West Rutland’s downtown racks up two dozen more affordable, energy efficient apartment units – VTDigger

Project Report: Marble Village Apartments Development in West Rutland

Introduction

A new housing development, Marble Village Apartments, was inaugurated in the village center of West Rutland, transforming a previously blighted area into 24 permanently affordable and energy-efficient housing units. The project, a result of multi-organizational collaboration, directly addresses several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by focusing on affordable housing, clean energy, and sustainable community development.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The Marble Village project is a prime example of advancing SDG 11 by making a settlement inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

• Urban Revitalization: The development was constructed on a former brownfield site that required significant environmental cleanup, turning a contaminated and derelict space into a valuable community asset.
• Affordable Housing: It provides 24 units of permanently affordable housing, addressing a critical need and ensuring access to adequate and safe housing for all.
• Access to Services: The apartments are strategically located near essential community resources, including the West Rutland School, post office, library, and public transportation, promoting sustainable living and reducing reliance on private vehicles.

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy & SDG 13: Climate Action

The project incorporates modern energy solutions to ensure sustainability and combat climate change, directly contributing to SDG 7 and SDG 13.

• Clean Energy Systems: The buildings are equipped with an all-electric heating and cooling system and feature solar panels on the roof.
• Carbon Impact Reduction: These energy-efficient measures are projected to decrease the development’s carbon impact by 71 tons annually, demonstrating a commitment to mitigating the effects of climate change.

SDG 1: No Poverty & SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

By providing affordable housing, the project offers a foundational step toward poverty alleviation and reducing social inequalities.

• Housing Security: The development provides stable housing for vulnerable populations, including a family that was previously in transitional housing for individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Support for Seniors: The apartments offer a manageable and affordable housing solution for seniors, which in turn frees up other real estate and helps mitigate broader housing shortages in the state.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The successful completion of Marble Village was contingent on a robust multi-stakeholder partnership, underscoring the importance of collaboration as outlined in SDG 17.

• Lead Developers: The project was a joint venture between Cornerstone Housing Partners and Evernorth.
• Financial Backing: Over $13 million in public and private investment was secured to fund the development.
• Government Support: The initiative was supported by state and local political leaders, and utilized the state’s Brownfield Revitalization Fund for the necessary environmental cleanup.

Project Execution and Timeline

Key Development Stages

The project overcame significant challenges related to funding and environmental remediation over a multi-year period.

1. The initial concept and planning phase lasted for more than four years.
2. An extensive environmental cleanup was conducted to address soil contamination from previously buried building remnants.
3. Construction officially began with a groundbreaking ceremony in November 2024.
4. The project was completed and inaugurated one year later, in November 2025.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 1: No Poverty
   • The article discusses the creation of “permanently affordable housing units” and specifically mentions housing a family that was previously experiencing homelessness. This directly addresses the need for access to basic services and secure housing for vulnerable populations, which is a key component of poverty reduction.
2. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • While not the main focus of the article’s narrative, the pop-ups and embedded promotional materials repeatedly mention a partnership with the Vermont Foodbank. The campaign aims to “Feed neighbors” and states that a gift “sends 3 meals through the Vermont Foodbank,” directly connecting the publication’s activities to the goal of ending hunger.
3. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The new housing development is described as having “energy-efficient apartment units.” The article specifies that the project includes an “electric heating and cooling system and solar panels on the roof,” which aligns with the goal of increasing the share of renewable energy and improving energy efficiency.
4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • This is the most central SDG to the article. The project transforms a “once-blighted area” into “24 permanently affordable housing units,” directly addressing the need for adequate, safe, and affordable housing. The project also involves an “environmental cleanup” of a brownfield site, contributing to sustainable urbanization and land use.
5. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article explicitly states that the developers aim to mitigate “the impacts of climate change.” The energy-efficient design, including solar panels, is projected to “decrease its carbon impact by 71 tons per year,” demonstrating a clear action to combat climate change and its impacts.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 1.4: By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services…
   • The provision of “permanently affordable housing” and transitioning a family from “transitional housing… for individuals experiencing homelessness” directly contributes to providing access to the basic service of shelter for vulnerable populations.
2. Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.
   • The associated campaign mentioned in the article, which “sends 3 meals through the Vermont Foodbank,” is a direct effort to provide food to those in need, aligning with this target.
3. Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • The installation of “solar panels on the roof” of the apartment building is a direct action to increase the use of renewable energy.
4. Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
   • The project is described as creating “energy-efficient apartment units” with an “electric heating and cooling system,” contributing to improved energy efficiency in the housing sector.
5. Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.
   • The creation of “24 permanently affordable housing units” is the central theme of the article and a direct contribution to this target.
6. Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.
   • The project involved the transformation of a “once-blighted area” and an “environmental cleanup through the state’s Brownfield Revitalization Fund,” which exemplifies sustainable urbanization by revitalizing degraded land within a community.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Number of new affordable housing units created:
   • The article explicitly states that “24 permanently affordable housing units” were created. This is a direct quantitative indicator for measuring progress towards Target 11.1.
2. Reduction in carbon emissions:
   • The project is “projected to decrease its carbon impact by 71 tons per year.” This is a specific, measurable indicator of progress towards SDG 13 (Climate Action) and reflects the impact of the energy efficiency measures related to SDG 7.
3. Installation of renewable energy infrastructure:
   • The mention of “solar panels on the roof” serves as a qualitative and quantitative (number of installations) indicator for progress towards Target 7.2.
4. Number of meals provided to food-insecure individuals:
   • The statement that a donation “sends 3 meals through the Vermont Foodbank” implies a measurable indicator. The total number of meals provided through the campaign can be tracked to measure progress towards Target 2.1.
5. Number of formerly homeless families housed:
   • The article points to a “success” story of housing “a family previously living in the Bridge House — transitional housing… for individuals experiencing homelessness.” This can be used as an indicator for measuring progress towards providing housing for the most vulnerable under Target 1.4 and 11.1.
6. Area of revitalized brownfield land:
   • The project’s completion on a site that required an “environmental cleanup through the state’s Brownfield Revitalization Fund” serves as an indicator for Target 11.3. The size of the revitalized site could be a specific metric.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: vtdigger.org