Board to review Stowe Street alley art installation; armory permit question is on hold
April 2, 2024 | By Lisa ScagliottiWaterbury’s Development Review Board meets Wednesday night with a short agenda that does not include any discussion of permit requirements for the state’s use of the former Vermont National Guard armory.
Plans for refurbishing the alley between 21 and 23 Stowe Street are nearly complete. File photo by Gordon Miller
The board however is scheduled to review new designs for a large metal art installation that’s part of the Stowe Street Alley project. Revitalizing Waterbury is leading the initiative to refurbish the alley between Stowe Street Emporium and Lasting Image Salon. The goal is to transform the alley into an attractive community space that serves as a pedestrian passageway between Stowe Street and Bidwell Lane and a park-like spot for art, music, gatherings, etc.
In addition to Revitalizing Waterbury and the owners of the buildings adjacent to the alley, a number of downtown businesses and organizations including Waterbury Rotary, MakerSphere, Waterbury Arts have been involved in the planning and fundraising for the project for nearly three years. A groundbreaking is anticipated soon for the first phase of work which will involve excavating the old asphalt and replacing it with pavers and engraved bricks. Landscaping will be added along with benches, planters, lighting and several permanent art pieces.
Plans call for a large metal sculpture as a prominent feature at the entry to the alley on Stowe Street. That will be the focus of the review board at Wednesday’s meeting.
Flywheel Industrial Arts in Montpelier has redesigned a steel sculpture art installation for the entryway to the Stowe Street alley. Image from Flywheel drawings
The alley project already received review board approval in 2022 with the request that project planners return with final designs for lighting and for the large installation referred to as a gateway. Last fall, the gateway design was met with concern from Fire Chief Gary Dillon regarding emergency access to the alley. Town officials asked project planners to make revisions to the entryway piece. It now has been completely redesigned and will be presented this week. The Montpelier design firm Flywheel Industrial Arts has been working on the project on the entryway installation designs.
According to Revitalizing Waterbury Executive Director Karen Nevin, the engraved bricks which were sold as a project fundraiser were delivered last fall. Lighting, planters and benches and other amenities are also in hand. Work is expected to begin soon on the first phase of the project, she said.
Review board approval is key to moving forward with the large artwork installation at the alley entrance. The project’s cost is estimated at $175,000 with final fundraising ongoing. The Waterbury Select Board in September approved contributing $20,000 to the project from the town’s federal American Rescue Plan Act COVID-19 recovery funding.
Armory permit challenge
Waterbury Zoning Administrator Mike Bishop said the armory permit question was not scheduled for this week’s meeting. In early February, Bishop told state officials that proposed plans to repurpose the decommissioned armory building on Armory Drive for use as a homeless shelter would require a change of use permit from the Development Review Board. The state responded with an appeal to the review board saying it disagreed with Bishop’s determination.
At the time, state officials said they were aiming to open a homeless shelter at the armory by April 1. Since then, however, state plans have changed. Although the armory is still a location being considered for the state’s shelter program, it is no longer needed before June 30, according to Chris Winters, commissioner of the state’s Department for Children and Families which oversees the shelter program.
In February and March, the Department of Buildings and General Services hired contractors to update the building with a fire sprinkler system, a new water line, electrical work and other improvements to ready it for use. Given recent shifts in the state program, however, there is no new target date set to open a shelter in Waterbury.
Town officials said the state’s appeal regarding the town requirements will likely be scheduled for an upcoming review board meeting unless the state withdraws its request. The board’s next meeting would be April 17.
The Development Review Board meets at 6:30 p.m. in the Steele Community Room at the municipal offices and also online via Zoom. The online link is in the meeting agenda.