The ongoing pandemic creates a great deal of uncertainty, but there is one thing we know for sure: we need more housing.
 
As you can see from NH Housing’s December 2021 Housing Market Snapshot, we have underbuilt significantly over the past decade. We need about 20,000 new housing units statewide in order to stabilize the housing market.
 
Our new 2022-24 Strategic Plan details what LRCD plans to do to address the housing affordability crisis here in the Lakes Region. We are also excited to employ new tools in our efforts to empower our residents to achieve economic security.
 
Thank you for supporting our work. We can’t do it without you!

Construction began January 3rd on the $5.4 million project to renovate the 25-unit Deer Run apartment complex at 62 Pleasant Street in Meredith, NH. Construction is scheduled to last 12 months. Upon completion, the property name will change to Harvey Heights.

Planned improvements include interior renovations to all apartments, the addition of a sprinkler system for life safety, and a multitude of energy efficiency improvements, including new windows, doors, insulation, and siding. The goal of the project is to ensure the units have good indoor air quality and are energy efficient, which is good for the tenants, the community, and the environment. The project also includes improvements to the grounds.
 
The property will remain occupied throughout construction. Blocks of four apartments will be vacated on a rolling basis to complete the interior renovations.
 
Funders that made this project possible include Raymond James Tax Credit Fund, New Hampshire Housing, New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Rural Development, Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, NeighborWorks America, and Rural LISC. Construction financing is provided by Franklin Savings Bank. Permanent financing is provided by NeighborWorks Capital and USDA – Rural Development. North Branch Construction is the construction manager. Stewart Associates Architects and Northpoint Engineering comprise the design team.

Click here for press release.

On January 3, the Northfield Planning Board did the right thing and voted not to move forward with a proposed amendment to the town’s zoning ordinance that would have stopped our proposed 66-unit housing development on Route 140. We can now begin the process of seeking planning approvals for our project.
 
We have submitted our application for a special exception, which is the first step in the process. We are on the agenda for the January 24th Zoning Board meeting.

As we begin a new year we are grateful for the generous support we have received. Below we have highlighted a few funders who are supporting our work and programs in 2022.

• The Dobles Foundation has provided $25,000 to help support our Real Estate Development and Resident Services Programs.
  
  
• Bank of New Hampshire granted us $5,000 to construct a community garden at Ames Brook Apartments in Ashland.This garden will help us combat food insecurity, further build community engagement, and offer fresh healthy choices to residents.
  
  
• NH Electrical Co-op awarded LRCD $3,000 to support our Housing Stability Program. The Housing Stability Program helps very low-income families overcome barriers to stable housing and economic security.

Take the Wheel NH was featured on the NeighborWorks America blog.

How healthy is the space around you, and how well do you feel within it? Environmental wellness focuses on building an environment around you that is sustainable and life-giving. Some examples of environmental wellness might include things like creating organized spaces, reducing clutter, improving air quality, gardening, or making efforts to reduce your carbon footprint.

Some things you can do to improve your Environmental Wellness are:

• Find one space in your home to de-clutter. Breaking overwhelming tasks down into small chunks makes us way more like to accomplish our goals. Try focusing on one drawer, one cabinet, or one closet;
  
  
• Donate your used clothes, toys, and homegoods. Your used clothing, toys, and homegoods can be turned into the programs your community depends on. Donating your belongings to places like Salvation Army and St. Vincent De Paul ensure that families in your community have access to food,clothing, and emergency financial assistance. It also helps keep these things from polluting our world!;
  
  
• Make your own cleaning products. Here are some recipes for DIY Household Cleaners:
  https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a24885/make-at-home-cleaners/; and
  
  
• Switch to reusable bags.Did you know it takes 1,000 years for a plastic bag to degrade in a landfill? Plastic virtually never goes away! Tryusing canvas totes, reusable shopping bags, or just reusing the plastic bags you have! For more tips on caring for theenvironment, check out this link: https://www.ecofriendlyhabits.com/how-to-be-eco-friendly/
  

(Meredith, NH) – Construction began January 3rd on Lakes Region Community Developers’ (LRCD) $5.4 million project to renovate the 25-unit Deer Run apartment complex at 62 Pleasant Street in Meredith, NH. Construction is scheduled to last 12 months. Upon completion, the property name will change to Harvey Heights.
 
“This project has been five years in the making and we’ve had to overcome many obstacles,” said Carmen Lorentz, LRCD’s Executive Director. “I’m proud of our team for persisting against all odds to preserve these affordable units and bring them up to our healthy housing standards.”
 
LRCD purchased the property in 2016. It was built in the 1970s using a US Department of Agriculture – Rural Development financing program that requires the property be maintained as affordable housing for 40 years. After that, the owner can essentially do what they want with the property. In this case, the owner wanted to sell it.
 
Given the property’s location, LRCD believed there was a high likelihood the property would have been redeveloped as high-end housing, meaning 25 units of affordable housing would have been lost. LRCD purchased the property to preserve it as affordable housing. Due to the scarcity of resources in New Hampshire to develop and renovate affordable housing, it took LRCD five years to put all the funding together. “It’s unbelievably competitive when you apply for funding,” said Lorentz. “The need is so great, but the resources are very limited.”
 
Planned improvements include interior renovations to all apartments, the addition of a sprinkler system for life safety, and a multitude of energy efficiency improvements, including new windows, doors, insulation, and siding. The goal of the project is to ensure the units have good indoor air quality and are energy efficient, which is good for the tenants, the community, and the environment. The project also includes improvements to the grounds.
 
The property will remain occupied throughout construction. Blocks of four apartments will be vacated on a rolling basis to complete the interior renovations.
 
Funders that made this project possible include Raymond James Tax Credit Fund, New Hampshire Housing, New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Rural Development, Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, NeighborWorks America, and Rural LISC. Construction financing is provided by Franklin Savings Bank. Permanent financing is provided by NeighborWorks Capital and USDA – Rural Development. North Branch Construction is the construction manager. Stewart Associates Architects and Northpoint Engineering comprise the design team.

Lakes Region Community Developers (LRCD) seeks to develop housing for essential workers and the elderly on Route 140 in Northfield in the “South Park” subdivision next to the Birch Hill Pet Resort. This land is in the Commercial Industrial Zone (C-1 Zone) under the Northfield Zoning Ordinance. Multifamily projects are currently permitted by special exception in the C-1 Zone. LRCD is on the agenda for the January 3, 2022 Northfield Planning Board Meeting. Yes, that’s tonight!

LRCD just learned that also on the agenda tonight is a public hearing on a proposal to amend the zoning so that multi-family development is not allowed in the C-1 Zone. While we do not know the origin of this proposal, we do find its timing suspicious. An abutter to our project has stated to us that he will do all he can to stop our project from moving forward, and we are aware by word of mouth that he has, in fact, been working to do just that.

Under the law, municipalities may only adopt zoning ordinances for the good of the general welfare of the entire town, not to support the interests of a few people. Zoning is intended to promote public, not private, interests. Zoning amendments made outside the adoption of a new master plan are frowned upon. Zoning should not be done piecemeal and spot zoning is illegal.

The Town of Northfield Master Plan was adopted in 2014 and is, therefore, not stale. In fact, the 2019 Northfield Community Profile reinforces the need for affordable housing and specifically lists, as a challenge, "zoning too restricted for affordable housing" (Community Profile, page 13).

Northfield residents who are concerned about this issue should participate in the public hearing tonight, January 3, at 7pm or email the town with comments before 4pm today, asking that those comments be read into the record of the hearing tonight. Emails should be sent to Stephanie Giovannucci sgiovannucci@northfieldnh.org by 4pm today. Please share this information with any friends or family in Northfield. Thank you.
 
Carmen Lorentz
Executive Director
Lakes Region Community Developers