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Ribbon Cutting Marks Completion of Affordable Housing Project in Willsboro

One Community Update
September 8, 2026

Source: The Sun

North Country Rural Development Coalition (NRDC), the Essex County Land Bank, local officials, project partners, contractors, and community members will celebrate the completion of a new affordable housing project in Willsboro with a ribbon cutting on Friday, Sept. 25, at 1 p.m.

The project represents a nine-month joint effort between NRDC and the Essex County Land Bank to rehabilitate and preserve an existing property in Willsboro and create four new affordable apartments.

Funding for the project included support through the New York State Vacant Rental Program (VRP) and the Land Bank Initiative (LBI), allowing the project partners to combine housing rehabilitation, historic preservation, and long-term community investment.

The completed property will be owned and operated by a nonprofit organization that serves veterans and will provide targeted outreach, supportive services, job-training opportunities, and other resources designed to help veterans achieve greater housing stability and independence. All VRP-assisted units will be leased in accordance with applicable program eligibility requirements.

The project demonstrates how affordable housing development, historic preservation, nonprofit partnerships, and supportive services can work together to address important needs in a rural community.

“This has been a true partnership from start to finish,” said Nicole Justice Green, President and CEO of the North Country Rural Development Coalition and Essex County Land Bank. “In just nine months, we were able to take a property with significant needs, preserve it, rehabilitate it, and create four quality affordable apartments. What makes this project especially meaningful is the opportunity to pair those homes with a nonprofit whose mission includes serving veterans and providing the kinds of support, training, and stability that can make a lasting difference.”

Green offered special thanks to Shaun Gillilland and Linda Gillilland for their commitment to the project and their belief in what the property could become.

“Shaun has been incredibly passionate about this project and about creating something meaningful for veterans,” Green said. “As former Chairman of the Essex County Board of Supervisors, he has been a longtime partner in housing and community development efforts, but this project was also deeply personal to him. His commitment to creating the nonprofit, helping establish its mission, and working to make sure this building could ultimately be placed in the hands of an organization dedicated to serving people was essential to getting us here. Linda has been an important partner in that work as well, and we are so grateful to both of them.”

NRDC and the Essex County Land Bank also extend their appreciation to Stevens Construction for its work throughout the rehabilitation and to the contractors, professionals, and community partners who contributed to bringing the building back to life.

Green also thanked the boards of NRDC and the Essex County Land Bank for their continued support of difficult and transformational housing projects.

“Projects like this do not happen because of one organization or one person,” Green said. “They happen because people are willing to believe in a property, believe in a mission, and keep working through the challenges. I am incredibly grateful to our boards, our staff, our partners, Shaun and Linda, Stevens Construction, and everyone who helped make this possible. Nine months ago, this was a building that needed a tremendous amount of work. Today, it is four new homes and the beginning of something much bigger.”

The redevelopment also preserved an existing property rather than allowing it to fall further into disrepair or be lost, supporting broader efforts to reinvest in Willsboro’s existing housing stock and preserve the character of the community.

The project reflects the broader mission of NRDC and the Essex County Land Bank to address rural housing needs through rehabilitation, preservation, reuse of existing properties, and strong partnerships with local organizations.