Newport Crossing Opens 40 Affordable Vermont Homes 2026

Key Points

• Newport Crossing is a $21.5 million residential complex developed by RuralEdge in Vermont.
• This project includes 40 affordable and mixed income rental units located in Newport and Newport Center.
• The official ribbon cutting ceremony for this project was held at the former Sacred Heart Convent on 25 September 2026.
• This residential complex consists of one bedroom, two bedroom, three bedroom and family sized apartments.
• The project required the cleanup of two brownfield sites.
• The community leaders, housing advocates, financial institutions and members of the general public participated in this event.
• RuralEdge is currently accepting applications from potential renters for these completed units.
• The first phase of this project is aimed at providing permanently affordable housing in the area of Newport for Vermonters.
• This completed residential complex is a part of a larger plan to repurpose the former institutional buildings as housing.
• A future phase of this project would include former Sacred Heart High School.

Newport (Wales Times) October 2, 2026 — RuralEdge has completed uk/local/newport/">Newport Crossing, a $21.5 million housing development that has created 40 affordable and mixed-income rental homes in the City of Newport and Newport Center, Vermont.

The development was formally marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on 25 September at the former Sacred Heart Convent in Newport. The project also included the remediation of two brownfield sites, allowing properties that had been underused or affected by environmental issues to be brought back into productive community use.

As reported by The Caledonian-Record, the ceremony was attended by community leaders, project partners, funders and members of the public. Speakers included Vermont State Treasurer Mike Pieciak, RuralEdge Board President Nikole Brainard, RuralEdge Executive Director Patrick Shattuck, Newport City Council President Carter Finegan, Community National Bank Chief Financial Officer Louise Bonvechio, Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston Program Manager Mike Pingpank, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board Executive Director Gus Seelig, Vermont Housing Finance Agency Executive Director Maura Collins and NeighborWorks America Senior Manager Kimberly O’Brien.

How many homes does Newport Crossing provide?

Newport Crossing provides 40 one-, two- and three-bedroom rental homes across two locations: one in Newport and another in Newport Center.

According to Newport Dispatch, the first phase of the project provides 40 affordable housing units across the two communities. RuralEdge began accepting applications and welcoming tenants as the first phase reached completion.

The mix of home sizes is intended to serve different types of households, including individuals, couples and families. The development includes smaller apartments as well as larger family-sized homes, broadening the range of rental options available in the Newport area.

The project had previously been described as including 26 apartments at the former Sacred Heart Convent site and 14 units in new buildings in Newport Center. Earlier planning documents also identified a mixture of one-, two- and three-bedroom homes, along with community spaces and on-site support services.

The 14 Newport Center homes include a mixture of family-sized townhouse units and smaller garden flats. Project information from HP Cummings Construction says the Newport Center work included two sites, with a central laundry room, an office, new parking areas, walkways, bicycle racks and electric vehicle chargers.

Where are the new affordable homes located?

The completed homes are located in the City of Newport and Newport Center, serving residents in and around the wider Newport area.

The Newport portion of the scheme is based at the former Sacred Heart site. RuralEdge’s development information describes the renovated and expanded convent as offering a walkable connection to downtown Newport and nearby amenities. The site also has open green space and views towards Lake Memphremagog.

The Newport Center properties are positioned close to local services and residential neighbourhoods. RuralEdge previously said the homes would include larger units close to Newport Town School, as well as smaller homes located near existing neighbourhoods and within walking distance of downtown Newport.

The location of the homes is significant because it connects the new rental properties with established community facilities rather than placing them in an isolated development. The project’s design also incorporates shared areas intended to support residents and strengthen links with the surrounding community.

What happened at the Newport Crossing opening ceremony?

The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on 25 September at 119 Clermont Terrace in Newport.

The event brought together representatives from state and local government, housing organisations, financial institutions, community groups and the development team. The speakers included officials from Vermont’s housing and finance agencies, RuralEdge, the City of Newport, Community National Bank, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston and NeighborWorks America.

The range of organisations represented at the event reflects the number of public, private and non-profit partners involved in delivering the project. Affordable housing developments of this type commonly require several funding sources, technical partners and public agencies to move from planning to construction and occupation.

The ceremony also marked the return of residents to the former Sacred Heart Convent. The building had previously served an institutional purpose but has now been adapted and expanded to provide modern rental accommodation.

How was the project funded?

The total cost of Newport Crossing has been reported at approximately $21.5 million.

RuralEdge’s earlier project information gave a total development cost of $21,871,000. The same information said the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board provided just under 45 per cent of the funding, with much of that support coming from American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Other project partners included the Vermont Housing Finance Agency, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, Community National Bank and NeighborWorks America. Their involvement helped support the financing, construction and long-term affordability of the homes.

The project demonstrates how affordable housing developments can combine state support, federal resources, private finance and community-based development organisations. RuralEdge has also described its broader housing work as relying on public and private investment to create permanently affordable homes and community assets.

What environmental work was completed?

Newport Crossing included the remediation of two brownfield sites.

Brownfield remediation involves addressing properties that may have been affected by previous industrial, commercial or institutional activity. The work can include removing contaminated materials, managing hazardous substances or preparing land for safe redevelopment.

In Newport Crossing’s case, remediation was carried out alongside the delivery of new homes. This allowed the project to address both housing needs and the condition of previously underused sites.

The development therefore combines three elements: new rental housing, the reuse of existing buildings and the clean-up or preparation of sites for community use. RuralEdge previously described the project as a way to reuse blighted buildings, remediate contaminated land and add rental and future ownership opportunities in smaller communities.

What types of homes are available?

The homes include one-, two- and three-bedroom units.

The range of sizes means the project is not limited to one category of renter. One-bedroom homes may suit individuals or couples, while two- and three-bedroom homes can accommodate larger households.

At Newport Center, the completed properties include family-sized townhouses and smaller garden flats. The project also includes shared facilities, including a laundry room and office space.

RuralEdge has described the homes as permanently affordable. That means the properties are intended to remain within the affordable housing system rather than becoming ordinary market-rate rentals after a short period.

The organisation’s project information also identifies community rooms, resident services and Support and Services at Home, known as SASH, among the wider facilities associated with the development.

Is Newport Crossing accepting applications?

RuralEdge has been accepting applications for the completed homes.

Earlier project information said Newport Crossing apartments would be available to rent in spring 2026 and directed interested residents to RuralEdge’s housing application process.

The organisation’s public information also said potential applicants could apply online or request a paper application by telephone. Availability can change as homes are allocated, so prospective residents need to confirm current vacancies and eligibility requirements directly with RuralEdge.

The development is aimed at Vermonters seeking affordable rental housing in the Newport area. Applicants may need to meet income and household requirements that vary according to the specific unit.

Could more homes be added later?

A further stage of development has been associated with the former Sacred Heart High School.

Earlier reporting by VTDigger said RuralEdge planned to convert the former Catholic high school into 24 affordable condominium units known as The Lofts at Sacred Heart. That phase was described as separate from the 40 rental homes completed through Newport Crossing.

The planned condominiums would add an ownership element to a project that has so far focused on affordable and mixed-income rentals. However, the completion and availability of that future phase should not be confused with the 40 rental homes announced as part of Newport Crossing’s first phase.

The current opening therefore represents the completion of the rental-housing component across the Newport and Newport Center sites. Any future development would depend on financing, approvals, construction and the final project timetable.

Why is the development important for Newport?

Newport Crossing increases the supply of affordable rental housing in an area where residents and local organisations have identified a need for more secure homes.

The project also gives new life to a former convent and other underused properties. Reusing existing buildings can preserve established sites while adding housing close to schools, shops, public services and downtown areas.

The project’s mixed-income character may also help create a broader community rather than a development serving only one household type. Its combination of apartments, townhouses, green space and shared facilities is designed to support different residents within the same wider housing scheme.

The development’s environmental work adds another dimension. By remediating brownfield sites, the project addresses land-use problems at the same time as it provides homes.

For RuralEdge, the opening expands its role as a major affordable housing provider in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. The organisation has said it operates more than 800 affordable housing units across the region.

Background: how did Newport Crossing develop?

Newport Crossing was planned as a multi-site affordable housing project involving the former Sacred Heart Convent, additional properties in Newport Center and related work at the former Sacred Heart High School.

RuralEdge began hazardous-material abatement work in December 2024 as part of the project’s early construction activity. At that stage, the development was described as a $21.8 million project, with 26 rental units planned at the convent site and 14 units in two new buildings in Newport Center.

A presentation prepared for the Vermont Housing and Conservation Coalition described the development as providing 40 new rental units across three sites in Newport City and Newport Town. It identified 14 subsidised units, including 12 intended for households moving from homelessness, as well as one-, two- and three-bedroom homes, community rooms, resident services and recreational space.

In December 2025, RuralEdge hosted state legislators, the Mayor of Newport, city council members and Newport town representatives for tours of the apartment communities. The organisation said the properties would provide 40 permanently affordable homes while remediating two brownfield sites.

The project’s formal completion was then marked by the ribbon-cutting ceremony on 25 September 2026. Reports from The Caledonian-Record and Newport Dispatch identify the event as the completion of the first phase and confirm that RuralEdge began welcoming tenants into the new homes.

Prediction: how could Newport Crossing affect local residents?

Newport Crossing is likely to give more local households access to stable rental accommodation, particularly those who meet the eligibility requirements for permanently affordable housing.

The immediate effect will be the addition of 40 homes to the Newport-area rental market. This could help some residents remain in the community, reduce pressure on households searching for suitable accommodation and provide more options for families needing larger units.

The development may also increase demand for applications because affordable homes are often limited compared with the number of eligible households. The effect on waiting times will depend on turnover, household eligibility, the number of applications and whether additional affordable housing projects are completed.

For the wider Newport community, the reuse of the convent and remediation of brownfield sites could support further investment in nearby properties and services. The proximity of some homes to schools, downtown amenities and public transport connections may also help residents reach essential services more easily.

The longer-term effect will depend partly on the proposed Sacred Heart condominium phase. If completed, it could add affordable homeownership opportunities alongside the 40 rental homes. For now, the confirmed development provides 40 affordable and mixed-income rental homes across Newport and Newport Center.