The Terraces

Independent Assessment

The Terraces' core facts -- its 58-unit count across seven buildings, 1985 construction date, individually owned condominium structure, and 55-plus residency requirement -- are confirmed consistently across the community's own site (theterracesshelburnevt.com) and Catamount Realty Group's dedicated Terraces condos listing page, with no conflicting source found. The community's no-stair, hillside design detail and its residency-requirement specifics (at least one resident 55 or older per unit, no rentals permitted, and a limited pet policy) were specifically confirmed, giving buyers a genuinely clear picture of both the physical accessibility design and the occupancy rules governing the community. As a long-established, fully built-out 1985-vintage condominium community, The Terraces has four decades of operating history and a stable, non-rental occupancy model -- a meaningful difference from some newer or more service-heavy communities, since the no-rental rule tends to support a more consistently owner-occupied resident population. The community's original developer or builder was not independently confirmed; buyers specifically interested in that history should ask the property manager or a title search directly.

Who May Find This Community Appealing

Buyers seeking an established, long-operating 55-plus condominium community with genuine single-level, no-stair accessibility and a dedicated community center offering dining, a library, crafts room, and exercise room are the clearest match for The Terraces. Its close proximity to Shelburne Village, the Shelburne Museum, Shelburne Farms, and Lake Champlain may particularly appeal to buyers who want walkable access to Chittenden County's cultural attractions alongside a genuinely low-maintenance, all-owner-occupied (no-rental) residential setting.

Homes, Builders & Development History

The Terraces was built in 1985 on seven acres just off Mt. Philo Road on Maplewood Drive, just outside Shelburne Village. The community comprises 58 individually owned one- and two-bedroom residences across seven buildings: six residential buildings plus the Audubon Building, which serves as the community's center, housing a dining room, beauty shop, living room with fireplace, crafts room, library, exercise room, and the administrative office. Homes are designed for no-stair access on both levels of the hillside site, and units include electric fireplaces and private back decks or patios. The community's original developer or builder could not be independently verified.

Current Pricing & Market Positioning

A comprehensive current price list for The Terraces was not found; one recent individual resale sale reviewed closed around $515,000. As a fully built-out, 1985-vintage community, all current inventory is resale; buyers should confirm current available units and pricing directly with a local Shelburne-area real estate agent, since pricing will vary by unit size, building, and specific finish level.

New Construction vs. Resale Considerations

The Terraces is a fully built-out, 1985-vintage community with no new construction; all units are available strictly on a resale basis. Buyers should contact a local Shelburne-area real estate agent or the property manager directly to confirm current resale availability and pricing, since a stable, no-rental, long-tenured resident base can mean inventory turns over more slowly than at some other communities.

Taxes, Insurance & Special Assessments

Homes at The Terraces are subject to Town of Shelburne, Chittenden County, Vermont property tax administration. 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 Shelburne Town Assessor's office and request current homeowners-insurance quotes directly, as no community-specific figure was found.

Community Layout & Lifestyle

The Terraces is organized around its seven-building hillside campus, with six residential buildings and a seventh, the Audubon Building, serving as the community's social and administrative hub -- housing dining, a beauty shop, a library, a crafts room, an exercise room, and the property manager's office. The no-stair, single-level access design on both levels of the site supports long-term aging-in-place accessibility, and residents can opt into a community meal plan and local transportation pickup alongside planned activities at the clubhouse. The strict no-rental policy also tends to support a stable, fully owner-occupied resident community.

Shopping, Healthcare & Airport Access

The Terraces is located on seven acres just off Mt. Philo Road on Maplewood Drive, just outside Shelburne Village in Chittenden County, reported to be about three miles from Lake Champlain, a half mile from the Shelburne Museum, and two miles from Shelburne Farms. Specific drive times to downtown Burlington or area hospitals were not independently confirmed; buyers should confirm these directly with a local agent.

Age Qualification & Material Ownership Restrictions

The Terraces' 55-plus residency requirement is confirmed consistently by the community's own site and Catamount Realty Group's listing page, both describing a rule that at least one resident per unit must be 55 or older, with units unable to be rented out, and no conflicting source was found. Published here as legally age-restricted 55+ on the strength of this consistent confirmation; buyers should request the community's actual recorded declaration and bylaws directly from a title company or the Chittenden County land records to confirm current, unit-specific restriction terms before purchasing.

Tradeoffs & Limitations

Buyers should understand that The Terraces prohibits unit rentals, meaning it is not a viable option for anyone considering it as an income property or a flexible seasonal residence to be rented out when not in personal use -- a real constraint for some buyers, though one that also supports a more stable, owner-occupied community for residents who live there full-time. The community's pet policy is also limited (up to two cats, or dogs under 25 pounds, subject to management approval), which buyers with larger dogs should specifically confirm before purchasing. Neither the community's original developer nor a single, comprehensive current price list was independently confirmed; reported HOA dues varied slightly across listings reviewed (roughly $535 to $555 per month, with one listing noting an additional approximately $500 annual fee), so buyers should request the current, exact fee structure directly from the association or property manager.

Comparison With Nearby Communities

In Chittenden County, The Terraces sits alongside Balsam Circle and Thistle Hill (both primarily Barone Construction-built townhome/detached communities in Williston and Hinesburg) and Williston Woods Cooperative Housing Corporation (a resident-owned manufactured-home cooperative). In Shelburne it is the only community with deeded ownership, unlike Wake Robin, a confirmed Type-A life-care continuing-care retirement community with no deeded-ownership option. The Terraces' defining characteristics are its age (built 1985, the longest-established community in this county) and its individually owned condominium structure with a strict no-rental policy, a meaningfully different ownership and occupancy model than the newer townhome/carriage-home product at Balsam Circle and Thistle Hill.

Current Listings

The Terraces' own site (theterracesshelburnevt.com), Catamount Realty Group (catamountrealtygroup.com), or a local Shelburne-area agent can provide current resale availability, pricing, and the current HOA fee structure directly.

Is The Terraces age-restricted?

Yes. At least one resident per unit must be 55 or older, per the community's own site and Catamount Realty Group's listing page, with no conflicting source found.

How many units are at The Terraces, and how old is the community?

58 individually owned one- and two-bedroom residences across seven buildings (six residential, plus the Audubon Building community center), built in 1985.

Can you rent out a unit at The Terraces?

No. Units at The Terraces cannot be rented out, per the community's own residency requirements, supporting a stable, fully owner-occupied resident population.

Is The Terraces accessible for residents who cannot use stairs?

Yes. The community is specifically designed with no-stair access on both levels of its hillside site.