Manchester needs more homes
of all shapes & sizes,
for all of our neighbors.
Granite Staters cannot find housing options that meet their needs & their budgets. There is a better way.
We have come together as a group of community organizations and leaders to support common-sense changes to our city ordinances that will bring about more attainable housing choices for all Manchester residents.
Our community needs more housing options
Manchester is facing a severe shortage of housing that is harming our economy and the livelihood of our residents.
According to the 2022 ‘Housing Underproduction’ report from Up for Growth, Manchester alone has a shortage of 8,500 homes due to cumulative underproduction since 2012. The housing shortage persists in large part because of exclusionary zoning and land use rules designed to suppress the construction of less expensive housing types.
Cottage clusters like this one are more naturally affordable but are often banned in cities & neighborhoods.
Manchester has a choice:
Unaffordable sprawl or starter homes near jobs?
Once attainable suburbs have become too expensive for families, with unaffordably large houses and long commutes.
In towns and cities across New Hampshire, young people and young families can’t find housing close to their parents and grandparents, young adults can’t move out of their parents’ homes, and the shortage of housing close to job centers results in longer commutes, wasted personal time, and more unnecessary pollution.
We can expand the number of starter homes by changing Manchester’s zoning ordinance to allow homes to be built and sold on more modest plots of land, and re-legalizing middle housing options like townhomes and fourplexes. Removing unnecessary parking mandates will free up land for more homes.
Middle housing options like backyard cottages can be a starter home for a young person trying to stay in the community they grew up in.
Manchester seniors should have the freedom to age in place or downsize.
With few age-friendly housing options available, many seniors are stuck in homes unfit for their changing needs.
In Manchester, allowing smaller, age-friendly homes means seniors will be able to find quality housing that meets their needs to age in place in the communities they helped to build, and will help empty-nesters downsize from larger family homes, making space for younger families.
We can extend seniors the freedom they have earned to choose to age in place or downsize by legalizing backyard cottages, and expanding housing options near amenities like grocery stores, community centers, and health care providers.
Backyard cottages can allow seniors the ability to age in place, close to a family member or care giver.
Manchester can replace traffic with neighborhoods close to jobs.
Manchester should revise our rules around parking lots so we can build more homes close to jobs and amenities like grocery stores and parks.
Our exclusionary zoning rules push new housing further away from job centers, forcing people to spend more time in their cars, cutting into quality time with their children and families.
Changing the rules to allow more homes of different sizes and at different price points will allow more Manchester residents to find homes they can afford, close to school, jobs, and grocery stores.
Allowing more housing in commercial areas will give more Granite Staters the opportunity to walk, bike, or take transit to work.
Manchester can make important, common sense changes to allow more attainable homes to be built.
Manchester has an opportunity to remove these common policy barriers to more attainable housing by revising its municipal zoning ordinance to legalize more home types throughout the city. In addition, eliminating parking requirements will help increase housing development, and allow the market to determine how many parking spots are needed for which type of home.
Our campaign is seeking to update zoning standards in Manchester to raise the standard for everyone. As Manchester Planning Commission and City Council consider important changes to make building more homes possible, your voice is needed. Manchester elected officials need to hear from you to understand how the lack of available and attainable homes in our community have impacted you and your family.
We are community organizations, housing advocates, and city leaders who believe Manchester can become affordable for all it’s residents.
To join the Manchester Neighbors Welcome Coalition, learn more about municipal zoning standards, or just stay in touch, email bella@603forward.org