The purpose of The Friends of Algiers Village Inc., is to support the preservation, conservation, and enjoyment of the natural and human resources of the Village of Algiers in  Guilford, Vermont. It shall seek to enable the residents of the Village to live in harmony with their natural environment and with their fellow citizens by buying, selling , and holding land and properties, including housing, and by educational means. It shall be incorporated under the laws of the State of Vermont.

History

The village of Guilford on Route 5, known locally as Algiers, one of four surviving villages in the township of Guilford (population 2,046), consists of a country store, a firehouse, two churches (one active, one historic), a garage specializing in foreign cars, a small factory, and several Nineteenth Century houses. In the midst is a triangle bordered by the Guilford Center Road on the north, Route 5 on the east, and Broad Brook and Mill Road running NW from Route 5 to the Center Road.  It contains  the Tontine House,  a historic house built in 1810; the 20th century Shaw House (?); the former Leader Home Center which was renovated into the so-called Dog Day Care but which remains vacant because it was not permitted to open; and two former grist mill and three storage buildings in various states of disrepair. The triangle as a whole is unattractive, a blight on what otherwise could be an attractive village.

In 2004 a surveyor who has an office on the edge of the village noticed that by a rare coincidence all five parcels which comprise the triangle, three owned by the same person, were on the market at the same time. Sensing a unique opportunity, with the assistance of a neighbor he set about gathering a group of local supporters to purchase the five parcels with an eye to their redevelopment for the benefit of the town. The Friends of Algiers Village was incorporated on November 29, 2004; a board of trustees was established and FAV was finally recognized by the IRS as a non-profit organization.In the meantime FAV was endorsed by the Guilford select board; three of the five parcels were appraised and purchased at a cost of $270,000; the Brattleboro Land Trust became involved; the engineering firm of Stevens and Associates was engaged to develop a Master Plan in cooperation with the Trust; and two public informational hearings were held, one on July 14, 2005 and one on August 22, 2006. At the latter, four options were presented and discussed. From the discussion the final Plan was developed.

Developments

The historic Tontine House, consisting of one commercial unit and three apartments currently rented and one apartment scheduled for renovation, was purchased by FAV and is managed by the Brattleboro Land Trust. The Trust is developing studies of the house with a view ultimately to purchasing and renovating it. The Trust is also talking with the owners of the Doggie Dare Care with a view someday of purchasing it as well; the Trust has a three month agreement to complete an appraisal and study. The storage houses, planned for destruction, and the former grist mill buildings stand idle. FAV and the owner of the Shaw House were on the verge of signing a purchase and sale agreement for $250,000 last year when at the last minute the owner backed out. Negotiations are ongoing.  In the meantime the Master Plan has been developed and approved by the Board in cooperation with the Brattleboro Land Trust. The challenge now faced by the Board is to meet the running costs of the project until the Doggie Day Care and the Shaw House are purchased and the Master Plan can be fully implemented by sale of the properties to the Brattleboro Land Trust and other parties. It has never been the intention of FAV to be an ongoing entity continuing to manage the property, rather to control the development and turn it over.

The Master Plan contemplates the retention and renovation of the historic Tontine and Shaw houses, the renovation or reconstruction on existing foundations of the small former grist mill buildings (otherwise no new construction would be permitted under current law because of their proximity to Broad Brook), and the destruction of the remaining buildings and the construction of new buildings in their place. Three new buildings would be erected. The renovated triangle would then contain 25 dwelling units, including affordable housing; 8,800 sq. feet of commercial space; 48 parking spaces on three parcels; and a bus stop. Also contemplated by the Plan is a reorganization of the road system, including the elimination of Mill Road as it now exists, and the development of green space, which now does not exist at all. Implemented, the Plan will completely reinvigorate Algiers Village into an attractive and coordinated center of commercial and residential buildings, all in accordance with the Guilford Town Plan and the call of the Windham Regional Commission for growth centers.