A Recap of the New North End Housing Forum

AARP Vermont and Burlington’s Office of City Planning co-hosted a housing forum focused on improving housing options for older adults in Burlington's New North End (NNE) on May 14, 2025.

The Housing Forum explored how NNE residents can continue to remain in their community that they love, in homes that are safer and that will support them in their later years.

Innovative housing ideas, programs and renovation options were shared by panelists with the goal to learn more about opportunities to create smaller, more affordable age-friendly dwellings.

Please take the opportunity to contribute information about your housing needs and challenges by sharing your opinion about the housing options that you’d like to see in the NNE, and the barriers and opportunities to making them happen. Email your thoughts to kstoddardpoor@aarp.org.

Housing Forum Panelists:

• RL Mace Universal Design Institute - Richard Duncan, Executive Director-universal design for older adults
  - Presentation
• HomeShare Vermont: Connor Timmons, Executive Director
  - Presentation
• Financing – Brian Pine, CEDO, Director
  - Presentation
• Cathedral Square & SASH: Molly Duggan, Director of Policy & Strategic Initiatives
  - Presentation
• Participant Engagement Presentation
  

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Plan BTV: New North End
As the most populous neighborhood in Burlington, coupled with Vermont’s aging demographic, the New North End has produced a growing need for homes that are more accommodating as residents’ abilities change over time. Many residents require the aid of family and local services to manage daily activities. With longer life spans, there’s a need to examine and improve features in traditional homes to accommodate the needs of our aging population. With the right features, residents can enjoy more freedom and independence as well as increased safety.

More than 12% of Burlington’s population is 65 or older, with the largest age cohort of 50–59-year-olds close behind. We know that the population of older Burlington residents will remain high and grow over the next 40 years, and we’d like our housing to keep pace.

Universal Design Materials

• Contractors
  - Construction and Contractors
  - How to Choose a Contractor
  - Ensuring a Reasonable Contract
• Costs of Universal Design Homes
  - Is a Better Living Design Home Cost-Effective?
  - Types of Costs in a Better Living Design Home
  - Types of Hard and Recurring Costs: Features & Products
  - Cost Analysis of a BLD Home: Affordable Housing
  - Cost Analysis of a BLD Home: The Kicker
• Accessible and Universal Home Remodeling Guide
• Age-Friendly Design for Small Dwellings Criteria
• Person/Housing Mismatch

Missing Middle Housing Resources
https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/housing/info-2020/missing-middle-housing.html
 
Accessory Dwelling Housing Resources
https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/housing/info-2019/accessory-dwelling-units-adus.html

AARP HomeFit Guide
https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/housing/info-2019/accessory-dwelling-units-adus.html