When I* found out that proposed plans for the future Brickyard housing development in Lebanon will include hundreds of $2000/mo studio apartment rentals, I got curious. What does $2000 buy in the Upper Valley these days, in terms of food, clothing, shelter, and medicine? What's a good deal for $2000, and what's a bad deal? What does $2000 look like, in terms of childcare, elder care, debt payments, transportation, emergencies, luxuries, education, and survival?

The Two Thousand Dollar Project is a way of exploring who we are, what we want for ourselves, and what it might look like to live in communities that truly serve our needs.
*Who's asking? I (Julie Puttgen) am an artist and therapist who's been living in Lebanon with my husband and our beloved large mutts since 2010. I plan to incorporate anonymous responses to this survey in The Two Thousand Dollar Project, a creative look at development, equity, and community in the Upper Valley.

Phase 1: February 2025 Survey

To begin gathering information, I put out an anonymous survey link on the Upper Valley Listserv over the course of the first week of February, 2025. 
Below are the results I gathered...

Question 1: 

Question 2: 

Question 3: 

Question 4: 

Question 5: 

Question 6: 

Phase 2: Storytelling 

The next round of The Two Thousand Dollar Project will take the form of gathering housing stories from Upper Valley community members.

Did you build your house way back when?
Do you/did you experience housing insecurity?
Did you luck into a great situation?
Do you worry about being able to stay here?
Do you commute long distances to be able to work/live here?

Whatever your housing story is, I'd love to include it in The Two Thousand Dollar Project. 
​Please use the form below to contact me. 

    Storytelling Form