LRCD residents helped downtown Laconia get into the Christmas spirit by adding their homemade ornaments to the LRCD tree. LRCD sponsored a tree as part of Celebrate Laconia Lights Festival.

The Board of Directors of the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) has announced $4.1 million dollars in matching grants awarded to thirty-two projects across the state, including the Gale School project in Belmont.

LRCD has received a $21,000 grant award to support the pre-development work required for the renovations of the historic Gale School.

We are very appreciative of LCHIP’s investment in redeveloping the Gale School” said Carmen Lorentz, LRCD's Executive Director. “The LCHIP award enables us to hire a Historic Consultant, complete civil engineering, and begin architectural work, all crucial items for the redevelopment of this historic building."

LRCD is honored to have our Gilford Village Knolls III development featured in the Community Loan Fund's Annual Report. The Fund provided the necessary loan funds for a large rooftop solar array.

To learn more about our work with the Community Loan Fund on GVK III and to see their Annual Report - click here.

Residents enjoyed some socially distanced fun fall activities. An outdoor pumpkin carving & painting event took place at Harvey Heights Meredith. Also, trunk or treat events were held at Ames Brook Apartments in Ashland and Lochmere Meadows in Tilton.

LRCD was recently awarded funds to help expand our Community Building & Engagement Program. Funding was provided by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), a federal agency with the mission to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. CNCS has awarded Volunteer Generation Fund dollars to Volunteer NH, which then selected nonprofit organizations like LRCD to receive sub-grants to grow volunteer program opportunities that support New Hampshire communities. With this award, LRCD has been able to double the capacity of our Community Building & Engagement (CB&E) program with the recent hiring of a second Resident Services Coordinator.

Experience has shown that the most effective way to accomplish community goals is to engage its community members. Through the CB&E program, we are empowering our residents to work together to find solutions to the problems in their community, such as establish a community watch, hold informational events, or host guest speakers. LRCD is working to give residents the tools necessary, to host community events, and create things to strengthen their communities.

LRCD is grateful for this funding and excited to see the growth of this program, our residents, and our communities.

LRCD's rehabilitation of Ames Brook Apartments is complete. This $5 million rehab project has brought Ames Brook  and its 40-units up to our healthy housing standards by improving life safety systems, indoor air quality, accessibility, and energy efficiency.

Please enjoy this four-minute virtual tour of Ames Brook Apartments.

We moved into 193 Court Street, Laconia last summer, but the renovations are not done! Last, year, we did all the work we could afford to do to convert the vacant building into our headquarters and the hub of our community building & engagement work in Laconia. The items still left to do include: more insulation, new siding on the north and west walls, parking lot improvements, and landscaping. If your business pays NH business enterprise or business profits taxes in NH, you can redirect a significant portion of your tax liability to a local project like this. Please contact Carmen at CLorentz@LRcommunitydevelopers.org if you are interested in supporting the 193 Court Street Project.

2020 America Recycles Day focuses on individual action by highlighting the actions we can all take to collectively address the challenges facing our nation’s recycling system. It aims to inspire communities and individuals to recognize the economic, environmental, and social benefits of recycling. We urge people to reduce, reuse, re-purpose and recycle in every aspect of their life. To actively choose to live a recycled lifestyle by: 

1. Recycling at home, work, school and on the go; 
2. Buying products made with recycled content; and 
3. Educating and encouraging friends, family, and neighbors to take the to recycle!

Happy America Recycles Day!

Lakes Region Community Developers (LRCD) recently completed renovations on Ames Brook Apartments, a 40-unit apartment complex located on Ledgewood Lane in Ashland.
 
The property was built in 1975, and in an effort to preserve it as part of the Lakes Region’s affordable housing stock, LRCD purchased it in November 2016.  It took three years for them to assemble the five million dollars needed for improvements.  Construction began in July 2019.
 
LRCD’s vision is for everyone to live in a healthy home – one that is energy efficient, has excellent indoor air quality, and is free of any hazardous materials such as lead paint, asbestos, or mold. Ames Brook Apartments required significant rehabilitation to bring it up to LRCD’s healthy housing standards.
 
Working with Stewart Associates Architects, NorthPoint Engineering, and North Branch Construction, the renovation transformed the property inside and out, improving safety, accessibility, ventilation, energy efficiency and aesthetics.
 
Exterior upgrades included a new parking lot, new roofs, new windows, decks, additional insulation and more, while on the inside there are new kitchens, new bathrooms, and carpets replaced with low VOC vinyl flooring. The fire alarm system was upgraded and a sprinkler system was installed. In addition, two of the 40 units were converted into fully ADA compliant apartments, where none were available before. Common areas also received a face lift.
 
Ames Brook was LRCD’s first occupied rehabilitation project, adding a new layer of complexity to the process. Residents had to be relocated to new apartments, with some of them having to move twice. LRCD is grateful for their cooperation and good humor through 14 months of construction.
 
LRCD wishes to thank the following organizations without which the project would not have been possible: Raymond James Tax Credit Fund, New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority, Franklin Savings Bank, New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority, the US Department of Housing & Urban Development, the US Department of Agriculture – Rural Development, Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, Rural LISC, NeighborWorks America and the Town of Ashland.
 
Ames Brook Apartments is managed by The Hodges Companies of Concord, who has provided third-party property management services for LRCD for 13 years.
 
“This was a challenging project, but we are immensely proud of it,” said Carmen Lorentz, LRCD’s Executive Director. “It’s so gratifying to hear from the tenants how much they love their new apartments.”
 
LRCD welcomes you to take a virtual tour of the new Ames Brook Apartments to see all the improvements.  Visit LRcommunitydevelopers.org for the Ames Brook Apartments Virtual Open House.

With a generous grant from NEF Housing Charities, Inc. LRCD was able to purchase and distribute two reusable cloth facemasks to each of our residents. We felt this was  a small way we could help our residents stay healthy.

In addition to building affordable rental housing, we are working to help our community members of modest means overcome other obstacles. Towards this goal we have created two new programs.

If you know someone struggling to pay their mortgage or rent because of Covid-19, please tell them about the NH Housing Relief Fund, which can provide one-time grants and ongoing assistance to help keep NH families housed.

We moved into 193 Court Street, Laconia last summer, but the renovations are not done! Last, year, we did all the work we could afford to do to convert the vacant building into our headquarters and the hub of our community building & engagement work in Laconia. The items still left to do include: more insulation, new siding on the north and west walls, parking lot improvements, and landscaping. If your business pays NH business enterprise or business profits taxes in NH, you can redirect a significant portion of your tax liability to a local project like this. Please contact Carmen at CLorentz@LRcommunitydevelopers.org if you are interested in supporting the 193 Court Street Project.

Many water heaters default to 140-degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius), but temps that high pose not only high energy costs but scalding risks to your family. Most water heaters operate just as efficiently at 120-degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius), and the lower temperature could also help increase the lifespan of your water heater.

For every 10 degrees you lower the water temperature, you can save between 3 and 5 percent on your water heater costs. Additionally, wrapping an insulating blanket around your water heater will help save energy this winter, possibly as much as 4 to 9 percent in water heating costs. Find them in your local hardware store.

LRCD is excited to introduce you to Skylor Beery, our second Resident Services Coordinator. Skylor and Kristy Pearce will work together as Resident Services Coordinators to serve our 700+ residents, as well as expand our Community Building & Engagement Program.

Skylor is originally from Kansas and moved to Laconia over two years ago. Since moving to the region Skylor has become an active community member, she is the President of The Lakes Region Young Professionals network, a board member for Stand Up Laconia and Neighbors In Need. She is also a part of Leadership Lakes Region Class of 2020. Skylor has spent the last 5 years working with survivors of domestic and sexual violence, helping them heal, move forward, access the services they need.

We are thrilled to have Skylor on staff and be able to increase the capacity of our Resident Services and Community Building programs.