Editor’s note: The following is a bi-weekly column provided to us courtesy of the Rutland City TIF Task Force.
On Oct. 7, voters will decide on a $3.9 million bond to replace and repair critical infrastructure along Wales and Center streets, including new water and sewer mains, buried electrical lines, a new stormwater system, and upgraded sidewalks and streetscapes. Funded through Rutland’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District, these projects are essential not only for the City’s first major development — the new hotel — but for the long-term vitality of downtown. This work goes beyond pipes and pavement; it lays the foundation for businesses, cultural anchors, and residents to grow and thrive together.
Eric Mallette, executive director of the Paramount Theatre, points to the timing as a moment of shared opportunity: “We didn’t coordinate it, but the timing of these projects is not accidental. Rutland is at the intersection of its past and future, with the chance to plot a new path. Think of the hotel, the street, the Paramount — they’re all part of the same dream.” When renovations at the Paramount are completed, Mallette anticipates expanding beyond the 200 events and 65,000 to 80,000 patrons the theater already welcomes each year. “Add the hotel and think of what it means for your experience. Rutland has the chance to become a true destination.”
For small businesses like Hand Carved by Ernie, the new development represents both challenges and promise. Owner Jennifer Walker has lived in Rutland for more than 40 years and remembers the thriving energy that downtown once had: “I want to see that again. Yes, there will be dirt, noise, and disruption during construction,” she acknowledges, “but in two to four years, businesses that were barely keeping their heads above water will have the chance to thrive, and hopefully new businesses will take over the few empty spots along our city streets. We’ve always been a favorite lunch spot for locals and visitors, and with the hotel bringing in new guests, employees, and residents, we’re looking forward to welcoming even more.”
City leaders also see the importance of investing now. Alderwoman Sharon Davis recalls her initial hesitation: “I was concerned about the balance between what the project needed to succeed and what taxpayers should expect. But as I learned more, it became clear that the City isn’t building the hotel — we’re building the infrastructure that makes the hotel and other private investment possible at no cost to the taxpayers. The hotel and apartments bring people, foot traffic, and tax revenue. The alternative is leaving that space a hole in our downtown. I am a yes on the vote. And I encourage other people to be a yes on the vote, too.”
Former mayor Dave Allaire, who witnessed the old Berwick Hotel burn down, remembers the loss as a defining moment: “It was a tragic night. A central gathering place for people was just gone. For years, we’ve seen opportunities come and go, but now all the pieces are coming together.” Allaire sees a rebirth in downtown, “We’ll have that central gathering place back — and the best part is that city taxpayers won’t be on the hook for paying back the bond. The development itself will cover the cost.”
The message across businesses, cultural institutions, and local government is clear: Rutland’s future depends on creating the conditions for growth. The hotel, the Paramount, the restaurants, the shops, and the people who call this city home are interconnected. Or as Mallette puts it, “It’s gestalt. Like a flower, the petals draw you in and you smell the center; but it’s the sum of the parts that creates something beautiful.”
On Oct. 7, Rutland City voters will decide whether to approve the $3.9 million bond. Once approved, the work will not only support the hotel project but also ensure that critical infrastructure — which will need replacement sooner or later — is addressed now in a way that won’t raise local property taxes.
The Rutland City TIF Task Force and Rutland 360 is a collaborative initiative led by the Rutland Redevelopment Authority, the City of Rutland, Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region, and the Downtown Rutland Partnership. Together, these stakeholders have developed the Rutland City TIF District Master Plan, a strategic effort to drive economic growth and revitalization in our city. For more information, visit the Rutland 360 website: www.rutlandvtbusiness.com/tax-increment-financing, or email Ed Bove (EBove@rutlandcity.org).
