We’re revitalizing and updating the building, located in the heart of a diverse, mixed-income neighborhood, to create an accessible community arts and cultural center for the 21st century. Our project includes a wheelchair lift, accessibility modifications, energy-efficient heat pumps, insulation, window restoration and replacement, and new siding.
Our History
In the late 1800s, Crowley Street was the center of a thriving German immigrant neighborhood, and Goethe Lodge #592 was constructed as a social and ‘benevolent’ club to benefit the community. Historically known as the ‘German Club’ and more recently, as the ‘Champlain Club’, this social hall has sustained its purpose as a home for gatherings, dance, and music traditions for more than a century. In recent years, the hall was renamed North Star Community Hall and became a nonprofit Community Trust, preserving the building as a home for celebrations, socializing, performing arts, music lessons, and dance in the heart of Burlington’s diverse Old North End.
What We Do
Within the 4,000 square foot, two-story structure, a 2,000 square foot auditorium serves as a dance hall and performance space. Three multipurpose rooms on the first floor offer spaces for gathering, learning, meetings, and socializing, and there is a small catering kitchen. The Hall is now home to at least seven dance communities (African Dance, Swing Dancers, and Tango among them), all offering dance lessons and social dances. Our community uses our space for concerts, lectures, music lessons, celebrations, and community potlucks.
Board members and a large community of skilled volunteers run and manage the building. With our affordable hourly rental rates and the dedication of many volunteers, the Hall is well-used, well-loved, and well-resourced for daily operations.
Our Challenge
While rental revenue covers operational expenses, our annual budget was never large enough to fund major building improvements. The ‘bones’ of the building are sound: the roof is solid, and the plumbing, heating, and electrical systems are in good shape. With Phase 1 of the campaign completed, two of the four sides are restored.
The front and back exterior walls, however, are in dire need of rehabilitation. Energy efficiency work is essential to cut heating costs and fuel use. To date, none of the spaces in the Hall are ADA accessible. This is unacceptable and keeps us from meeting our mission to serve the entire community. Phases 2 and 3 of our campaign address this urgent work.
During the pandemic, a committed group of volunteers began dreaming about the building’s future. We enlisted a range of partners and stakeholders in the endeavor to save and preserve the Hall as a significant historic and cultural resource. We envision a future that offers our entire community a home for a wide variety of events and activities.
Our Progress
We have taken a phased approach—raising portions of the overall budget, then completing renovation components as we go:
- Phase 1 – Restoration of east- and west-facing exterior walls and heat pump installation – COMPLETED!
- Phase 2 – Restoration of front exterior wall and basement weatherization – SHOVEL-READY!
- Phase 3 – Exterior and interior accessibility upgrades with elevator and restoration of the back exterior wall – DESIGN UNDERWAY!
With your support, we can ensure another 100 years for the historic North Star Community Hall!
Please be in touch if you have questions. Thank you!
Partners, Supporters, and Advisors
Project Team
- Charlene Wallace, Campaign Chair & Project Manager
- Restoration Committee: John Antram, Lola Houston, and Janice Dawley, Treasurer
Grants and Major Gifts
- Vermont Housing Conservation Board (VHCB)
- Preservation Trust of Vermont (PTV)
- VT Dept of Historic Preservation (VDHP)
- Vermont Arts Council
- Anonymous Foundation
- Mascoma Bank Foundation
- Pomerleau Family Foundation
- Board President, John Antram
In-kind Technical Assistance & Support
- Vermont Center for Independent Living (VCIL) provided an accessibility analysis and report.
- Burlington’s Community and Economic Development office (CEDO) provides technical advice.
- Liz Curry of Commonland Solutions and the team at Burlington Electric Department (BED) have helped with extensive in-kind consultations and advice.
- IN MEMORIAM. Sylvia Heininger was a beloved member of the German community that founded the Hall, who lived in the neighborhood until recently. Sylvia provided invaluable information about the building’s history and donated a large amount of historical documents to the University of Vermont Archives.
Professional Consultants
- Energy Coop of Vermont performed a low-cost energy audit, recommending extensive attic and wall insulation and air sealing measures.
- Scott Newman of Section 106 Associates wrote a Conditions Assessment report and continues to provide historic preservation recommendations and input on a volunteer basis.
- Duncan Wisniewski Architects are developing the ADA accessibility drawings.
- Maeve McBride & Christine Graham of CPG Enterprises assist with fundraising.
We’re grateful for this tremendous community of support!
Budget
Expenses
| Phase 1 – East & West sides (done) | $153,497 |
| Phase 2 – Front Side | $74,894 |
| Phase 3 – Accessibility & Back Side | $143,500 |
| Contingency (10%) | $21,839 |
| Other costs | $28,000 |
| Total Cost | $421,790 |
Funding
| Source | Goal | Raised to Date |
|---|---|---|
| Grants | $180,000 | $140,200 |
| Family Foundations | $110,000 | $45,000 |
| Major Gifts | $100,000 | $50,000 |
| Community Gifts | $31,170 | $18,000 |
| Total Funding | $421,790 | $253,200 |
There Are Many Ways to Make a Gift
There are several options for contributing to our project. We welcome tax-deductible donations of cash or checks, via credit card or PayPal; stocks and mutual funds; through a Donor Advised fund; and even through your RMD, your IRA, or other retirement accounts.
Please donate online or be in touch with us directly. We look forward to speaking with you about how we can accomplish this together!
For questions, contact:
Charlene Wallace, Campaign Chair
802-363-7439 friends@goethecommunitytrust.org
Fundraising assistance partially supported by a grant from Preservation Trust of Vermont