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Habitat’s vision for Williston Village JULY 2, 2026
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this size. The property has one vacant home on it that will be taken down. “It came on the market and we said ‘this is a really interesting opportunity for us … to be really
thoughtful about how we can build a community of affordable homes that fits into Williston and serves the Williston community,’” Johnson said. “There is a lot of potential there.” The new neighborhood will
be called Oak Hill Crossing. Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity serves first-time homebuyers with incomes under 80 percent of the area median income, as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development. The homebuyers typically join volunteers in helping with construction. The homes built in the first phase of Oak Hill Crossing will be single-level homes for under $200,000. “We’re going to be making sure we have housing that an older resident can purchase and grow old in,” said Johnson. Johnson became CEO in January following the retirement of the organization’s longtime leader, David Mullin. Mullin saw the organization through mergers with Habitat for Humanity outlets in Swanton and Lamoille County and the opening of Habitat ReStore, where people donate household items to be sold at a discount to help fund homebuilding efforts. “A lot of where Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity is, is because of the efforts that (Mullin) put in,” Johnson said. “It was an incremental, organic growth with a vision.” Johnson is a Hinesburg native and current resident. He brings a background in construction as well as international economic and community development. He has worked in Washington D.C. and the countries of Botswana and North see HABITAT page 4
For a median assessed home in Williston ($300,000) the increase in municipal property taxes is about $69 per year or $5.75 per month. The tax rate is determined by
the amount of revenue the town must raise to fund the budget passed at Town Meeting Day in March. It includes the half cent approved by voters for the environmental reserve fund.
The rate adjustment is lower than expected due to a greater increase than anticipated in the value of the town’s grand list, the assessed value of taxable property within the town.
The grand list value increased by $35.5 million, up 1.65%, to reach $2.185 billion. Tax bills are required to be printed and distributed by July 15.
Nonprofit plans affordable neighborhood BY JASON STARR Observer staff
Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity is practiced at building affordable homes throughout northern Vermont. Now it’s getting ready to tackle the design and construction of its first affordable neighborhood. The Williston-headquartered nonprofit in February purchased the 12-acre property on the southeast corner of Williston Village’s main intersection — the four-way stop where Oak Hill and North Williston roads meet Route 2. There, across from such Village landmarks as Williston Federated Church and the Korner Kwik Stop, it plans to bring together volunteers and first-time homeowners to develop a multi-home community. The first phase will focus on single story homes designed for aging in place, according to Chief Executive Officer Brett Johnson. It’s too early to pinpoint how many homes will be built in total. The organization, which dates back to the 1980s, has never built on a parcel of
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Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity is designing an affordable home community on 12 acres it bought in February at the intersection of Oak Hill, North Williston and Williston roads. OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR
Williston town tax rate increase set
On Tuesday, Williston’s selectboard approved a fiscal year 2027 municipal tax rate of 41.23 cents per $100 of assessed value, a 5.8% increase over the current year.
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