Manchester Housing Alliance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI0yNaIAtDY

The lot fit 9 McMansions. They built 44 small homes for locals instead Maggie and John Randolph kept losing employees who couldn't afford housing on the New Hampshire coast, so they decided to build their own staff housing with ...

https://nhfpi.org/blog/new-hampshire-rental-costs-continued-to-rise-in-early-2024-increasing-impacts-on-tenant-household-budgets/

New Hampshire Rental Costs Continued to Rise in Early 2024, Increasing Impacts on Tenant Household Budgets - New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute Blog New Hampshire Rental Costs Continued to Rise in Early 2024, Increasing Impacts on Tenant Household Budgets August 22, 2024 DOWNLOAD THIS BLOG PDF Tags: Economy New data collected earlier this year show the cost of renting continues to rise in New Hampshire, increasing pressure on overall housin...

Here is a petition in regards to the Manchester rezoning effort asking for more zoning upgrades.

ADD YOUR NAME: A Roadmap to More Housing for the Queen City — Manchester Neighbors Welcome There is much to like in the Manchester zoning code draft already, though each positive aspect points to ways the code draft should be improved.

https://touch.npaper-wehaa.com/nh-business-review/read/content?content_id=4250274
Copied from St. Pierre

Spectacular article focusing on commercial to residential conversions and the project at 1138 Elm. I was interviewed for this primarily focused on the collaboration components;

Collaborating for a solution

Working with Winslow on this project is Craig St. Pierre, who as a Realtor and property manager with Choice Realty, has extensive experience in managing and creating workforce subsidized housing.

He and Winslow agree that collaboration with New Hampshire Housing and the housing department in Manchester has been key in conversions as they seek to create properties for, as St. Pierre described, “the people getting left behind.”

“it’s really a collaboration with a number of housing agencies to find what they need and to create a product and fill the gaps that aren’t being serviced,” he said.

He did his own project two years ago converting what were doctors’ offices at 35 High St., Manchester, into five workforce/voucher units.

“The only real opportunity to create what is needed comes in these blank canvases of other underutilized buildings,” said St. Pierre. “And it’s socially responsible at the same time. Andy and I both believe very strongly that we will never displace a building to create housing for other people. So, when we can find a building that’s entirely empty, we’re able to create this without causing harm to other families.”

Link:

Commercial conversion Office space vacancy in New Hampshire has been on the increase for the last several years. At the end of the second quarter in June, the vacancy rate stood at 13.5%, an increase of 2.4% over the same time frame in 2023, according to a new report from Colliers New Hampshire.

https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2024/08/22/a-look-at-how-federal-plans-could-make-the-costs-of-housing-more-affordable/

A look at how federal plans could make the costs of housing more affordable • New Hampshire Bulletin As renters and would-be homeowners struggle with the high cost of housing, the Biden administration has announced policies to address this strain on household budgets.

NH Housing is out with their annual survey. Statewide the average rent for a 2-br apartment is $1833 a month. And the income needed to afford that rent is $73,300.

2024 Residential Rental Cost Survey Report Released - New Hampshire Housing New Hampshire Housing’s annual statewide survey of market-rate apartments provides a comprehensive view of the Granite State’s rental market. Our survey has captured the status of the rental housing market for more than 40 years, and serves as an important reference tool for researchers, decisio...

A positive outcome from the legislative session.

Opinion: Celebrating the end of predatory rental applications Rep. Ellen Read is the prime sponsor of HB 283, represents the towns of Newmarket and Newfields, and sits on the House Special Committee on Housing. It’s that time of year again, across New Hampshire from our vibrant college towns to our workforce...

‘It's borderline criminal’ – Manufactured housing was an affordable homeownership option. Now, investor-owned parks are pricing residents out At the end of the month, Edmund McGahey plans to load up his U-Haul with the American flag neatly rolled behind his front door, take his wind chimes down from his front porch, pack his eight potted Christmas cacti, and leave for Texas.With an...

Representatives of the applicants told the board that they seek to begin construction in September if they can obtain several federal grants and tax credits.

New Pearl proposal gets okay from Planning Board - Manchester Ink Link On Thursday night, the Manchester Planning Board approved a conditional use permit and site plan application for a renewed version of a proposed housing development known as “The Pearl.”

This law requires landlords to return any application or holding fee in excess of the actual and reasonable costs (background checks, other listing costs, etc.) to the prospective tenant within 30 days.

Opinion: Celebrating the end of predatory rental applications Rep. Ellen Read is the prime sponsor of HB 283, represents the towns of Newmarket and Newfields, and sits on the House Special Committee on Housing. It’s that time of year again, across New Hampshire from our vibrant college towns to our workforce...

Biden Grants Fund Cities to Reform Zoning Ordinances Also today: Johannesburg mayor quits amid financial woes, and a brief history of swing states in presidential races.

Most are being priced out

https://www.nhbr.com/office-vacancies-rise-can-housing-fill-the-void/

Office vacancies rise. Can housing fill the void? - NH Business Review Commercial-to-housing proposals offer a possible solution for much-need housing, but a larger conflict rears its ugly head: zoning

The Advocate NH Conference is on October 4th, and on the following day, October 5th, you can join ABLE NH at the 2024 Disability Justice Parade & Festival! March with us to celebrate disability justice, and then enjoy the food trucks, speakers, and vendors at the festival.

Registration is open - Register yourself or your marching team today!

https://ablenh.org/2024-disability-justice-parade-festival/

[ID: Dark charcoal background with very light purple text that says, "After you enjoy the Advocate NH Conference, join ABLE NH at the: Disability Justice Parade & Festival. You're invited to the annual ABLE NH Disability Justice Parade! March with us to celebrate disability justice, and then enjoy the food trucks, speakers, and vendors at the festival. Register to join at ablenh.org! October 5, 2024. March begins at 12:00 PM. Main St, Concord, NH 03301. No cost registration." In the upper half of the image is a photo from behind of a person with a blonde ponytail and a purple jacket, carrying a flag that says, "Soaring Toward Disability Justice."]

New Hampshire Housing Increases Downpayment Assistance For Some Homebuyers To $15K To simplify the program and increase accessibility, NHH has raised the assistance amount from $5,000 to $10,000, to $10,000 to $15,000.

Backyard Apartments Now Legal Across MA: What To Know Whether you call them granny flats, in-law apartments or ADUs, they are now legal in all Massachusetts single-family zones.

August 7 Zoning Board: Meeting on Wednesday for housing + more - Manchester Ink Link The Zoning Board will meet on Wednesday, August 7 at 6 p.m. and the following cases will be heard. If you cannot make the meeting in person, it will be broadcast live on Manchester Public Television, Channel 22. The agenda is available online.

Here is our August newsletter
Manchester Housing Alliance August Newsletter

New Zoning Map and Code

Affordable Housing

July was when we finally got to hear the response to the roll-out of the City’s new zoning map and code

Planning and Zoning
As we said last month, the planning department has said that its goals were largely to make zoning align with current uses, as currently there are too many existing buildings that would not actually be allowed in the current zones, and many lots that are smaller than current zoning allows. It seems that the planning department has taken pains not to upset anyone or stir up any NIMBY hornets’ nests by for instance continuing to map out most of the North End as the R-1A zone for single family homes only.

So far they have had public sessions in Wards 10, 11, and 12 on the West Side and in Ward 8 on the Southeast. There have been excellent turnouts in all of the Wards, and a lot of public comment. I attended 2 of the meetings, and the comments ranged from general acceptance, to some NIMBYISM in Wards 10 and 12 where people preferred to maintain their single-family neighborhood.

In Ward 8, the meeting coincided with some rumors of a new potential development of apartments and townhouses, which stirred up attendance and much opposition. Residents suggested that new housing might be needed, but it should be built anywhere but near their neighborhoods.

Other questions might be whether it would be possible to convert single family homes to duplexes in R-1A or R-1B.

This past week featured the Zoning meeting in Ward 1, the North End, which went about as expected. The planning department seems to be playing it safe by sticking largely to what is already on the ground. The majority of the area is zoned R 1A- larger lots, and single-family homes. The area north of the Sununu Center property which is already mostly smaller houses with smaller lots has now been included in zone R 1B.

In the breakout sessions, the main focus was any potential development of the large, 160 acre property which is now the Sununu Center. Many people were concerned with potential traffic if that area is developed with more dense housing. While some people expressed interest in affordable housing, many others were more concerned with their property values.

The coalition organized by New Hampshire Youth Movement, and 603Forward and officially called Manchester Neighbors Welcome continues to meet to try to coordinate a response to the zoning issues. They have helpfully made up a series of one-page explainers which you can find here.

The planning department has made it clear that the Zoning Code and Map that they are presenting is just a draft. Bryce explained to us on the recent zoom call that following all of the Ward meetings, the steering committee will make recommendations, and the Planning Department may make updates and changes.

The final vote on whether to adopt the plan will be up to the Board of Aldermen. It will be very important to persuade the Aldermen to adopt the plan.

Pearl St Lot
Thursday, August 1 featured the Planning Board hearing on the new proposal for the Pearl St. lot. There have been drastic changes amidst major delays . The major developer has now pulled out, and the whole project has been turned over to Neighborworks.

Mayor Joyce Craig originally presented the idea in 2021 to put bids out to redevelop the Pearl Street Lot and the Hartnett Lot into mixed-use, mixed-income housing developments.

Lansing Melbourne Group of Florida, the developers of the Tru by Hilton hotel in the Millyard and the SNHU parking garage near the Delta Dental Stadium submitted the winning bid. [Jon Phelps, The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester]

Their proposal, to construct a 366 unit building with attached parking garage with 540 parking spaces and 114 parking spaces under the building went to the Zoning Board of Approval in March, 2023.

In April, 2023, the project was heading to the Planning Board for approval. The InkLink described the project

“On Pearl Street, the transformation will include three separate components: a 314-apartment seven-story building on the southern part of the lot known as “The Pearl,” a 52-unit six-story affordable housing complex along Orange Street that will be owned by NeighborWorks New Hampshire and a 540-space parking garage in between the two buildings. Upon its completion, the parking garage is expected to have 245 parking spaces for public use. The Pearl will also house 60 workforce housing units and 114 “podium” parking spaces on its first floor in addition to expected retail spaces.

The new plan has been reduced to a 150-unit four-story apartment building, plus a row of two or three story townhouses facing Orange St. in the middle of the block will be a two story parking facility with 296 parking spaces. Like the previous proposal, those 296 garage parking spaces for the public and an additional 10 parking spaces outside for residents.

So in the beginning there were 52 Neighborworks affordable units, and 60 workforce housing units. In the current plan, there may be 125-130 affordable apartments. Neighborworks plans to sell the townhouses through their programs

Everyone associated with this project seems to agree that economic feasibility is what hampered the original project. Although it seems worth asking whether the six story 314 unit building was ever feasible.

If that is the case, I think we need to ask just where they think the many thousands of new housing units are going to go.

Our web page has more information, plus.

Neighbors Welcome Manchester informational web page

Other questions might be whether it would be possible to convert single family homes to duplexes in R-1A or R-1B.

list of the upcoming ward meetings and dates
You are welcome to attend any of the Ward meetings, not necessarily your own.

Wed. August 14 @ 6pm – Ward 6, Green Acres Elementary School

Sat. August 17 @ 10am – Ward 5, Manchester Community Resource Center

Wed. August 21 @ 6pm – Ward 4, McDonough Elementary School

Wed. August 28 @ 6pm – Ward 2, Smyth Road Elementary School

Wed. September 4 @ 6pm – Ward 9, Bishop Leo E. O’Neil Youth Center

Sat. September 7 @ 10am – Ward 3, Palace Theater Spotlight Room

Send a message to learn more

If you haven't been to one of these zoning meetings yet, there is still time.

Community zoning meetings reach halfway point - Manchester Ink Link The Manchester Planning and Community Development Department is seeking to hold community meetings on the proposed zoning ordinance rewrite in each ward of the city and as of Saturday, they’re halfway to that goal.

“There is definitely a housing shortage in the city of Manchester and there isn’t a lot of places housing can go, and there is definitely a shortage of affordable housing, so I am glad to see this,” she said. “If we’re going to talk about parking and traffic concerns, maybe we should also talk more about public transportation as well.”

Re-envisioned Pearl affordable housing complex returns to Planning Board - Manchester Ink Link Affordable housing is also a component of the new proposal. Unlike the overall scope compared to the first version of the Pearl however, the new Pearl has

https://manchester.inklink.news/gamut-of-perspectives-at-ward-1-zoning-gathering/?

Gamut of perspectives at Ward 1 zoning gathering - Manchester Ink Link The Manchester Planning and Community Development’s draft zoning ordinance road tour continued on Wednesday with an event at Webster Elementary School in Ward 1.

August 1 Planning Board: Pearl Street Lot, affordable housing + more - Manchester Ink Link The proposal now includes replacing the existing parking lot with up to 150 residential apartments in a 5-story structure, twelve (12) 3-story townhouses, and 296 parking spaces in a two-level parking deck.

https://www.wmur.com/article/nh-renters-worry-housing-market-prices/61733385

New Hampshire renters worry as housing prices remain steadily high A recent CNN poll found that 86% of current renters in the U.S. want to buy a house but can’t afford one.

https://manchester.inklink.news/the-soapbox-we-need-policy-change-to-bring-back-affordable-housing/

The Soapbox: We need policy change to bring back affordable housing - Manchester Ink Link Renting in Manchester is often stressful. Too many of our friends and neighbors are wracked by the uncertainty of whether they’ll be able to remain in the community for another year, while trying to keep up with increasing rent costs, which are a direct result of the lack of homes here in Manchest...