WCAX: Burlington Unveils New Moran Plans

Burlington officials showed off new plans to save the old Moran power plant on the city’s waterfront. The idea is to develop the tall brick structure for year-round recreation.

It’s been over twenty years since the plant was taken out of service. The future of the old hulk of a building has remained a question mark ever since. Now there’s a proposal to use it, rather than tear it down. Mayor Bob Kiss is spearheading the idea.

“I think there’s a great argument for not tearing it down,” Kiss said. “I mean, decommissioned power plants around the world have been used effectively in re-use for something that really supports the community and benefits the people who live there.”

The idea is to renovate the building to house a mix of year-round, for-profit and non-profit activities, including the Ice Factor, a company that specializes in what’s known as Family Adventure facilities. It would also include an observation deck, outdoor skating rink, the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center, a children’s museum, a restaurant and improvements to Waterfront Park and the bike path. The estimated price tag is $21 million, from public and private sources.

Amy Vazquez of the Green Mountain Children’s Museum said, “What we’re so excited about the Moran Center at the Waterfront is that it’s a wonderful balance of a for-profit business, the climbing center, and the Sailing Center and Children’s Museum would also share the space.”

It’s spacious inside, and solidly built, making the building structurally suitable for indoor recreation. Kiss said, “I think the ideas that are being proposed now will be an economic source of energy on the waterfront, and bring a lot of pleasure to people. And I think it’s time that we do that.”

There are people who just want to tear it down and be done with it. But city officials say the demolition by itself would cost over a million dollars. Instead, the Mayor plans to solidify a proposal to redevelop the old Moran plant and take it to the City Council in November. He also too note of a promise that any significant waterfront project would go before the voters as an advisory item, meaning a possible ballot question on town meeting day next March.

Andy Potter
http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=7209605