The Village at Franklin Park (Franklin Park West)

Independent Assessment

Franklin Park West's age restriction is directly and consistently confirmed by the community's own site, which markets it explicitly as 'St. Albans' Premier 55+ Community,' and no conflicting source was found. A material history point worth disclosing to buyers: the original developer, GSD Development, went bankrupt during the community's build-out, and Patrick Malone of Malone Properties (a Montpelier-based developer) took over to continue the project -- a genuine mid-project developer change that buyers should understand when evaluating warranty continuity and any commitments made by the original developer that may or may not carry forward under the current one. The St. Albans Town Development Review Board's own October 2024 meeting materials show that Phase III of the development was active and under municipal review at that time, including a requirement for an itemized construction-cost estimate from a certified engineer and a list of remaining permits needed to complete the project -- evidence that Franklin Park West is a genuinely live, in-progress construction project rather than a stalled or completed development. Buyers should treat any given source's unit count, available lot inventory, or phase-completion status as a snapshot rather than a final figure, and confirm current build-out status directly with the sales office, particularly given the mid-project developer transition.

Who May Find This Community Appealing

Buyers who want new-construction, single-level 55-plus homes with the flexibility of an optional finished second floor -- useful as a guest suite, home office, or hobby room -- in a Designated Growth Center setting along St. Albans' Rail Trail are the clearest match for Franklin Park West. Its active, multi-phase build-out gives early buyers a genuine choice of lot and floor plan that a fully sold-out resale community cannot offer, and its proximity to Interstate 89, downtown St. Albans, and Northwestern Medical Center may particularly appeal to buyers prioritizing convenient access to medical care and regional highway connections in Vermont's Franklin County.

Homes, Builders & Development History

The Village at Franklin Park, expanding westward as Franklin Park West, is a St. Albans Town, Vermont development originally begun by GSD Development, which went bankrupt during the project's build-out. Patrick Malone of Malone Properties, a Montpelier-based development firm, took over the project to continue construction. Homes are designed for single-level living with an optional finished second-floor bonus room of roughly 640 square feet, and the main level typically includes an open-concept kitchen, dining, and living area, a guest bedroom, a full bath, and a laundry room, with a primary suite featuring a walk-in closet and en suite bathroom with a double vanity. As of October 2024 St. Albans Town Development Review Board materials, Phase III of the development was underway and under active municipal permit review.

Current Pricing & Market Positioning

Individual listings reviewed at Franklin Park West have ranged roughly from the mid-$450,000s to the mid-$480,000s, though buyers should confirm current base and lot pricing directly with the sales office, since a builder's price list for an actively building community can change meaningfully between phases and lots. Buyers evaluating new construction here should also confirm current construction timelines and any premium pricing tied to specific lot locations along the Rail Trail or within the Growth Center.

New Construction vs. Resale Considerations

Franklin Park West is actively under construction: Phase III was underway as of the most recent St. Albans Town Development Review Board materials reviewed (October 2024), with the town specifically requiring an itemized construction-cost estimate from a certified engineer and a list of remaining permits needed to complete the project. This means buyers here are primarily purchasing new construction directly from the current developer (Malone Properties) rather than drawing from an established resale pool, though some resale inventory from earlier, completed phases may exist. Buyers should confirm current lot availability, construction timelines, and which specific phases are complete directly with the sales office, and should specifically ask how the mid-project transition from the original developer (GSD Development, which went bankrupt) to the current one affected any prior buyer commitments.

Taxes, Insurance & Special Assessments

Homes at Franklin Park West are subject to St. Albans Town, Franklin County, Vermont property tax administration -- a separate municipality from the City of St. Albans, with its own tax rate. Vermont's own Fair Housing and Public Accommodations Act (9 V.S.A. Section 4503) retains the pre-1999 federal HOPA 'significant facilities and services' two-prong formulation for its 55-plus exemption -- a legal nuance discussed in more detail on this state's own overview page. Buyers should confirm current property tax figures with the St. Albans Town Assessor's office and request current homeowners-insurance quotes directly, as no community-specific figure was found.

Community Layout & Lifestyle

Franklin Park West is organized as an actively expanding, single-level 55-plus neighborhood within a Designated Growth Center, sited alongside St. Albans' Rail Trail/Bike Path. Homes are designed around open-concept main-level living with an optional finished second floor for flexible use, and the homeowners association handles common-area landscaping, snow removal, and trash service. Details of any organized resident-activity programming or shared clubhouse facility at Franklin Park West were not independently confirmed; buyers should ask directly whether such programming exists or is planned as later phases complete.

Shopping, Healthcare & Airport Access

Franklin Park West is located in St. Albans Town, Vermont, within a Designated Growth Center alongside the Rail Trail/Bike Path, reported to be minutes from Interstate 89, downtown St. Albans, the Collins Perley Sports Center, and Northwestern Medical Center. Specific drive times beyond these general descriptions were not independently confirmed; buyers should confirm exact access details directly with the sales office or a local agent.

Age Qualification & Material Ownership Restrictions

Franklin Park West's age restriction is directly and consistently confirmed by the community's own site, marketed explicitly as 'St. Albans' Premier 55+ Community,' with no conflicting source found. Published here as legally age-restricted 55+ on the strength of this direct, first-party marketing confirmation; buyers should request the community's actual recorded declaration and covenants directly from a title company or the Franklin County land records to confirm current, lot-specific restriction terms before purchasing, particularly given the mid-project developer transition disclosed above.

Tradeoffs & Limitations

Buyers should understand that Franklin Park West changed developers mid-project after its original developer, GSD Development, went bankrupt, with Patrick Malone of Malone Properties taking over the build-out -- buyers should specifically ask the current sales office how this transition affected warranty terms, prior buyer deposits or commitments, and the overall project timeline. Because Phase III was still underway as of the most recent town Development Review Board materials reviewed (October 2024), buyers should confirm current construction status, which specific phases and amenities are complete versus still under construction, and any remaining permits the town has flagged as outstanding. A specific current HOA fee figure was not found; buyers should request the current dues amount and its full coverage directly from the sales office or homeowners' association before purchasing.

Comparison With Nearby Communities

Within the broader Vermont inventory, Franklin Park West is actively under construction, a meaningful contrast with the two Lamoille County communities (Sterling View Cooperative and Copley Woodlands) and the other 55-plus communities in Chittenden, Rutland, and Windham counties, all of which are fully or largely built out. Buyers specifically seeking new-construction inventory and current floor-plan choice, rather than an established resale market, will find Franklin Park West a strong match among Vermont's 55-plus communities.

Current Listings

Franklin Park West's own site (franklinparkwestvt.com), or a connected local St. Albans-area agent, can provide current available lots, floor plans, pricing, and confirm the current HOA fee amount and Phase III construction status directly.

Is Franklin Park West age-restricted?

Yes. The community's own site markets it explicitly as 'St. Albans' Premier 55+ Community,' with no conflicting source found.

Is Franklin Park West still under construction?

Yes. Phase III was underway as of the most recent St. Albans Town Development Review Board materials reviewed (October 2024), so the community is actively under construction.

Who is developing Franklin Park West?

Patrick Malone of Malone Properties, a Montpelier-based development firm, who took over the project after the original developer, GSD Development, went bankrupt.

What kind of homes does Franklin Park West offer?

Single-level homes with the option to finish a second-floor bonus room of roughly 640 square feet, typically with an open-concept main level, a guest bedroom and full bath, and a primary suite with a walk-in closet and en suite bathroom.