Accomplishments
Cathedral Square Corporation is proud of its many outstanding accomplishments:
2008 Highlights
- The Amy E. Tarrant Foundation awarded CSC with over $90,000 to share in the efforts of satisfying the need for more affordable housing. CSC will use this funding for both internal and external operating support.
- The purchase of Fourwinds in St. Albans, CSC’s 24th property, was completed in January. Fourwinds Senior Housing has been part of the St. Albans community since 1980. With the help of Cathedral Square, Fourwinds will be able to provide many more years of affordable housing to area seniors.
- CSC welcomed a familiar face back to their Board of Directors on January 20, 2008. Eadie Templin, a prominent member of the community and a professor of Accounting at Champlain College has been re-elected to serve on the CSC Board of Directors after her first time serving on the Board many years ago.
- Backyard Bingo in Essex Junction has chosen CSC as their newest non-profit sponsor. Backyard Bingo has been in business for 18 years, making outstanding financial contributions to the community. Former Backyard Bingo sponsors include ECHO, Kids on the Block, The American Cancer Society and its 2007 sponsors, Green Animal Defenders, Franklin County Humane Society and Frontier Animal Society of Vermont.
- The groundbreaking for Town Meadow in Essex began in early January. The new community will create 48 homes, including 42 one-bedroom apartments, and five two-bedroom apartments. Town Meadow is located just off Route 15 behind the Essex Shoppes and Cinema.
- Nancy Eldridge, Executive Director, graduated from the Neighborworks® Achieving Excellence in Community Development program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, an 18-month program designed by Douglas K. Smith, expert on performance, learning, innovation and change. This program focused on affordable housing, community revitalization or community economic development.
- Amy Wright, Tim Ashe, and Tom Fowler were recognized at the 2008 Community Development Award ceremony at the State House on April 15, 2008 for the completion of Grand Way Commons on Farrell Street in South Burlington.
- The Vermont General Assembly appropriated $100,000 to support a Supportive Housing Demonstration Project to be managed by Cathedral Square Corporation. These funds will be used to match funding from private foundations or federal funds. Cathedral Square’s goal is to create senior housing environments that allow seniors to age safely at home. These new models aim to stretch existing public funding to serve more seniors and minimize the growth in program deficits – deficits that threaten services to seniors.
2007 Highlights- At a ceremony in Montpelier in May 2007, CSC was awarded the
Governor's Rising Star Award for our employee health and wellness
program. Carmel Ewing, Human Resources Coordinator, accepted the award
on behalf of CSC. CSC has 86 employees.
- CSC opened its 23rd
property, Grand Way Commons, on May 1st. Located at 412 Farrell Street
in South Burlington, the property includes 63-units of affordable
housing for seniors. CSC is proud to have created a home “under one
roof” for United Way of Chittenden County, a VNA Adult Day Program
site, HomeShare Vermont, and CSC’s main offices, all of which together
provide a unique resource center for information and services for
seniors and individuals with special needs.
- Cathedral Square
Corporation was honored in April 2007 by the Vermont Department of
Housing and Community Affairs for its development of Whitcomb Terrace,
special needs housing in Essex Junction. Cathedral Square, Housing
Vermont, and the Village of Essex Junction received the fourth annual
VCDP Community Achievement Award for Housing during a ceremony at the
State House. The apartments at Whitcomb Terrace are designed to provide
individuals of all ages and incomes the opportunity to live in housing
that meets accessible design standards.
- Nancy Eldridge,
Executive Director of Cathedral Square Corporation, was appointed to
the American Association of Housing and Services for the Aging (AAHSA)
Affordable Housing Finance Cabinet. She was also re-elected to the
organization’s Northern New England chapter Board of Directors.
- Three
new Board members were appointed to the Board of Directors for CSC;
Charles Smith, Marvin Klikunas, M.D. and Paul Van de Graaf. Charles P.
Smith is currently President and CEO of The Snelling Center for
Government. Previously, he served in the Douglas Administration as
Secretary to the Agency of Human Services and Secretary of
Administration. Dr. Klikunas is an Assistant Professor at UVM College
of Medicine and specializes in geriatrics. Paul Van de Graaf, Esq., is
a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Department of Justice, having served
in this capacity for 20 years in Philadelphia and Vermont.
- Michelle
Lyons, a volunteer at Cathedral Square Senior Living, recently received
the Governor’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Community Service.
Michelle was presented with the award in April 2007 by Governor Douglas
in Montpelier.
- In February 2007, Cathedral Square
Corporation completed the purchase of Whitney Hill Homestead in
Williston, a property managed by CSC since 1991. Whitney Hill Homestead
was owned by a Williston non-profit, Williston Elder Housing, Inc.
Whitney Hill is designed in the style of an extended farmhouse with
long porches and courtyards and provides a warm and gracious setting
for those 55 and older. There is a VNA Adult Day Program located
on-site.
2006 Highlights
- CSC received a grant to purchase a handicapped accessible
van for the residents of Jeri-Hill in Jericho. The van will be shared
with other Cathedral Square communities. Fanny Allen Corporation wrote,
“We wish you continued success in your many initiatives to provide a
quality of life for those you serve with compassion and competence. We
feel blessed to be part of this effort.”
- CSC received
Special Recognition for Excellence in Energy Efficient Affordable
Housing as part of the 2006 Energy Star Awards. The award states “The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy and
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development extend their
appreciation to Cathedral Square Corporation for its commendable
leadership and dedication to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by
promoting ENERGY STAR in affordable housing.”
- Cathedral
Square Corporation, in conjunction with F&M Development
Corporation, Burlington Community Land Trust, and the city of South
Burlington, received the Vermont Forum on Sprawl’s Smart Growth Award
in September 2006. The award was for redevelopment of a suburban-style
shopping plaza into a high-density, pedestrian oriented residential
neighborhood located off Shelburne Road in South Burlington. The
Vermont Forum on Sprawl, according to Executive Director Noelle MacKay,
“established these awards to show how Vermonters are working together
to create successful smart growth projects around the state.”
- Cathedral
Square Corporation received a grant from Fletcher Allen Community
Health Foundation in conjunction with Fletcher Allen Health Care to
develop a medication assistance program for our residents. Our staff
nurse will work with the Fletcher Allen pharmacist on medication safety
trainings, in home visits by the pharmacist and nurse to review all
medications a resident is taking, and any follow up that is needed. The
program includes distribution of large-size pill boxes and medication
passports.
- CSC participates, in collaboration with the
University of Vermont’s nursing and intern students, in their public
health projects. There have been three rotations of senior year nursing
students who worked with residents at five different locations. The
students have met with the residents to provide smoking cessation
information and assess nutritional needs and exercise programs. This
fall, eight interns will be assessing medication issues most elders
have as they age. The interns will be looking for long term, viable
solutions.
- CSC is working with the YMCA, United Way and
Fletcher Allen Health Care to bring an exercise program to congregate
housing facilities. The program will focus on balance and coordination
to help prevent tripping and falls and strength training to help with
everyday activities.