The battle was won, but with $100M on the line, the war will continue

Rochester and Gonic residents listened politely but let Brickyard apartment complex advocates know they were squarely against the proposal, twice. (Rochester Voice photo)

ROCHESTER - Part of Gov. Sununu's $100 million InvestNH housing initiative includes $5 million to give cities resources to "update or expand pro-housing planning and zoning regulations," but a Right to Know request by The Rochester Voice unearthed no documentation thus far that the city of Rochester has enriched itself by seeking to change zoning at the Gonic Brickyard.
Catholic Charities of New Hampshire said earlier this week they had decided to opt out of their proposal to build a 180-unit, three building apartment complex at the Brickyard after Gonic residents had vehemently opposed it during two public meetings.
Rochester City Attorney Terence O'Rourke also reported back that "no government records exist" regarding:
Whether or not CCNH had backed out of its purchase and sale agreement
Whether CCNH had either forfeited or had refunded its $10,000 deposit it put down in connection with a yearlong purchase and sale agreement signed in July.
While The Rochester Voice requested that O'Rourke forward any such documents as they become available, it remains murky as to exactly what the interaction was between the city and CCNH as the Brickyard proposal foundered.
The lack of transparency has some residents concerned.
"The purchase and sales agreement mentions something to the effect that Catholic Charities may be entitled to reasonable out of pocket expenses," said Susan Rice, who spoke at last Thursday's Gonic School Listening Session. "The question is, what are reasonable out of pocket expenses, are they surveying, wetland and preliminary concept plans? My suggestion is if Catholic Charities has voluntarily withdrawn their interest in purchasing the property, after conducting due diligence, that the city obtain the necessary legal documentation to that effect, wish each other the best and move on."
Cliff Newton, a Rochester resident and state rep, said he resented the tone-deaf attitude forthcoming from city officials, both elected and paid.
"Our good city appears to be under attack from elites who have little respect for its citizens (ergo the pitchforks) and are turning a deaf ear, to what we want," he wrote in a letter to editor in today's edition of The Rochester Voice.
Meanwhile there was both jubilation and contempt in full throat on social media.

"Who comes up with these ideas and just how much are they making," wrote Cheryl Grenier Meyer. "They need to give it up unless they want to redo the whole town. Not happy. This is a Bjden's New Infrastructure plan....."

Grace Armano said making a community grow should be about "identifying the key talking points that highlight the many benefits the neighborhood has to offer."
"Young people who are starting families are looking for a neighborhood that is reminiscent of their own childhood," she added. "Remember the fun you had playing outside with your friends, riding bikes until the sun went down? You can re-create that for current and prospective residents."
Gene McCarthy Jr. blames the housing debacle squarely on Biden and the pandemic.
"The Biden administration is destroying this country and it started when they were paying people to stay home and not work!" he said. "Now, those that are working from home do not even want to go back to the office! Get the people to work again and then they can buy their own house!"
Other parts of Gov. Sununu's InvestNH housing plan include $40 million in grants to municipalities ($10G per unit; up to $1M per locality) "to incentivize towns to address housing shortages."
Another $50 million is for money to assist with the costs in building new multifamily (five or more units), with government funding of up to 50 percent of the development's construction cost.