Rochester RFP

W S D , LLC

Whole Human Habitats

Rochester Vermont Farmland/Homestead/School Opportunity Available Property Description and Opportunity (see page two for more details) The site with available land is composed of 175 acres in Rochester, Vermont. Some of this land and infrastructure is available for lease starting in winter of 2013. It is possible that some of this land will eventually be available for sale to those working on the land over time as renters or in a trade arrangement. This land is suitable for multiple projects. The application outlined in this document will initiate a process wherein the applicant and landowner will work to arrive at lease. Our aim is to encourage multiple uses of this diverse property through providing affordable access to very high quality hill land and existing infrastructure, economic, and technical resources to make projects a reality. It is a secondary goal to facilitate land ownership through this process and eventually work together to be part of a healthy and resilient neighborhood of skilled, independent landowners.

Your proposed project 1.

What would you endeavor to do on this land? a.

What are the primary goals of your project(s), both short term and long?

802.496.3128 | 66 Dean’s Mountain, Moretown, VT 05660 | design@wholesystemsdesign.com | www.wholesystemsdesign.com

b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i.

Do you envision the need to buy land for this or would renting be more optimal?

What is the existing market for your project and where is it located?

What is the market size and need?

How is this market or need being met currently both locally and regionally or nationally or globally?

What are your largest costs and liabilities for this project?

What do you think the future need or market for this project is and why?

How would you access this market or meet this need?

What land and/or infrastructure needs do you have for this project?

Your background 1. Who are you? Name(s), DOB, housing needed, single or family?

2. What is your history of working in this field or on this particular type of project? a. What are your qualifications for executing your plan? b. What have been limiting factors to achieve your goals? c. What opportunities have you utilized and how is central Vermont the best location for this project? d. What do you need to make this project succeed? e. Please provide references for your ability to work on this type of project

F

*Existing Land & Infrastructure The site contains 175 acres of low-sloping hillfarm land, on the border of Rochester and Hancock Vermont, about 15-20 minutes south of Warren, and about 20-25 minutes between Middlebury and Bethel. The property lays about 10 minutes above the route 100 corridor in the North Hollow area of Rochester-Hancock-Granville. The viewshed and soundscape of the site are very protected with a large knoll buffering any possible road noise from 100 and a south and easterly view of the Northfield/Braintree Mountains stretching about 15 miles with no houses in sight.

The site is very quiet, yet accessible. Open land comprises about 35 acres including about 25-35 of agricultural quality soils, with a dozen acres of wet meadow, old field, and open water.

The open water is composed of two large ponds, the largest of which is

about 1.5 acres. Both ponds were full throughout the very dry summer of 2012 and are spring fed with the larger pond accessing a major mountain tributary to the White River.

This creek runs through the southeast corner of the site and is very significant - draining perhaps a thousand acres of the Northfield/Braintree Mountains to the east. The small stream is perennial and large enough to dip into during the dry summer months. The 140 or so acres of forest are composed of largely spruce-fir stands, with approximately 25 acres of hardwoods. The site contains about 250’ of elevation change and comprises a small knoll. The land sits on a low-angle bench of land at the toe of the main Braintree Mountain ridge but a few hundred feet above the valley floor. Much of the site abuts large tracts of roadless land and to the west about one mile begins the contiguous lands of the Green Mountain National Forest and Breadloaf Wilderness composed of tens of thousands of acres of state and federally protected wild land. Road access is high quality with easy access to much of the site via very quiet town dirt roads. The property contains multiple buildable lots, two separate deeded parcels and no restrictive easements.

Currently there is a large house in good condition on the property with 6-9 bedrooms (3,500+ SF), 3 bathrooms, 3 greenhouse/sunroom spaces with water and brick floors, a very large basement with root cellar capabilities, wood heat, kitchen, mudroom, large gathering space with large fireplace hearth, decks with views, fire escape, standingseam roof, cedar siding, and generator hook-up. The house was built to serve as a community residence by its former owner and contains at least a dozen separate sleeping spaces (each bedroom having its own loft). The house could be modified to be comfortable for a large family or two but is geared towards large group use currently. Two or three units could be made out of the house very easily.

Near the house is a near new condition, large freestanding yoga/martial arts studio with changing rooms and bathroom, lighting, hardwood floors, full windows on three sides, clearstory (tons of daylight), large deck platform, and heat. The building would be suitable for classes of up to approximately 35-40+ people. There are also numerous outbuildings on the site including a few barn/sheds suitable for animals and storage along with a nice two story cabin which is grid connected and can be heated, in the woods about 150 yards from the house. We look forward to meeting interested groups. Once we hear from a number of people we will announce a site-walk.

Sincerely, Whole Systems Design, LLC