Winner: Winooski Falls

Developer, More Than 250 Units
By HallKeen, The Braverman Company, and New Boston Fund
Winooski, Vt.
www.winooskifalls.com

Winooski Falls is for people who want an urban setting and small-town ambiance. The multi-building development, which caters to university students and the general public, is close to public transportation and a riverfront walkway leading to 100 acres of parkland. This innovative mixed-use development on the banks of the Winooski River in northwestern Vermont incorporates a series of four well-appointed residential and commercial structures bridging downtown Winooski and the riverfront.
The development is widely regarded as a model for shaping a sustainable community for tenants of all ages, abilities, and income levels. Key to the development's appeal is the emphasis on pedestrian access and flow. Together, a riverfront walkway and easy public transportation options connect residents to vital services, shopping, restaurants, a college and a university campus, the largest hospital in the state, and downtown Burlington.

The wide range of energy-efficient, universally designed units offers affordable, conveniently located lifestyle choices that encourage interaction among community residents—all tucked away amid beautiful Green Mountain landscapes.

— By Roxana Hadadi & AARP staff