Vermont

Two hotels are added to the mix of projects at CityPlace in downtown Burlington

Published

2 years ago

February 9, 2024

Two hotels are added to the mix of projects at CityPlace in downtown Burlington

Two new downtown hotels are in the picture now for the CityPlace development filling the former pit between Bank and Cherry streets in Burlington, where a downtown mall past its prime once stood.

Mayor Miro Weinberger and the three local businessmen behind CityPlace held a press conference at the site Thursday afternoon to update the public on the progress being made on the project, which included an announcement of the addition of two new hotels from a new minority equity partner, Giri Group.

Giri Group, described as a “well-capitalized developer headquartered in Massachusetts,” will operate the two hotels at the CityPlace site. The hotels were not identified, but the Giri website shows the company has been managing and operating hotels in New England for more than 15 years, working with brands including Marriott, Hilton and Best Western.

CityPlace South Building tops out at 10 stories, tallest in Vermont

After 15 months of construction, CityPlace’s South Building has topped out at 10 stories, according to a news release, and will be the tallest building in Vermont when completed in one year. The CityPlace partners − Scott Ireland of S.D. Ireland Construction in Williston; Dave Farrington of Farrington Construction in Shelburne; and Al Senecal of Omega Vermont in South Burlington − have also finalized their building plan for the entire site.

Last week, CityPlace received a permit amendment from the Department of Permitting and Inspection that allows for a minimum of 350 residential units, including 70 permanently affordable units, a maximum of 350 hotel rooms in two separate hotels, 40,000 square feet of retail and 172,000 square feet of parking, according to a news release.

The CityPlace partners said in November 2022 there would be a total of 427 apartments, split among efficiency, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom designs. At that time, Champlain Housing Trust was planning to build and manage about 85 affordable housing units as part of the project. Last December, however, the partners announced they would build the 70 permanently affordable apartments required for the project themselves, rather than partnering with nonprofits Champlain Housing Trust (CHT) and Evernorth to build stand-alone, publicly financed affordable housing on the western side of the site, as originally planned.

“Once the site of a failing suburban mall, the CityPlace project is now a bustling construction site spanning an entire city block,” Farrington said in a statement on Thursday.

He said much of the foundations for both the North and South towers have been completed, along with the steel frame and concrete slab floors for the South Tower. Work is now progressing on the exterior wall construction and sheathing on the South Tower, which will be finished by the end of March, according to Farrington.

More: CityPlace decides to build its own affordable housing rather than relying on nonprofit

At the next City Council meeting on Monday, Feb. 12, Weinberger will ask for approval for amendments to the existing development agreement between the city of Burlington and the CityPlace Partners to enable the new building program announced Thursday, according to a news release.

Contact Dan D’Ambrosio at 660-1841 or ddambrosi@gannett.com. Follow him on X @DanDambrosioVT.

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Vermont

Girls Vermont Varsity Insider Athlete of the Week winner powered by Delta Dental

Published

10 hours ago

March 6, 2026

Press Room

Girls Vermont Varsity Insider Athlete of the Week winner powered by Delta Dental

The votes have been tallied and the girls winner of the Vermont Varsity Insider Athlete of the Week powered by Delta Dental is … Callie Spaulding of Windsor basketball.

Spaulding collected 51.55% of the 43,310 total votes cast in the girls contest. The junior was nominated after helping Windsor advance to the Division III semifinals for the 10th consecutive year with double-digit outings in a pair of playoff contests. Spaulding chipped in 10 points and three assists during the playdowns and was one of four Yellow Jackets to score double digits (11 points) in their quarterfinal victory over Enosburg.

The online voting at burlingtonfreepress.com began Monday, March 2, and closed at 9 p.m. on Thursday, March 5.

Check burlingtonfreepress.com for the next ballot, which will be published on Monday, March 9.

Delta Dental Girls Athlete of the Week winners in 2025-26 school year

Winter season

Feb. 23-March 1: Callie Spaulding, Windsor basketball

Feb. 16-22: Lydia Ruggles, St. Johnsbury gymnastics

Feb. 9-15: Mae Oakley, Burr and Burton, Alpine skiing

Feb. 2-8: Chloe Moodie, Peoples basketball

Jan. 26-Feb. 1: Marlie Bushey, Milton basketball

Jan. 19-25: Brinley Gandin, Rutland basketball

Jan. 12-18: Grace Bourn, Rivendell basketball

Jan. 5-11: Patricia Stabach, Stowe indoor track and field

Dec. 29-Jan. 4: Hannah Drury, U-32 hockey

Dec. 22-28: Brooke Osgood, Oxbow basketball

Dec. 15-21: Kayla Cisse, South Burlington basketball

Dec. 12-14: Harlow Hier, Colchester basketball

Fall season

Oct. 27-Nov. 2: Eme Silverman, Poultney soccer

Oct. 20-26: Veronica Moore, Bellows Falls field hockey

Oct. 13-19: Ava Francis, Vergennes soccer

Oct. 6-12: Savannah Monahan, Milton soccer

Sept. 29-Oct. 5: Rachel Scherer, North Country soccer

Sept. 22-28: Trista Favreau-Ward, Missisquoi field hockey

Sept. 15-21: Reese Gregory, Essex volleyball

Sept. 8-14: Isabelle Gouin, Hazen soccer

Aug. 29-Sept. 7: Avery Hansen, Lake Region soccer

Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.

Contact Judith Altneu at JAltneu@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.

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Vermont

Friends, family rally behind Vermont veteran charged with domestic terrorism

Published

22 hours ago

March 6, 2026

Press Room

Friends, family rally behind Vermont veteran charged with domestic terrorism

NEWPORT, Vt. (WCAX) – Friends and family of a Vermont veteran charged with domestic terrorism rallied in Newport Thursday, saying the charges stem from a mental health crisis and are unwarranted.

Vermont State Police say Joseph “J.J.” Millett, 38, of Newport, called a veterans crisis line in February, making suicidal statements and threatening a mass-casualty event.

Court records say Millett had guns and wrote what investigators call a manifesto. He turned himself in, and state police say they disarmed him at the barracks. He pleaded not guilty and was never formally arrested or placed in jail. He is currently in a treatment facility.

Supporters say the threats were the result of new medication and a mental health crisis. “But all the way to domestic terrorism for a man that fought overseas — he wasn’t a terrorist. He’s been fighting terrorists half his life,” said Chad Abbott, a friend who served with Millett overseas.

Abbott said he believes the charges could have unintended consequences for veterans seeking help. “These hotlines that they put out for us is to kind of get us the help we need. And now, none of us are going to want to call that,” he said.

Millett’s sister, Courtney Morin, said her brother served in the Vermont Guard for nearly 10 years and has struggled with mental health since returning home. “He suffers from depression, anxiety — he has PTSD. So, he’s actually been seeking help for his mental health for probably as long as he’s been home,” Morin said.

Orleans County State’s Attorney Farzana Leyva said the charge is warranted and that Millett was not calling for help when he contacted the crisis line. “He called the crisis helpline to make the threats. I think we have to be very clear about that. Those were threats. He did not call the crisis helpline for help. He called anonymously,” Leyva said.

She said the evidence — including repeated threats — Millett’s access to guns, and a manifesto justifies the charge and protects the public. “My priority is public safety, which is the highest priority that I have right now,” Leyva said.

Morin said she believes her brother was trying to get help. “I think he was seeking help. I mean, it’s all a trail of him seeking help, being on different meds. You know, we’re not in his head. We don’t know what he’s dealing with. And especially if you’re dealing with it alone,” Morin said.

Millett continues to receive treatment and is due back in court later this month.

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Vermont

Vermont high school playoff scores, results, stats for Thursday, March 5

Published

1 day ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Vermont high school playoff scores, results, stats for Thursday, March 5

The 2025-2026 Vermont high school winter season has begun. See below for scores, schedules and game details (statistical leaders, game notes) from basketball, hockey, gymnastics, wrestling, Nordic/Alpine skiing and other winter sports.

TO REPORT SCORES

Coaches or team representatives are asked to report results ASAP after games by emailing sports@burlingtonfreepress.com. Please submit with a name/contact number.

▶ Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.

▶ Contact Judith Altneu at JAltneu@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.