BRATTLEBORO — On April 17, 2011, a five-alarm fire at the Brooks House nearly destroyed the landmark building and the economic and aesthetic life of downtown.
Three and a half years later, the lights are back on in the historic former hotel, and the town is invited to celebrate.
After more than a year of renovation and construction, work on the 80,000-square-foot building is nearly finished.
The Brooks House now includes an 18,000-square-foot academic center for the Community College of Vermont and Vermont Technical College - and classes have already begun.
Oak Meadow homeschooling will occupy the old ballroom space.
The building also features 23 upscale apartments, 4,000 square feet of office space, and a 32,000-square-foot mix of shops, restaurants, and cafés, including Duo restaurant, Wow Frozen Yogurt, Brilliance rugs and jewelry, and Turquoise Grille.
The restored former lobby leads to a newly-constructed two-story atrium connecting to shops and a renovated plaza.
On Friday, Oct. 3, at 5 p.m., a ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony are planned for the atrium of the Brooks. In attendance will be Gov. Peter Shumlin, Community College of Vermont President Joyce Judy, and Vermont Technical College President Dan Smith.
In April 2012, Bob Stevens of Stevens & Associates, Craig Miskovich of Downs Rachlin Martin, and Ben Taggard, Pete Richards, and Drew Richards of The Richards Group, joined together to buy, restore, and renovate this downtown treasure.
The investors said they saw their way forward by making use of federal and state tax credits and a host of other financing sources. In the summer of 2013, they closed on the building and began a $24 million project.