Hanover Study Circle Report
March 2003
We value Portsmouth for its attention to preserving its rich history, for maintaining a working port, for its socio-economically diverse population, and for the vitality of a downtown which promotes a cohesive community feeling.
Our Study Circle easily identified what we value about Portsmouth: its history as evidenced in its buildings, museums, parks and, particularly, its working port; the variety of shops, restaurants and cultural venues that contribute to a cosmopolitan feeling downtown; the sense of community found in neighborhoods; events that bring residents together; and its location on the Piscataqua River.
We also noted areas in need of improvement: socio-economic diversity, and its close parallel, affordable housing, (which have been declining); the preservation of Portsmouth's history; the preservation of open space; parking; traffic flow - of cars and pedestrians; and sidewalk conditions.
Our group covered a range of topics during our preliminary brainstorming session. As we identified the three main issues, certain themes emerged and are incorporated into these main discussion areas
We chose to address the three main topics of:
1) Maintaining and fostering a vital, inclusive Downtown
2) Preservation of Portsmouth's History
3) Housing Issues
If time had allowed, we would have addressed in more depth a fourth topic - Preserving Open Space and Limiting Sprawl. (This is included as Part One of the Appendix.)
Issue #1: Downtown
We had some difficulty defining the actual boundaries of downtown, but our concept of it extends beyond the Central Business District.
We agreed that our downtown is the heart of the city, an asset, and an area of great appeal to residents and visitors. Discussion focused on how to preserve and improve this appeal.
Key Findings:
A. Local Aspect
Importance of retaining small, locally owned businesses which offer variety, value and a "uniqueness" to both residents and non-residents.
People residing downtown give Portsmouth a wonderful vitality.
Proximity to Library seen as a benefit for the downtown area.
Connie Bean Center brings local folks downtown on a regular basis, including many whom might not otherwise venture there.
Special events bring people together for fun and community spirit…Parades, Children's Day, Market Square Day, Farmer's Market, Memorial Day Parade, First Night, July 4th….
B. Cultural/Historical Aspect
Theater/Galleries provide venues/opportunities to access and showcase our arts community.
Prescott Park, Strawberry Banke, Historical landmark buildings are valued treasures.
Parade Mall does not fit in with the character downtown.
C. Waterfront
The Working port, cargo ships, river traffic, Portsmouth Fish Co-op are integral parts of the city's unique identity.
Accessibility to the waterfront is very important.
D. Parking
Whether one is a resident, business owner, or visitor to our downtown, parking can definitely be a big challenge.
E. Safety
Generally speaking, people feel safe walking around downtown.
Recommendations:
A. Local
Limit the number of franchise/chain stores downtown, to retain its distinctive, unique character.
Encourage businesses providing basic needs (groceries, pharmacies, variety stores).. Of concern**… that in time, the stores that can afford to remain downtown may be ones that will draw tourists and visitors but not residents.
Support local merchants … consumers to be encouraged to shop downtown ... use of parking tokens is one approach .
Incorporate residential development into commercial properties; zoning to require that a certain square footage be used for residential occupancy, as well as for assuring a percentage of units be set aside as “affordable”. Permitted uses: retain multi-use zoning downtown, including residential use.
Building new Public Library in close proximity to downtown benefits everyone, as the facility itself offers a public “community-building” environment for all.
Keep recreational facility downtown- Connie Bean Center functions as a “bridge” to downtown for almost all Portsmouth residents, at some point in their lives. Maintain it. If the Federal Building property is redeveloped, it should include in its design the type of community center function that the Connie Bean Center provides.
Develop a partnership between downtown merchants and Event organizers such that special local events and social gatherings can take place on a regular basis.
There is a need for more public restroom facilities.
B. Cultural/Historical
Redevelop Parade Mall, from scratch.
Continue to enforce/create zoning to limit signage downtown. Do not permit the unsightly signage. (i.e., neon)
Continue to preserve the historical look of downtown through the work of the Historic District Commission.
Support the continuation of our working port. Do not try to make it invisible.
C. Waterfront
Retain the increasingly limited public access to the waterfront. Concern over Pier II Restaurant development being lost to private condo ownership.
D. Parking - varying views on how to solve this issue.
Whether or not we have strong feelings about building another parking garage as a solution to the parking problem, we are concerned about the lack of parking. We would not like to see a large parking structure introduced into the downtown landscape. The thinking is: “If you don't build it [parking facility], they [volumes and volumes of people] won't come”!
Alternative solutions ….
-- Establish satellite parking sites on downtown perimeter.
-- Mass Transit to transport people
-- Underground parking built whenever possible.
-- Do Nothing.
-- Consider permit parking for residents - though not in the immediate downtown area where merchants benefit from limited time parking.
E. Safety
Traffic: we took no stand for or against a pedestrian mall in Market Square and were more of the feeling that traffic was part of downtown life, though there was a lot of agreement that it should be easier/safer to bike in the downtown area.
Create bicycle-friendly environment- currently seen as dangerous to ride bike in town.
Schedule downtown trash pickup for late PM or early AM on trash day so the trash doesn't litter the sidewalk and create pedestrian obstacles and hazards from late afternoon on.
Issue #2: Preservation of Portsmouth's History
We must continue our vigilance and stewardship of Portsmouth's historic heritage. Especially during times of widespread change, it is necessary to re-evaluate past areas of progress and of failure and inattention.
Key Findings
With the rich historical heritage found throughout the city of Portsmouth, we find that many of our historic sites (places, not buildings) have been overlooked. These areas are slowly disappearing for simple lack of identification and ignorance of their existence.
Examples of these areas include:
Fort Washington (on Peirce Island) is just about entirely gone.
The Plains-Islington St/Middle Rd.- 1600's massacre
Court St and Pleasant St location- Washington stayed there.
Market Square -example of more recent successful renewal
Recommendations
Identify and designate historic buildings and places throughout the entire city. Educate the public of their significance.
Placement of identifying markers/plaques at historic sites. Offset the costs by encouraging School/Business/Community Partnerships or Sponsorships of these locations.
Develop curriculum in the schools pertaining to these sites. A student-directed course/project could be designed, as an educational tool and/or community service program.
The new library's function room, could be used for educational displays concerning historical preservation.
Issue #3: Housing
Key Findings
We believe that maintaining a community inclusive of a wide range of the socio-economic spectrum throughout the city enriches all of us.
We think that market forces are not likely to promote this condition and believe that government will have to play a part in making housing available to a wide range of income levels.
We envision affordable housing integrated within neighborhoods rather than in separate clusters. We would encourage the city to look at ideas tried by other municipalities or groups in their attempts to address this issue.
Recommendations
Do not set a minimum square footage requirement for downtown residential units greater than those already existing. In other words, do not take action that will force downtown residential units to be less affordable.
When making housing decisions, the city should continue to commit to an open process that fosters community input; that weighs the needs of the community fairly against individual property rights; and that acknowledges that all parties deserve a forum to express their views.
New affordable housing should be integrated into existing neighborhoods rather than segregated as is the case with Gosling Meadows. The school department should continue to ensure that diversity is addressed in its elementary school boundaries.
Government action which could increase the ability of members of our city workforce to reside in town include:
-- Low interest mortgage subsidies for low income residents and certain city employees;
-- Hometown first-time buyers loan;
-- Expansion of properties owned by the Portsmouth Housing Authority;
-- Short of rent control, increased provision of Section 8 housing subsidies;
-- Tax breaks to help certain populations should be revisited;
-- New apartment complexes should be required to rent a percentage of its units to city employees.
City zoning ordinances should be modified to encourage affordable housing by:
-- Make it possible for new affordable housing to be built closer to downtown (infill) as opposed to more rural areas of the city;
-- Allow more mixed use developments that allow residences to be built above commercial space.
Summary
It is of great importance to us that Portsmouth strives to be the best place to live and work for everyone, and we are pleased to be a part of the dialogue. We certainly hope that the concerns and ideas put forth by our group, as well as by others, will be utilized in a constructive way to reach such a goal. We believe that those issues addressed above are a crucial start in the right direction.
Appendix - Part One
Our concern about open space and sprawl
Sprawl is an area of great concern for our study group. Time constraints prevented us from fully addressing this issue, but we would like to include the following addendum to touch upon it.
Key Findings
Portsmouth should approach the protection of its natural environment as a top priority. While we all recognize the importance of preserving the beauty of our historical downtown, the outlying areas must also be protected. The integrity of our city will be cheapened, and ultimately, destroyed, if we continue to allow poorly planned growth.
Already large portions of Route One have become overrun by slapdash strip malls. No one driving through these areas wants to pause -- these regions are congested and repellant.
While we acknowledge that growth is a part of any city's future, we also feel that careful planning and zoning can make it not only acceptable, but enriching.
Recommendations
Strict review of zoning ordinances pertaining to parks and open spaces.
Better dispersal of information about current development to members of our community.
More interaction between city residents and the Planning Board, Board of Adjustment, and the HDC.
Revision of zoning pertaining to the preservation of wetlands.
Portsmouth is surrounded by many ponds, creeks, rivers, wetlands, and lovely green open spaces. The preservation of these areas is just as vital as the protection of our historical buildings. If we do not work to save them, we may wake one morning to find them all gone.
Appendix - Part Two
Other ideas and areas of interest or concern ...
Concern about Pease: how it has changed; how it is governed; how land is used
Tax breaks for airport district vs. additional city revenues from new businesses at Pease.
Governance and decisions about land use at Pease... schools, public recreation, other possibilities?
Need for increased public recreation areas
Recreation & parks: i.e., Pease; old DPW site off Islington St. could have been recreation area.
Support of gym and basketball court at Spinnaker Point
In areas, i.e., Osprey Landing, renegotiate commercial green space to be used for small-sized housing and park area
Develop a community center - a place where people can congregate
Don't let the market buy up our spaces; keep public buildings and public places downtown
Peirce Island... wonderful, underutilized, mis-utilized, nice pool...
Add some umbrellas for shade around the city pool on Peirce Island.
Issue of city council members all being elected at-large... why not ward-specific? (so as to build stronger neighborhood/constituency ties.)
Improving roads and sidewalks in a lot of places. But let's retain the brick sidewalks and style.
Can we (do we want to) put our utilities (phone, electric) underground?
What about racial, ethnic, religious diversity?
Schools and taxes: how to maintain a good education system while keeping taxes in line
Don't like being taxed as a donor town
Primary areas of disagreement...
Whether or not to make the downtown a smoke-free zone.
Maintaining the integrity of single-family residence neighborhoods versus permitting mother-in-law apartments and/or multiple uses that allow, e.g., convenience stores in such neighborhoods.
Precisely how to handle the parking situation downtown.
