The North 40

A stretch of land encompassing forty acres between North Beach and Waterfront Park has been set aside for "future generations" to decide on its use.  The land is known as the North 40 or Urban Reserve, and it is classified as Public Trust Land for use as "indoor or outdoor parks and recreation uses and facilities including parks and open space, marinas open to the public on a non-discriminatory basis, water dependent uses, boating and related services."   

According to the City of Burlington's most recent (2011) Municipal Development Plan, "a long-term plan [for the Urban Reserve] should be completed by 2012."

Long-time Burlington residents might recall the oil tanks that occupied the North 40 until the 1990s. The air photos below show how the area has changed through the 20th century. Where will it go in the next 100 years?   

1942

Present Day - 2011

    

1974

Future of the Moran Plant

The Moran coal-fired generating plant (named for a former mayor) has been a familiar landmark on the Burlington waterfront since its construction in 1953. Since its closure in 1986, the city has seen a parade of ideas for its redesign and reuse, none of which has fully come to fruition.  

Check out the most recent plan to redesign the Moran Plant on the City of Burlington's website, which is currently in limbo. This design includes an indoor ice-climbing facility, skate park, and expanded Community Sailing Center.  

Burlington's new mayor, Miro Weinberger, is set to make a decision on the fate of the Moran Plant by June 30, when a balanced budget is due:

"It’s gone on long enough. We need to decide what to do there. The financial consequences to the city will be significant no matter which way I go on Moran.

There’s already been substantial amounts of time and money invested in the plan. That’s something we need to consider. And I can say that other than the budget, I’ve spent more time on Moran than any issue. It’s a highly complex situation and it’s going to be an important decision for the new administration." (Miro Weinberger, in an interview with Seven Days on 4/2/2012)

What do you think the fate of the Moran Plant should be?