Transforming a Historic Brownfield into Affordable HousingÌý
Atlas supported the transformation of three historic Army barracks at the former Fort Ethan Allen into the award-winning 10th Cavalry Apartments. The $31+ million project preservedÌýa historicÌýproperty while creating 65 permanently affordable homes in Chittenden County.ÌýÌý
Named in honor of the Buffalo Soldiers of the U.S. Army’s 10th Cavalry Regiment, stationed at Fort Ethan Allen from 1909 to 1913, the projectÌýtransformedÌýthree historic brick barracksÌýinto affordable housing — helping address a critical housing shortage while preserving an important piece of local history.ÌýÌý
AtlasÌýledÌýthe environmental assessment, investigation, cleanupÌýplanningÌýand regulatory closure activitiesÌýthat helped make redevelopment possible.ÌýOur work began with a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, followed by multiple phases of subsurface investigations and hazardous building material assessments. AtlasÌýidentifiedÌýand characterized lead,Ìýpolychlorinated biphenylÌý(PCB)ÌýandÌýpolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonsÌý(PAH)Ìýimpacts in soil, along withÌýasbestos-, lead- and PCB-containing building materials.ÌýAtlas then developed the Corrective Action Plan, prepared bidÌýspecificationsÌýand managed the design of soil excavation, off-siteÌýdisposalÌýand building material abatement activities.ÌýÌý
In addition to technical remediation services, AtlasÌýassistedÌýthe development team with enrollment in Vermont’sÌýBrownfields Reuse and Environmental Liability Limitation Act (BRELLA)Ìýprogram. Following implementation of the approved corrective actions, cleanup activities were documented in a Corrective Action Completion Report,ÌýenablingÌýthe developer to receive a Certificate of Completion from the Vermont Department of Environmental ConservationÌýin accordance withÌýBRELLA closure requirements.ÌýÌý
Construction preserved many of the buildings’ historic architectural features, including original support columns, exposed beams, largeÌýwindowsÌýand decorative ceilings, while creating modern, energy-efficientÌýstudioÌýand one-bedroom apartments. Occupancy began in early 2025, and community leaders, project partners and funders celebrated the project’s completion during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 28, 2025.ÌýÌý
The 10thÌýCalvary ApartmentsÌýprojectÌýdemonstratesÌýhow environmental remediation, historic preservation, brownfields funding and affordable housing initiatives can work together toÌýtransformÌýunderutilized propertiesÌýinto vibrantÌýcommunityÌýassets with lasting impact.ÌýÌýÌý