Housing Vermont, a statewide affordable housing developer and tax credit syndicator, recognized John E. Davis, Burlington, and Cheryl Premont, Williamstown, for their outstanding contributions to the provision of affordable housing in Vermont.
The awards were presented at Housing Vermont’s annual meeting on September 4 in Burlington. “Creating affordable housing can be a daunting task,” said Housing Vermont President Andy Broderick. “Tonight we are honoring a community volunteer and a dedicated professional who, through their accomplishments, best exemplify the leadership and perseverance which our work demands.”
The Miles Jensen Award is presented annually by Housing Vermont to an individual who has made an outstanding volunteer contribution to affordable housing. John E. Davis was honored with the award for his leadership over more than 20 years in creating and fostering the land trust concept and for his service on the boards of the Lake Champlain Housing Development Corporation and the Champlain Housing Trust.
In presenting the award, Housing Vermont Vice President Kenn Sassorossi, said “John not only helped create the land trust model, but he has worked in Vermont and throughout the country to make community land trusts successful. His leadership as a board member of nonprofit housing organizations here in Vermont has been invaluable.”
Housing Vermont also recognized outstanding work by housing professionals through the presentation of the Michael M. Richardson Award. The award, dedicated to the memory of Mike Richardson who was the founding president of Housing Vermont, was presented to Cheryl Premont, a Section 8 Field Representative for the Vermont State Housing Authority.
Eric Schmitt, Housing Vermont’s Director of Asset Management, described the key role Cheryl played in finding homes for the residents of Armory Square so that the $17 million substantial rehabilitation of that Windsor, Vermont complex could move forward. Eric noted that “Cheryl worked tirelessly to find temporary and permanent homes for residents with few resources. Without her help, construction would have been delayed and costs increased.”
In his other remarks, Broderick described Housing Vermont’s accomplishments during the past year. He narrated an overview of five developments with a total development cost of $24.5 million which provided 113 affordable apartments in Burlington, St. Johnsbury, St. Albans, Rutland and Proctorsville. This increased the number of apartments completed by Housing Vermont since its inception in 1988 to 4,034.
Marc Landry, Colchester, was appointed to the Housing Vermont Board of Directors to succeed Tom Thompson who retired after 11 years of service. Barbara Grimes, Burlington; Steve Pitkin, Albany; and Bill Morlock, Springfield; and Paul Costello, Montpelier, were reappointed to the Board.