Pick Rick Hube for State Representative

Purpose: Throughout Vermont’s downtowns there are buildings with thriving commercial space on the first floor but underutilized space on the upper floors.  By encouraging first-time homeowners to invest in these spaces we can significantly increase economic activity in our downtowns and village centers and creating more affordable housing option for Vermonters.  The Homestead model produces units of housing in smart growth locations at very affordable prices.

Plan: The Urban Homestead program would provide incentives to the buyers of newly subdivided condominiums in the now underutilized upper stories of mixed use buildings, mills and other buildings.  Similarly, mill structures, vacant schools and other underutilized structures could be converted to affordable condominiums.

This initiative would allow us to create affordable housing units with little impact on open space, farmland and the environment.