(VERNON, Connecticut) – Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne and members of the Vernon Town Council have launched the next phase of the redevelopment of the historic Citizens Block building on Park Place.
The building, constructed in 1879, once housed retails stores, offices and apartments. The phased redevelopment is based on Mayor Champagne’s vision to relocate several town offices, the probate court and create a community room for organizations to use as a meeting place.
Mayor Dan Champagne, fifth from left, is joined by town council members and others at a ceremonial ground breaking for the next phase of the redevelopment of the Citizens Block building on Park Place.
“With the redevelopment of Citizens Block we are saving a historic and beautiful building located in the center of our municipal complex,” Mayor Champagne said. “Once this project is complete, it’s going to be a centerpiece of downtown Vernon.” The building is two doors down from Town Hall.
Relocating town offices to Citizens Block will make it easier and more convenient for residents and businesses to access municipal services and conduct their business. Work is expected to begin shortly. This includes the construction of a new accessible entryway and restrooms and an addition to house an elevator and staircase. The overall schedule is dependent on the weather as well as the availability and cost of materials. The cost of this phase is approximately $1.1 million.
Work completed thus far includes restoration of the façade, installation of a new roof, removal of environmental hazards, structural stabilization, enhanced drainage, and concrete and brick repairs.
At the groundbreaking, Mayor Champagne was joined by Town Council members Laura Bush, William Campbell, Linda Gessay, Ann Letendre, Maryann Levesque and James Tedford, Probate Judge Elisa H. Bartlett, project architect Robert Hurd and representatives of the project contractor, Zlotnick Construction, Inc.