Jeff Glassberg is scheduled to meet with the Burlington City Council in executive session on Monday night. He said he expects the city to release a statement providing an update on the situation sometime after that. He does not expect the project’s majority owner, Brookfield Asset Management, to attend the meeting nor to help craft the statement.
Glassberg wouldn’t elaborate when asked what the statement would say. But the consultant, who has liaised between the parties for the last year, said locals are owed an explanation for why construction on the $250 million, 14-story project has yet to begin.
“They absolutely need to share with the public what is going on,” Glassberg said. “It’s the second week of July. My phone is not ringing off the hook with people complaining about noise and dust from construction. That’s what I expected.”
Three months ago, Will Voegele, Brookfield’s senior vice president of development, told the council that the firm was tabulating construction bids and had signed a term sheet with Bank OZK, formerly Bank of the Ozarks. The agreement is not akin to a finalized loan, Glassberg said.
Voegele subsequently made the rounds to Burlington Neighborhood Planning Assembly meetings, getting chilly receptions from residents who are frustrated with the lack of progress. Indeed, the latest action at the vacant superblock came when crews removed advertisements for the project that rimmed the site — after some contended they were billboards — about a month ago.
What gives?
Hard to say when no one’s talking. Voegele did not return multiple requests for comment about the project. Mayor Miro Weinberger didn’t make time to speak with Seven Days about CityPlace this week, declining interview requests, failing to respond to emailed questions and ducking into another meeting immediately following an unrelated press conference on Thursday.
Sinex also declined an interview, referring all questions to Voegele and Glassberg. But as of late last week, even Glassberg was left in the dark. He told Seven Days he didn’t know the status of the bids, but that it “doesn’t take this long” to determine if they came in on target.
“It’s not a great sign,” Glassberg said, adding, “The puzzle pieces haven’t been put together, I don’t think.”
Inaction has plagued the project for years. In 2016, Sinex said CityPlace would be operational in January 2019, a target that’s long passed. He’s blamed the city and litigious opponents for not making his deadlines.
The city, meanwhile, has bent to Sinex’s will in efforts to keep the project moving: Last August, a city council majority amended CityPlace’s 46-page development agreement, allowing Sinex to build the project foundation without an executed contract for the building’s construction.
After all that hassle, nothing happened.
The construction contract is integral to CityPlace’s progress and funding. Without it, Brookfield can’t pull the permit to construct the building, let alone its foundation.
“That’s a really important milestone, and we have repeatedly advised [the project owners] of the importance of that date,” Glassberg said. “I’ve been assured it’s no problem, but I haven’t seen it yet.”
Less immediate but still important is a June 2021 deadline for the city to bond for $22 million worth of public infrastructure needed to support the project, paid with tax-increment financing funds.
In November 2016, voters approved using TIF funds to reconnect St. Paul and Pine streets to Cherry and Bank streets, thoroughfares that were lost to the urban renewal mall. Earlier that year, the city lobbied the Vermont legislature to extend TIF deadlines specifically for the CityPlace parcels.
Act 134 codified the ask into law with one huge caveat: Brookfield must submit a $50 million construction contract before that June 2021 deadline or the agreement is moot, explained Megan Sullivan, executive director of the Vermont Economic Progress Council, which oversees parts of the TIF program.
Without the document, “they lose the ability to use TIF funding,” she said.
Burlington would have to find another way to pay, but it doesn’t appear to have one. In a 2016 letter to a legislative committee, Mayor Weinberger wrote, “The city has no other viable or fair financing source” for the project.
“That’s really an enormous concern,” Glassberg said.
Jay Fayette, CEO of general contractor PC Construction, did not respond to interview requests about the contract. Company spokesperson Crystal DelleChiaie referred all questions to Brookfield.
On Tuesday, CityPlace filed a motion for reconsideration on the matter, but the judge had not yet ruled on it.
Whether it looks like the one currently envisioned is another question, he said. Brookfield could feasibly redesign and scale back the project, but depending on how much changes, the developer might have to reapply for a new zoning permit. That takes more time.
For now, when it comes to CityPlace, mum’s the word. David White, former interim Community Economic Development Office director, declined multiple interview requests. And only two city councilors responded this week to phone messages about the topic (two others had full voicemail boxes).
Councilor Joan Shannon (D-South District) said she has no idea what to expect during Monday’s closed session. Councilor Ali Dieng (D/P-Ward 7) didn’t either, but noted his constituents are looking for answers.
He suggested that the city should take over the lot because it seems like Sinex’s project was a pipe dream.
“It seems they think the project is too big,” Dieng said. “I don’t think they will be doing anything any time soon.”
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We could try Burlington College there again……
Update: it’s a hole.
Miro The Paver strikes again.
After Sinex had to cancel Christmas for his employees the January 2019 target date was in jeopardy. I think new building syndrome also has delayed the grand opening.
Miro’d
I voted for Miro and support him and local journalists. It is unacceptable that the mayor is not talking to the press about this or indicating a willingness to discuss options to clean up this mess.
If the city leaders put their confidence in a con job, we need to figure out the best way forward. Mayor, this voter is pleading with you to please talk and stop ducking journalists. It’s only making the problem worse. The more you refuse to talk the more it seems you are part of a scam. Please stop acting like someone who has something to hide! It is freaking us out and digging a deeper hole than the one downtown in our ability to trust your good intentions.
Looks like the profligate city council will soon have to do some buget cuts given that the ballyhooed Cityplace revenue is not arriving. Anybody wanna bet the council will procrastinate until its too late and the taxpayers get shafted again? Wait, maybe the city could operate its own telecommunications company to compete with Comcast/infiniti! Oops!. The Progs tried that one and were still paying for it.
No more Executive Session BS . . . explain this mess out in the open to the public and no more back room lies. Miro owes us that much. Of course, he may feel he owes us nothing because he’s so smart.
and while we’re at it: it’s past time for TERM LIMITS for mayor.
We knew as soon as they tore the building down there were going to be nothing but issues ! Its been nothing but a shit show from the beginning. They all need to get their heads out of their butts and figure this out ! Enough is enough.
It is cute that people think Weinberger is for the people and there is a huge misunderstanding because he is just too busy serving the people to take time to account for the giant hole. Weinberger and his super pac to get this thing passed is just as culpable for this mess as anyone.
No no no
Don’t it always seem to go,
That you don’t know what you’ve got
Til its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
Strong leadership requires active never-say-die commitment to get the project completed on time, contracts with specific and clear incentives and penalties, and the brains to tell the difference. Apparently we have none of the above. Couple this crap hole in the middle of our gorgeous city, along with the planned pave over of our once beautiful city hall park, and the massive tree removal on North ave a year ago to provide subsidized housing, makes it clear Burlington has lost it’s way. Come on BTV leaders, get back on your game. You are smart, Burlington is a GREAT CITY, and we are better than this. Get the job done. Make our city great again.
“while we’re at it: it’s past time for TERM LIMITS for mayor.”
It was well past time for term limits when Bernie served 4 terms, Clavelle served a gazillion, and Bob Who? served 2. Miro is stuck fixing some of the things that the long Prog Reign of Error didn’t do: building virtually no housing, ignoring infrastructure, ignoring pension liabilities, and the list goes on.
Taxpayers in Vermont’s largest city seem surprised that their liberal, welfare-driven, big-spending mentality buys them … nothing but incompetence.
And, oh, high taxes.
The “hole” downtown is nothing but a metaphor.
It is a great distraction for taxpayers who need to avoid acknowledging the real issue – big spending and no results.
So, sure, talk about the big hole, city hall park redesign, southern connector – all non-issues.
Make sure not to discuss what you get with politicians – and, yes, you the voters – who play to the high-taxing, welfare-loving base.
Ali Dieng please run for mayor.
Construction Bid pricing must be coming in with Flatlander Owner and City of Burlington price adjustments built in to them and they are just now realizing just how much extra that adds to the total costs.
Miro could care less about what people think! He’s just in it to try and make Burlington a bigger city which nobody wants and he’s also listening to all of his rich friends! It’s way past time to get him out and find someone who cares about our city..
From the article: ‘In a 2016 letter to a legislative committee, Mayor Weinberger wrote, The city has no other viable or fair financing source for the project.’
This is a big problem! TIF funding was pursued on the premise of bounties from a $250 million project. Even if scaled back, the risk to taxpayers increases by the day.
It’s next week. Any idea of when they’ll have the update?
Burlington’s once beautiful cityscape is quickly becoming disproportionately large buildings that will soon eclipse the sun. Private developers get their way paved: Menacing Cambrian Rise, Bayberry Commons’ size and scope is mind-boggling, and just today post the judge’s Friday ruling, the horrific sound of trees being felled and chipped in City Hall Park assaults the senses. Speaking of sense, there is no common sense in Burlington as I consider the permitted waste releases into Lake Champlain. IDIOTS, ignorant that planting trees is the best solution to our dysfunctional wastewater situation and carbon crazed loudmouths. I am on my way out of Vermont for good. Can’t watch the devastation any longer or listen to the liberal mumbo-jumbo that seeks to put first the righs of illegal aliens, coddles drug addicts, expands welfare rolls, and slaps on the wrist, drug dealers and mural vandals. Good luck Burlingtonians. You’ll need it.
Well, with all the stalled ventures with this project! Maybe Don Sinex is hoping for another Tax or finance break at the cities expense ?
Let’s just take back the project and rebuild the Mall!!!
Oh and instead of charging rent ? do a percentage per store sales a month????
My 2 cents
The builder manages $250 billion dollars in assets…and is pleading poverty? They need to wait for a decision from ‘bank of the ozarks’ in order to move ahead? This beggars belief.
It would seem that Sinex, and now Brookfield, are looking for further handouts from the public purse.
Revoke the building permit. This company has taken Burlington hostage.
I have a feeling the Don Sinex hole will be Miro’s albatross in the end.
C: Figures. Predictable, really I suppose. It was an act of purest optimism to have posed the question in the first place……. Tell me:
O: Yessir?
C: (deliberately) Have you in fact got any cheese here at all?
O: Yes,sir.
C: Really?
(pause)
O: No. Not really, sir.
C: You haven’t.
O: Nosir. Not a scrap. I was deliberately wasting your time,sir.
City Place Burlington is an incredible project. I have not seen this wonderful change in Burlington since i moved to Vermont in 1989. Blighted Malls are changing using projects like this one all around the USA. Finally we can compete in some common ways with the rest of nation. This project will have affordable housing, it will enhance Church Street Marketplace profits and the state. The will be a LEED construction. environmentally smart built . It will have green space where people can hang out. It will ease congestion by opening up two streets. It will provide jobs. Most people agreed with this project that is why it passed. If you want to snowboard, ski or see foliage then that will never happen in Burlington. Burlington is the largest city in Vermont. It is suppose to bring in more economics than other cities around Vermont. We must be leaders and make sure people want to live and tour Vermont. Change is the only way! Thank you City Place Burlington.
Bruce Wilson.
The old mall was a hole . A failed place in the heart of Burlington which was inexplicably built blocking St Paul and Pine streets . Here we have a project that can help undo some of the damage while providing needed housing . A private project with some TIF funds used to improve the center of the downtown infrastructure . And all we do is bitch bitch bitch . This project is a GOOD thing ! Yes Sinex was a fiasco . So ? Move on . You don’t have to cheer the project but it would be reasonable to recognize that this is a good thing . Better then a vacant eyesore in the heart of this city .