Manchester Infill & Small Developments

Desperately needed additions to city's affordable housing stock...
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Affordable housing construction set to begin at Merrimack and Chestnut | Manchester Ink Link

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Affordable housing construction set to begin at Merrimack and Chestnut​

MANCHESTER, N.H. – On a very chilly Wednesday morning, city officials and local business leaders gathered near the corner of Merrimack and Chestnut Streets to inaugurate construction on new affordable housing that will be coming to that intersection.

Lincoln Avenue Capital will construct housing at 351 Chestnut St., the former site of the Manchester Police Department headquarters, as well as at 80 Merrimack St., another currently vacant lot. A small park will be placed between the two new buildings and the Norris Cotton Federal Building and a third development at 167 Lake Ave. operated by Families in Transition that will help create emergency housing for families experiencing homelessness.

The groundbreaking represents what is the largest investment by a private real estate developer in Manchester history and one of the largest affordable housing developments in state history.

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Combined, the projects will create 142 units of apartments for individuals making anywhere from 0-60 percent of the city’s average median annual income or AMI. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Manchester’s AMI in 2020 was $33,675 for an individual or $62,087 for a household. Within those units, 30 will be set aside for veterans.

Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig also noted that Lincoln Avenue Capital is working with local artists to incorporate public art into the new buildings and open spaces that will be placed at the intersection.

“Instead of abandoned buildings and empty parking lots, this corner will become home to three new apartment buildings teeming with life,” she said.

Three projects were supported by $3 million in federal grant fundingallocated to Manchester and approved by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, waivers for building permit fees until issuance of a certificate of occupancy as well as other funding from the city and InvestNH for affordable housing development, part of approximately $18.5 million allocated by the city during Craig’s tenure as mayor.


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80 Chestnut Street

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351 Chestnut Street
 
I am curious about what will be constructed where the old Michael's hair salon building is located, adjacent to the SNHU arena. I know the property is currently for sale. Hopefully some apartments or mixed development. This is still technically the Gaslight district. Quite a bit a change in the past 10 years in this area. A piano bar or club would be nice, with some apartments above it.
 
Seanflynn78 said:
I am curious about what will be constructed where the old Michael's hair salon building is located, adjacent to the SNHU arena. I know the property is currently for sale. Hopefully some apartments or mixed development. This is still technically the Gaslight district. Quite a bit a change in the past 10 years in this area. A piano bar or club would be nice, with some apartments above it.
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Looking at the listing, Elm Street Auto and Granite State Fruit are not part of the parcel for sale. Hopefully a potential buyer can negotiate purchase of those properties as well. Otherwise, it would be difficult to see anyone wanting to redevelop with those dumpy properties adjacent to it.

I realize it will take time, but it would be nice to just bulldoze everything south of the arena and start fresh lol. Such a blighted neighborhood.
 
Yes plus the owner of vape store held up the construction of 409 Elm - Red Oak apartment building. I am happy to see that area changing. I know the city really wants the Gaslight district to be the place to go to in southern NH.
 
Crazy. In an ideal world, Michael’s would get redeveloped quickly and the vape shop + auto place would be next on the list. That would be a nice start to getting this stretch in a better state. Then it could work its way toward Valley St.

Would be nice to see the Murphy’s lot get redeveloped as well, or better yet include Murphy’s.

Can see where redeveloping South Elm could be difficult and take time. Visually that area is so bad, it would be difficult to see much appeal until substantial redevelopment were already underway, because every new project will be adjacent to blight until significant work were already complete/underway. That’s why Micheal’s is so important, fill in the gap between Red Oak and then work south toward Valley.
 
Draw7 said:
Crazy. In an ideal world, Michael’s would get redeveloped quickly and the vape shop + auto place would be next on the list. That would be a nice start to getting this stretch in a better state. Then it could work its way toward Valley St.

Would be nice to see the Murphy’s lot get redeveloped as well, or better yet include Murphy’s.

Can see where redeveloping South Elm could be difficult and take time. Visually that area is so bad, it would be difficult to see much appeal until substantial redevelopment were already underway, because every new project will be adjacent to blight until significant work were already complete/underway. That’s why Micheal’s is so important, fill in the gap between Red Oak and then work south toward Valley.
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I think that huge RAISE project that's been funded and is in the planning stages is going to be a huge help for South Elm. It will create a new entrance to the South Millyard/Ballpark area as well as create a new gateway for Granite Street and greatly improve pedestrian access across the whole area. The access point from Elm is going to be right near the current MTA lot, which is supposed to move.

https://www.raisemanchester.org/

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Have seen that, hopefully construction can begin sooner rather than later. The connection over the tracks to South Commercial could be particularly helpful for residential. It would provide easy access to the river, which would help give that area some walking appeal. That, and with the supermarket across the street could make it a viable walkable neighborhood. Need to get another project or two going to give that area some momentum.

Have also seen a map with some proposed zoning changes as well. Will have to dig around for that.
 
I wish they'd reconnect those roads that are severed by Queen City Ave to break up its somewhat stroad-y nature. So close to downtown, it makes sense to slow cars down a bit, especially given that they intend to extend the rail trail across the road into downtown, though I understand that people on those streets may not want the risk of more car traffic.

I was surprised how well-used the rail trail was on the other end, near Nutt Pond, with my mother when I was there in October. Just shows how--at least when it's not frozen outside--people are eager for conveniently-located outdoor spaces. It is a shame, though, that South Willow continues to be a car-oriented sprawl zone.
 
Looks like the Meineke/Michaels Hair Design plot is finally getting redeveloped

Hundreds of more apartment units planned for downtown Manchester​

Jonathan Phelps, The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester
Updated Wed, April 17, 2024 at 4:06 AM EDT·3 min read

Apr. 16—Hundreds of new apartments are under construction all around downtown Manchester, and hundreds more are in the pipeline.

One of the latest proposed projects will bring 250 units next to the SNHU Arena on Elm Street. Grand Maison (https://avatarconstructioninc.com/portfolio/grand-maison-in-manchester-nh/), as it will be called, received needed variances, including one for density, from the Manchester Zoning Board of Appeals last week.

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Another project involves converting the upper floors of a five-story brick office building at 959 Elm St., known as the Dunlap Building, into 36 apartments. The project also received a density variance last week.

Eli Leino, an attorney representing Grand Maison, told the board more density in the downtown business district is called for in the city's master plan. The properties on Elm and Auburn streets are in the Arena Overlay District.

The six-story building is expected to have commercial space on the ground floor and "quality market-rate housing" units, according to the plans.
"It's a great opportunity for the city to add a significant number of housing units," Leino told the board last week.
The projects joined the fray of thousands of units being developed across the city in the past three years, including 250 units expected to open across Auburn Street from Market Basket.

The 75 Canal project, at 501 Elm, 533 Elm and 30 Auburn streets, is being developed on the former site of a long- vacant building, Meineke Car Care Center and the Granite State Fruit Co. warehouse. The project takes up 100% of the footprint, according to the plans.

Bridgewater Co., with offices in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, is building a smaller apartment building on Central Street at the spot of the former Athens Restaurant. That building has been branded as Grand Central Suites (https://avatarconstructioninc.com/portfolio/grand-central-suites-in-manchester-nh/).

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Attorney John Cronin said North Street Properties' Dunlap project is similar to others downtown "as the demand for office space wanes and the demand for residential explodes."

The company was expected to seek a tax break before the Board of Mayor and Aldermen Tuesday night.

The market-rate units, between 315 and 530 square feet, likely will offer lower rents than others because of the size. The plans call for 30 one-bedroom units and six studio apartments, with rents ranging from $1,500 to $1,700, according to documents submitted to the city.

"My understanding in the downtown is that there has been a cry for a lot more one-bedrooms," Cronin said.

An atrium will be constructed to make sure all units have windows. New windows will be cut into the brick exterior in some parts of the building.
Manchester Economic Development Director Jodie Nazaka said the vacancy rate for apartments remains below 1%, which has caught the attention of developers, both locally and from outside the state.

"We are continuing to see the trend that there is a want and a need for multifamily units within our downtown," she said. "This has been a steady trend for the last three years now."

A growing bio-fabrication and bio-manufacturing industry is bringing more workers to the Millyard. United Therapeutics plans to hire 100 workers in the future.
Part of the discussion on Grand Maison revolved around parking. Bridgewater plans 115 garage spots but could double the number with a stacking system, such as those used in larger cities.

Possibilities for the commercial units include a cafe or yoga studio.

The "live, work, play dream" is also driving some of the demand, Nazaka said.

The city is working with developers to ensure a good mix of uses downtown.

"We want people to come and live in our downtown, but we want to make sure we have the amenities to support their lifestyle," Nazaka said.
The department also is recruiting shops and other businesses to move to the city, which includes grants and low-interest business loans, she said.
 
Figures I'd start to see the sorts of developments in NH that I'd expected to see in Oregon, yet mostly haven't. It's definitely exciting to consider how much more lively downtown Manch could be with all these projects in place!
 
FishingwithFredo said:
The market-rate units, between 315 and 530 square feet, likely will offer lower rents than others because of the size. The plans call for 30 one-bedroom units and six studio apartments, with rents ranging from $1,500 to $1,700, according to documents submitted to the city.

"My understanding in the downtown is that there has been a cry for a lot more one-bedrooms," Cronin said.
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I'd be impressed if they are capable of building the units with rents that low. Even in Manchester. There's condos/apartments in the area available right now that would be roughly in that range but they are all old.

$1500 is still a lot for one person though.
 
Sad thing is, because the wages are so low back east, doing the same job as I am here in Metro Portland--Oregon--I can (relatively) comfortably afford a nice 2BR at 1700/month, while I still get recruiters contacting me in Greater Boston offering at best 2/3's the pay I make here.

The whole of New England needs to increase things like minimum wage--in addition to dramatically increasing the housing supply--if it wants to staunch the bleed of population to other regions. I suspect that at least in NH, that won't change until we toss out our nepo-baby governor, and reform our governance so there's not the over-representation of fiscally-draining wealthy suburbs in state governance that we have now.

Honestly, the whole state just feels like a refuge for people who've never gotten over the loss of the '64 Goldwater campaign. If Mass hadn't spent decades making a mess of its housing and transportation situation, it'd probably be half as populated as it is now. Of course I have a lot of nostalgia for the place, but New Hampshire is a pretty backwards corner of the country. I worked with a travel nurse from Mississippi once who called New Hampshire "the Alabama of New England", and I think he's probably right.
 
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75 Canal Street now open with 250 apartments & retail space​


https://manchester.inklink.news/rib...t-featuring-250-apartments-plus-retail-space/

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MANCHESTER, NH – The ribbon was cut Nov. 6 at 75 Canal Street, a new “Class-A apartment community” by Jones Street, constructed in the heart of downtown Manchester, where a former brick industrial building and warehouse once stood.

The 250-unit complex features a mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments as well as approximately 2,000 square feet of retail space along Canal Street, which sits just off Elm Street, across from the Market Basket and due east of the railroad tracks.


Courtyard. Photo/Jeffrey Hastings
The project broke ground in November of 2022. Since then many construction spectators have stopped by to snap photos of the work in progress, as the development took shape.

The Wednesday ribbon-cutting was followed by tours of the interior and amenities of the place. Dignitaries in attendance included Mayor Jay Ruais, Greater Manchester Chamber CEO Heather McGrail, and the city’s Department of Economic Development staff Jodie Nazaka and Erik Lesniak, among others.

Apartments range in price from $1,820 for a studio to $3,479 for a three bed/2 bath apartment.

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Revo Casino expansion​

Thursday, October 3, 2024​

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Revo Casino seeks expansion using current Harley-Davidson/Even Hotel lots - Manchester Ink Link

Next week, Manchester’s casino could take a big step toward becoming a much bigger version of itself.
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MANCHESTER, N.H. – Next week, Manchester’s Revo casino could take a big step toward becoming a much bigger version of itself.
Fuss and O’Neill, on behalf of applicant New Hampshire Group LLC and owner Anagnost Investments Inc. will go before the Manchester Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) to help Revo Casino and Social House at 1279 South Willow St. incorporate two adjacent lots on John E. Devine Drive into a new larger combined lot. Those two lots, 55 John E. Devine Dr. and 115 John E. Devine Dr. currently host EVEN Hotel and Manchester Harley-Davidson, respectively.
Three variances will be required to make the lot merger a reality. The first related to impervious surface area, which impacts stormwater runoff. The proposed development would have 83.2 percent of the lot’s area as impervious where 75 percent is the maximum under the city’s zoning ordinance. The other issues involve parking spaces that are 17.5 feet in length where 18.5 feet parking spots are required and landscaping additions within the required ten-foot setback buffer on the southern and northern bounds of the new lot’s western boundary.

The new gaming facility building is slated to be approximately 62,000 square feet and two stories tall. According to property data from the City of Manchester’s Assessing Department, the current gaming facility is 41,559 square feet. The current building at 1279 South Willow Street, once a movie theater, was constructed in 1977 and already has several grandfathered non-conforming elements such as 95.3 percent impervious cover, pavement within setback buffers and approximately 390 parking spaces that don’t meet size requirements for its location within the city.

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Many of those non-conforming parking spaces located on the western portion of the current 1279 South Willow Street property would be redesignated as “compact car” spaces. Overhang spaces are also proposed.

The variance requests were quickly approved at the Oct. 10 ZBA meeting.
 
So if I'm seeing this correctly, the hotel would be demolished for even more parking?? I haven't lived in Manch for a couple years now, and never spent much time in this area besides going to the theater (when it was there) and the Hannaford's when I did, but I never remember this parking crater EVER being full. Not to mention, hotels and casinos are just kind of natural companions; over here in Oregon (to say nothing of the whole rest of the world), this combo is everywhere. I also can't remember there being almost any other hotels this side of 293 south of downtown.

This seems like a really weird decision to me.
 
After an appointment at the Manchester VA Hospital, I decided to get a few updates for you fellas (3/17/25):
Grand Central Suites, topped out and inner wall up and the Residences at 351 Chestnut Street:
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Aldermen hold off for now on Pine Street bike lane - Manchester Ink Link

A plan to create a new bike lane out of an existing car lane on Pine Street from Bridge to Webster Street has been tabled by the Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen Committee on Public Safety, Health and Traffic.
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In an exchange between Ward 6 Alderman Crissy Kantor and Dobbins, Kantor questioned the need for bicycle lanes, saying she does not see bicycles when she drives.
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