture to site a 4-building, 22-unit affordable-housing development. Our survey and design teams identified that an on-site wastewater system would not be appropriate, so we connected the development to the Town of Bennington’s municipal wastewater system. We also designed water system connections and designed site access and circulation for pedestrians and vehicles.

We developed a stormwater plan, obtained Vermont stormwater discharge permit, coordinated the Act 250 process, and obtained all other necessary permits. Following the design phase, we provided construction administration services and throughout the process helped foster agreement between entities on the site control and sale of the property to Shires. Since its completion in fall 2020, the project has provided much-needed housing, village density, healthy living, and a foundation for economic mobility for residents.

At a Glance

• Project Dates: 2018–2020
• Services: Site Civil, Environmental, Survey, Regulatory Assistance, Construction Administration
• Markets: Housing
• State: Vermont
• Cost: $7.2 million
• New Housing Units: 22
• 1 acre of new impervious surface on 6.5 acres
• 1.8 acres of permanently preserved land