Developer Don Sinex has tapped a South Burlington construction firm to head up development of the Burlington Town Center.
At a press conference at the downtown mall on Wednesday, Sinex announced that PC Construction will build the $250 million project, which he hopes will break ground in the spring. He also introduced a dozen additional contractors, many of them based in and around Burlington, responsible for landscaping, parking, engineering and art projects.
In front of the mall’s Christmas array and a Santa Claus, Sinex highlighted the local roots of those he had picked. “Buy local — that’s what I’ve done,” he said. It’s just the first step in “transforming and strengthening the local economy,” he said.
Sinex, the mall’s owner and managing partner of Devonwood Investors, said he chose PC Construction out of a group of three construction companies vying for the job during an 18-month process. The employee-owned company has also constructed the Green Mountain Transit downtown transit center and Hotel Vermont and completed renovations in the Hilton Burlington hotel. Jay Fayette, senior vice president of PC Construction, called the project a “once-in-a-generation city revitalization.”
The development will include 274 new apartments, office and retail space, and will reopen two previously closed blocks of Pine and St. Paul streets.
The team “bodes well for the future of the project,” said Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger, who was on hand for the announcement.
Sinex said he plans to file a planning and zoning application by December 15, the first in a multistep permitting process that will include applications to the city’s Development Review Board, Conservation Board and Design Advisory Board. Sinex does expect “some revisions” to the current design, which was finalized in October.
Sinex also thanked voters for approving a zoning measure to allow for the project’s 160-foot height. The November 8 vote, which passed by a margin of 54 to 46 percent, was a big hurdle for the development, now scheduled for completion by September 2019.
Opposition still remains. In late November, project opponents filed suit against the city, alleging that the $21.8 million tax increment financing proposal, which will pay for street improvements in and around the project, was inaccurately portrayed on the ballot.
“We disagree with the assertions [of the suit] and with the intent to obstruct the will of the voters,” Weinberger said. The suit has not slowed down progress on the development, he added, and the city plans to file a response to the complaint by the end of the year.
Burlingtonians have already given their vote of confidence to the project, he said. “I want voters to know that I take that responsibility seriously and we’re working hard to ensure that all the community benefits … are achieved,” he said.
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I’m very pleased to see this bid going to a local company. I’m not sure the mall has many “local” merchants. Buying local means more than just from a local outlet of a national chain.
As a general contractor, doesn’t that mean they just sort of oversee other contractors… haven’t the other firms already done some minor work for this guy on this project?… my point is that these sorts of announcements makes for good PR but the proof is whether or not the actual construction is done by local people spending their paychecks locally… it sounds to me like they are going to be given a small taste of the $$ but not the lion’s share of work or money… wouldn’t be surprised to see that go to lower bidding companies Sinex has connections to in NYC… and I would also point out that the reporting on this is incorrect (where’s Alicia Freese-she’s been on point with this stuff)… I think the amount of the investment in this is now 200 million not the often cited earlier number initially thrown around of 250 million… for you math whizzes, that’s a 50 million difference… which happens to be around the amount putting the parking underground would have cost… which would have avoided the need for the zoning change… coincidence?… nope…
A good alternative title to this could be “How to Divert the Public While You Buy Their Mayor.”
Your statement, while typical for you, is an outrageous accusation. Please provide evidence that Mr. Sinex has “bought” Mayor Weinberger.
The evidence is all over this News and Opinion (that’s right, Opinion) section.
Nice attempt to divert and avoid. Please state a single fact in your possession, just one, that Mr. Sinex has made any kind of payment or promise to the Mayor.
There’s all kinds of money behind this deal. To pretend some of it, through campaign donation from developers or another channel, doesn’t reach the mayor is immature.
So you’re accusing the Mayor of taking bribes with absolutely no — zero, zilch, nada — evidence. Shame.
All the money that went into this project certainly calls for a closer look.
“All the money that went into this project certainly calls for a closer look.”
Then “look” to your heart’s content, and tell us all what you find But it certainly doesn’t support Philo’s or your baseless accusations of bribery. Nor will you or anybody else find any. Because there were no bribes.
But, hey, some idiots apparently believed that Hillary Clinton and top Democratic officials were running a child sex ring out of a pizza parlor.