MORRISVILLE, Vt. -
There's a plan to try and renovate a big empty storefront in Morrisville.
Arthur's Department Store closed about two years ago. The Lamoille Housing Partnership and Housing Vermont want to turn the top floors into affordable housing and the lower level into commercial space. The groups have a $600,000 community block grant. They are working to find tenants.
"I think it's been a huge disappointment to the community -- it takes some of the life out of the block and I think everybody wants to see the space refilled. We've had some success in filling some of the other buildings around town but, you know, to have a whole city block empty is not good and we'd like to bring it back to life," said Vt. House Speaker Rep. Shap Smith.
The housing groups hope to know by December if their plan will work.
