The Manchester Zoning Board of Adjustment voted 4–1 July 10 to grant variances needed to convert the long‑vacant Hallsville School at 275 Jewett Street into a 36‑unit affordable housing development while preserving the building's gym for Parks & Recreation programs.

The project team said the plan will create 13 studios, 14 one‑bedrooms and 9 two‑bedrooms, provide on‑site parking and add landscaping and sidewalks around the former school. "The incorporation of a well‑managed, well‑landscaped, beautified property would increase the property values in the neighborhood," said Anne Ketterer, the project architect with Novo Studio.

Why it matters: The Hallsville campus has been unused since 2021 and community members and city officials described ongoing problems with vandalism and trash. Supporters said putting residents back into the building and professionally managing the site would reduce those problems and add much‑needed affordable units in a market with a very low vacancy rate.

What the board heard: The hearing drew more than a dozen in‑person speakers and several letters. State Rep. Lily Foss, who grew up at Hallsville, spoke in favor and tied the redevelopment to broader housing needs: "Multifamily housing benefits everyone," she said, adding that many of her constituents list housing as their top concern.

Community organizers and local housing advocates also endorsed the plan. "Building community housing builds better communities," said Carol Flavin Veenstra of the Granite State Organizing Project. The city’s parks chief, Mark Gomez, submitted a letter backing the project and noting the developer’s commitment to preserve the gym for Parks & Rec programs, including pickleball and youth classes.

Opposition centered on traffic, parking and neighborhood character. Nearby homeowners argued the proposed density and parking demand would overburden narrow residential streets. "The increased density and the activity will disturb the quiet residential character of the neighborhood," said Mary Roberge, a longtime neighbor, who also submitted photos showing how parking on both sides of the street could narrow passage for emergency vehicles.

Project team response: The developer and their traffic consultant submitted a trip‑generation letter comparing school peak hours with residential use. The consultant summarized the report for the board, saying the morning peak trips would fall from roughly 176 during school operation to about 35 for the residential use — a net reduction of about 141 trips in the morning peak hour.

On parking, project representatives said the proposed housing mix typically generates fewer cars than single‑family homes and that on‑site parking (at a stated ratio the team estimated at about 1.3 cars per unit) plus agreements with off‑site providers and likely use of public transit would limit spillover onto neighborhood streets.

Market effects: The applicant submitted a broker opinion from Laura Gamache, who inspected the property and concluded a well‑managed redevelopment would stabilize or increase surrounding property values, citing the current building's state of disrepair as a drag on the neighborhood.

Board decision and conditions: After questions from members about parking counts, trip data and preservation details, the board moved to approve relief from the listed zoning sections governing multifamily use, fitness/recreation use, parking setbacks and business parking in a residential district. The vote was 4 in favor, 1 opposed (Alderman/board member Catherine Boleski opposed).

What’s next: With variance relief granted, the project will proceed to required permitting through Planning & Community Development and building permits; Parks & Rec said it expects to retain access to the gym for programming under terms the developer described in letters to the board. The applicant told the board it will return to planning staff with final site and landscaping plans and to finalize any off‑site parking arrangements referenced at the hearing.

The debate combined neighborhood preservation concerns, technical traffic and parking analyses, and advocacy about housing scarcity — illustrating the tradeoffs the board weighed before granting the variances that enable the Hallsville School’s conversion.