Town project earns belated award
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Architect Tim Calabrese poses on the green in Proctorsville recently. Vyto Starinskas / Rutland Herald |
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By Josh O'Gorman STAFF WRITER - Published: March 10, 2009
CAVENDISH — More than a decade after its completion, the town has been honored for a construction project that revitalized its village center.
Architect Tim Calabrese last month received the 2008-09 Public Space Honor Award from Gov. James Douglas for his design of the Proctorsville Green on Route 131 in the center of the village.
"That piece of property is kind of the hub of Proctorsville," Calabrese said, and while that might be true now it wasn't always the case.
Town Manager Richard Svec said in the past the area was "blighted." The space had been home to a four-story mill that burned in 1982 and was never fully cleaned up, Svec said. Between 1996 and 1998, the town purchased the property and transformed it from eyesore to public attraction, all for about $750,000. Much of the money came from local and state grants, he said, which also paid for the relocation of the historic Freeman House to the edge of the green.
Much of the work was done through community sweat equity, Svec said, including planting trees around the green. While the project has long been complete, the judges of the competition — which include Vermont Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Vermont Planners Association, American Institute of Architects, Vermont American Society of Civil Engineers and the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Council — were pleased to see the effects of the project on the village.
"What we liked about this particular nomination was that it wasn't something brand new. It was established and working and benefiting the community," said Danielle Fitzko with the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program.
Of the 15 applicants, Fitzko said, the Proctorsville Green project was the one that drew unanimous approval from the judges.
"This one was resounding in a 'yes' that they deserved an award," Fitzko said. "I think this particular project shows the value of a green space in a community."
Calabrese said the green now draws people to picnic, hosts music in the summer and is the graduation site for Cavendish Town Elementary School when weather permits. Svec said the positive effect of the green has extended beyond the green and into the village.
Throughout the past decade, Svec said, many homeowners around the green have rehabilitated their homes' weatherworn exteriors, and businesses have blossomed. A drive around the green will find Crows Corner Bakery and Café, Six Loose Ladies yarn shop, a hair salon and a tax accountant. Svec said it's common to see someone buy some yarn and head over to the green to knit.
"We figured we could do something to change a negative to a positive, and you can see the influence over time in concentric circles from the green," Svec said.
josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com
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