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Burlington, VT – During his 18 years as the Episcopal Bishop of Vermont, the Rt. Rev. Thomas C. Ely has consistently proclaimed the importance of the Church’s Rock Point property as an example of environmental stewardship in the wider Burlington community. Today his message comes at a particularly sensitive time, as efforts to shore up the city’s affordable housing shortage intensify along the nearby lakefront.
Fortunately, the Bishop’s message appears to be paying off, as individuals and organizations have rallied behind Rock Point’s vision. BC Community Housing LLC / Cambrian Rise is the latest to answer the call-to-action with a pledge in the amount of $100,000.
The BC Community Housing LLC / Cambrian Rise donation comes at an exciting time for the Vermont diocese. At the donor’s request, the funds will be rolled into the Partnership Campaign for Rock Point. With this pledge of $100,000, the fund-raising effort has now raised more than $1.9 million for the preservation and upgrade of facilities on the Rock Point property, implementation of land use plans, and improvement of public access. Additional support is also coming through cooperation with other partners such as the recently-formed Rock Point and Arms Forest Coalition.
“On behalf of the Rock Point community, I would like to thank BC Community Housing LLC and Cambrian Rise for their generosity,” said Bishop Ely. “We accept this pledge as a demonstration of our shared commitment to the stewardship of this cherished piece of Burlington and our joint interest in the well-being of Cambrian Rise residents who have an uncommon connection to Rock Point’s natural history and ecology.”
BC Community Housing LLC / Cambrian Rise, derives part of its name from the iconic Champlain Thrust Fault at the Rock Point Peninsula. The development currently in progress -- known simply as Cambrian Rise --
will feature accessible living spaces and inspiring working environments along the north end of Burlington's urban waterfront. Cambrian Rise seeks to preserve natural resources and native vegetation while adding 770 housing units, 221 of which will be affordable apartments and condominiums, added to the local market over the next eight years. As part of its environmental stewardship plan, Cambrian Rise has negotiated with the City of Burlington on the purchase of 12 acres of the Cambrian Rise property adjacent to the Burlington Bike Path as a public park and beach.
Eric Farrell, BC Community Housing LLC / Cambrian Rise developer, commented, “We are pleased to be able to support the incredible conservation efforts at Rock Point, which will directly benefit the residents at Cambrian Rise, as well as the entire Burlington community.”
About Rock Point
Since 1855, Rock Point has served as a unique center of the Episcopal Church in Vermont, welcoming friends and neighbors attracted to its natural beauty and its peaceful, quiet, and social embrace. Each year, nearly 10,000 people come to Rock Point, finding a place to walk, seek solitude, learn, play, sing, pray, think, share, and be. Rock Point’s vision is to be a welcoming sanctuary of spirituality, creativity, community, education, training, and environmental stewardship. Learn more online at https://rockpointvt.org.
About BC Community Housing LLC / Cambrian Rise
Cambrian Rise is a dynamic, new, mixed-income, mixed use, inclusive, pet-friendly neighborhood on the shores of Lake Champlain, in the city of Burlington. When completed, it will house 770 mixed income condominium and rental units in 15 new and rehabilitated -- mostly mixed-use structures -- surrounded by a 12-acre public park. Besides providing commercial spaces for restaurants, a bar/microbrewery and supporting commercial spaces, the site is less than half a mile from businesses and services on North Street and will be directly connected to the bike path and one of the most highly traveled bus corridors (#7 bus). It is intended to support a healthy lifestyle that embraces various transportation alternatives to driving or owning a car –- biking, walking and taking the bus -- as well as fitness and community gardening in a neighborhood that is within minutes of downtown Burlington. Each building has been carefully considered and designed to be attractive and usable to the residents, as well as to integrate seamlessly into the site, maximizing accessibility to and connections with public infrastructure. Please visit https://cambrianrisevt.com for more information.