By: Leslie Black-Plumeau

August 1, 2013

State-of-the-art energy improvements and renovations to two buildings in Brandon have created 27 affordable apartments for low and moderate income Vermonters, thanks to the expertise of the Housing Trust of Rutland County and financing from VHFA through the federal low-income housing tax credit program. 

Unused since 1993, the Brandon Training school’s former administration building was repurposed and upgraded with solar panels and a biomass boiler.  The Erastus Thayer House on Conant Square, originally built in the late 1800s as a rooming house, received much-needed energy improvements as well as new siding, windows, and solar panels.

Twenty-five of the households moving into the renovated buildings will use monthly rental subsidies through the federal Rural Development  and Section 8 programs.  Eighteen of the apartments have two bedrooms and the remaining nine have one bedroom. 

Photos by Elisabeth Kulas and Cindy Reid.  Top - Repurposed Brandon Training School administration building, Bottom - Erastus Thayer House on Conant Square.