New CityPlace agreement reached

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - A new agreement has been reached between CityPlace developers and the mayor after the project appeared to face another roadblock at the City Council.

City councilors tabled their vote last week to approve the settlement agreement between the city and developers because they wanted guaranteed fair wages, benefits and treatment of workers who will build CityPlace.

People downtown at Church Street said they’d be happy to see something built.

“At this point, I hope they do something even if they’re like we’re going to work on it eventually, that’s at least confirmation that they’re going to do something,” said Lena Wagner of Burlington.

“That pit has been kind of an eyesore for the last few years and the last little bit we walk often down that way and it’s prime real estate, so it’s kind of saddening that there’s nothing there,” said Ben Moffat, also of Burlington.

Former city leaders, businesses and the public have supported CityPlace but the site still remains empty, for now. A new agreement secures commitments from the developer to pay construction workers the Vermont prevailing wage.

Councilor Brian Pine, P-Ward 3, helped secure the agreement between the city, developers and the Vermont Building and Construction Trade Council.

“CityPlace Burlington represents an enormous opportunity for Vermont construction workers, and the developer’s commitment to pay prevailing wages guarantees that all workers on the job will be compensated well,” Vermont Building and Construction Trades Council president Tim LaBombard said in a statement.

The City Council still needs to approve the settlement before any work can move forward, but Councilor Pine believes that it will pass. If it passes on Tuesday, construction could begin this fall.

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