Higher Ground Explores Move to Pine Street in Burlington
Higher Ground, the renowned concert company currently situated on Williston Road in South Burlington, is contemplating a move to Pine Street in Burlington. This potential relocation comes after a failed attempt to move to Burton Snowboards’ South End campus last summer, prompting the company to reach out to officials in the Queen City.
While the exact location has not been disclosed, one potential option is sharing a space with Burlington City Arts at 405 Pine Street, according to planning director Charles Dillard. This 33,000-square-foot building currently houses only a small portion occupied by the city department. The proposed move would necessitate a change in zoning regulations, a topic that will be deliberated upon by the Burlington City Council during their upcoming meeting on Monday.
Dillard expressed his belief that introducing Higher Ground to the Pine Street corridor would enrich the area’s already thriving arts scene. “The city is serious about its interest in retaining Higher Ground, just from a cultural and economic development perspective,” he emphasized.
Higher Ground has been contemplating a move since 2019, when plans were announced to establish an “entertainment hub” at Burton’s headquarters on Queen City Park Road. Despite zoning rule adjustments made by city officials to accommodate the project, concerns raised by neighbors regarding noise and traffic led to a legal battle. Last July, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled in favor of Higher Ground, only for Burton to withdraw from the arrangement shortly after the decision.
Subsequently, Higher Ground initiated discussions with BCA regarding a potential move to Pine Street. However, existing regulations limit performing arts centers in the area to 5,000 square feet, whereas Higher Ground would require a significantly larger venue. City staff have proposed a zoning amendment that would eliminate the square footage restrictions entirely, but solely for buildings situated along Pine Street. The Burlington Planning Commission unanimously supported this recommendation last month.
Should these plans progress, it would not be the first time Higher Ground has brought live music to Pine Street. In the summer of 2021, the company collaborated with BCA to launch Backside 405, a series of weekly events held in the BCA Studios parking lot. Featuring performances by artists like Zach Nugent and Rough Francis, the series concluded in 2023.
The proposed zoning modification is slated for an initial review at Monday night’s council meeting before being referred to a subcommittee for further examination. The full council would then need to vote on the measure once more for it to be approved.
In the face of these potential changes, the fate of Higher Ground remains uncertain. As Burlington anticipates the outcome of the upcoming discussions, the city stands at a crossroads, balancing the preservation of its vibrant cultural landscape with the evolving needs of the community.
Courtney Lamdin, a seasoned journalist at Seven Days specializing in Burlington news, provides a closer look at the ongoing developments surrounding Higher Ground’s possible relocation. With her keen insights and in-depth coverage, Lamdin sheds light on the intricate negotiations and regulatory hurdles that could shape the future of Burlington’s entertainment scene.
