Former Bove’s restaurant site in Burlington could become affordable housing units
BURLINGTON, Vt. —
The former site of Bove’s Restaurant, a longtime fixture in Burlington’s dining scene, could soon be transformed into an affordable housing development under a proposal presented by the building’s owner.
Rick Bove, whose family operated the Pearl Street restaurant for nearly 75 years, is seeking approval to replace the now-vacant and deteriorating structure with a four-to-six story apartment building.
The lot was recently identified by Burlington city leaders as one of thirty “problem properties” that are sitting empty or falling into disrepair.
Bove told NBC5 in March that his family wanted to knock down the existing structure and build commercial housing units. He presented new plans to make that happen at Monday’s Ward 3 Neighborhood Planning Assembly meeting.
Under the proposal, the development would include 25 studio apartments with a commercial unit on the first floor. Monthly rents would be priced below $1,400, including utilities and Wi-Fi, which Bove said is a effort to align with the restaurant’s legacy of reasonable prices.
“One of the things the restaurant was known for was its affordability,” Bove said. “We’d like to continue that theme in this building.”
The project could be exempt from Vermont’s Act 250 land use review process, which would streamline approvals.
If the plan is approved by the city, construction could begin as early as September.
