Photo taken by LHP Executive Director Jim Lovinsky.
We are at a loss of words. This morning, we learned that a fire happened in our currently under construction affordable housing development, Village Center Apartments. This project is very much under construction and has no residents living in it now. An investigation and building assessment is forthcoming, which will reveal any additional damage beyond smoke and water. Until then, we don’t have much more information that can be shared. As far as we know, nobody in the immediate vicinity was harmed, and none of the neighboring buildings were impacted. What we do know for sure is that none of the project workers were on site and were safely out of harm’s way. This is an overwhelming relief.
Team LHP is endlessly grateful to the person who discovered the fire happening and immediately called the fire department, to the more than 50 firefighters from fire departments in Morristown, Hyde Park and Stowe who bravely got into action and successfully put the fire out, and to our thoughtful friends and community partners for reaching out and offering kind words of support. We’re so moved by this, and saying thank you just doesn’t feel like enough.
Lastly, folks have been asking us how they can help. We’re still figuring this out and aren’t sure yet. In the meantime, consider supporting LHP with your time, talent, or financial support as a volunteer board member, local housing advocate, or with a philanthropic gift to our Housing Opportunity Fund which we use to develop future affordable housing in Hardwick and Lamoille County. Contact Development & Communications Director, Kerrie Lohr at kerrie@lamoillehousing.org or click the link in our bio to learn more.
Thank you so much again to the person who notified the fire department, to all the emergency responders and personnel who put the fire out, and to our community friends and partners for thinking of us. We are so grateful to be part of this caring community <3
