Future Use of Melrose Terrace

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Board of Commissioner Action on the Future Use of Melrose Terrace

The Brattleboro Housing Partnerships’ Board of Commissioners affirmed the following statement at their regular meeting on October 24, 2016:

“After extensive engineering, planning and analysis we have determined that it is in the best interest of the entire community for the future use of the land at Melrose Terrace to be used for the Brook and flood hazard area water storage. We have worked very closely with Town staff in reaching this decision and plan. We have adopted a plan to remove 11 buildings at Melrose Terrace; widen the Whetstone Brook and add a box culvert to the George Miller Bridge. We have submitted a request for Pre-Disaster Mitigation funds to assist with this project and are looking for other funding as well. After we have done this work, we will proceed to remove all the remaining structures.

We appreciate the public interest and suggestions that we have received about how to best use this land. We gave considerable and careful thought to your comments and suggestions in reaching our final decision.

Melrose Terrace has served the community well since 1965, except that its propensity to flood has steadily increased resulting in an unprecedented amount of damage as a result of Tropical Storm Irene. We agree with all those who have stated that this population should not be in such a highly flood prone area. We believe no one should live in an area that possesses the flood danger this area now does.

The future of Melrose Terrace is to play a significant and critical role in flood way management for the Whetstone Watershed and Town of Brattleboro“.

PRESS RELEASE: OCTOBER 25, 2016

CONTACT: Christine Hart, Executive Director, BHP

Comments | 8

  • Submitted by SK-B on October 25, 2016 at 6:11 am

    This means?

    I think I understand this, but I think some further explanation could be helpful. It seems that a key sentence is the following:

    “After extensive engineering, planning and analysis we have determined that it is in the best interest of the entire community for the future use of the land at Melrose Terrace to be used for the Brook and flood hazard area water storage.”

    Does this mean that there will be increased flood protection for areas downstream, such as Williams Street and Flat Street?

    • Submitted by cgrotke on October 25, 2016 at 6:31 am

      I think you have it right

      That’s how I read it… sort of a catch basin upstream being created to mitigate future flood impacts?

      Having a bit of trouble picturing it, though. Would this be a man-made structure to contain water or just a wider brook?

      • Submitted by BusyMom on October 25, 2016 at 11:35 am

        Natural structure

        I would imagine it would be a combination of a wider brook with natural land contours and vegetation that would allow the stream to gently spread out during high water rather than flash flooding, thus protecting property downstream.

        Maybe some of that land could still be used for park space or recreation, but time will tell.

        • Submitted by tomaidh on October 27, 2016 at 10:47 am

          Highest and best use

          After all the work of clearing the site and the necessary modifications for brook and flood hazard area water storage are completed what remains will look like a grassy field.
          At that time (and only at that time) can the next phase begin.
          Some have suggested that the land could be used for park space or recreation.
          I believe that the highest and best use would be for a solar array.
          (The income generated can be used to defray some expenses of the Brattleboro Housing Partnership who owns the land).
          It would be a “given” that the array be constructed such that it doesn’t interfere in any way with flood mitigation.
          One way to do that would be to mount the panels on poles of sufficient height.
          That suggests the use of solar trackers which are normally mounted on poles. These follow the sun to capture all of the day’s solar potential, year-round, yielding about 45% more energy than a fixed system
          (Among the many manufacturers of trackers is AllEarth Renewables of Williston, VT)

          • Submitted by Vidda on October 27, 2016 at 11:41 am

            .."the highest and best use would be for a solar array"

            “I believe that the highest and best use would be for a solar array.
            (The income generated can be used to defray some expenses of the Brattleboro Housing Partnership who owns the land). It would be a “given” that the array be constructed such that it doesn’t interfere in any way with flood mitigation            .”

            I think this is a great idea.

  • Submitted by babalu on October 27, 2016 at 2:35 pm

    How so, exactly?

    Unless it’s going to be dug and dredged it seems to me that it already mitigates .. gives a certain amount of protection, for property downstream .. however, I’m not clear on how it’s going to d more than that whether there are buildings there or not unless there’s a huge levee or dam. But, either way.. those living there now need safety and protection.

    • Submitted by tomaidh on October 28, 2016 at 8:33 am

      Relocating residents

      “We have adopted a plan to remove 11 buildings at Melrose Terrace; widen the Whetstone Brook and add a box culvert to the George Miller Bridge”

      Relocating residents to the brand new Red Clover Commons (up by the High School) will begin in the next few weeks.

      There exists a detailed plan for mitigation, but I don’t know the details.
      It does not include a huge levee or dam.

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