Pittsford Village Farm will officially break ground on the renovation of its historic farmhouse on June 19, marking a significant milestone in a multi-year effort to transform the nearly 150-acre site into a regional resource for community connection, early childhood education, and affordable housing.
Located at 42 Elm St., across from Kamuda’s, Pittsford Village Farm (PVF) has been a growing fixture in town since forming as a nonprofit organization in 2018. The project focuses on the restoration of the 18th-century farmhouse and the 19th-century barn, which once belonged to the historic Forrest Farm.
Upon completion, the renovated 8,000-square-foot farmhouse will house a ground-floor community center, a 30-child early childhood education center, a locally run café, and two affordable 2-bedroom apartments on the second floor.
Faced with rising construction costs, PVF partnered with Naylor & Breen Builders to divide the project into two phases. Thanks to over $2.5 million in secured federal, state, and local grants, as well as $200,000 in in-kind donations of professional expertise, labor, and materials, Phase One is now fully funded and ready to begin. This initial phase will deliver the early childhood center, apartments, café, and critical site improvements, including parking and pedestrian access. It will also prepare the ground floor space for the community center build-out in the next phase.
To complete Phase Two and fully realize the vision of a community center, PVF is continuing its $1.2 million capital campaign. To date, more than $800,000 has been raised—roughly 65% of the total goal. The June 19 groundbreaking event also marks the kickoff of the public phase of the campaign, which aims to close the remaining funding gap and enable the second phase of construction to proceed.
Already a vibrant destination for community gatherings, Pittsford Village Farm is home to a popular summer “Tunesday” concert series, scenic hiking trails linked to a 16-mile town network, and events throughout the year such as the Touch-a-Truck, Turkey Trot Fun Run, Sap-Bucket Tree Lighting, and moonlight sledding parties.
With the farmhouse renovation underway, PVF will take a significant step forward in its mission to serve as a welcoming hub for Pittsford and the wider Central Vermont region.
The June 19 groundbreaking celebration will feature presentations, building tours, and a wine tasting from Shelburne Vineyards. The event is free and open to the public.
For more information, visit: pittsfordvillagefarm.org.
