NeighborWorks Southern New Hampshire and design consultant TF Moran returned to the Manchester Planning & Zoning Board on July 3 to seek a one-year extension of site-plan approval for the downtown NeighborWorks project and to present architectural details for a proposed 312-space parking garage that accompanies a 125-unit apartment building and townhomes.

Why it matters: The project is a substantial downtown housing and parking effort tied to NeighborWorks’ development and includes a multi-level, open-air parking garage that the city expects ultimately to accept and operate; the board’s architectural review aims to ensure the garage complements adjacent buildings and provides safe pedestrian and accessible circulation.

What the presentation covered

TF Moran’s Bob Duval and NeighborWorks’ Jennifer Vadney said construction financing and tax-credit timing have progressed: NeighborWorks reported a reservation of low-income housing tax credits and near-term steps toward closing. Duval displayed the garage’s proposed elevations and explained the structure’s open-steel, concrete-deck construction. The design uses a semi-translucent fabric cladding product (referred to in the presentation as TexClad) to screen interior cars while retaining natural ventilation and visual orientation. Brick/gray panel elements are proposed to relate to the NeighborWorks façade.

Board and staff requests

Board members asked the applicant to explore a redder brick option to better match the NeighborWorks building and asked the team to consider variable translucency for the fabric cladding (denser at levels likely to receive headlights, more open above) to reduce glare and direct headlight intrusion into nearby residential windows. Planning staff and DPW flagged an accessibility/circulation detail in a DPW memo: the board asked the applicant to confirm accessible pedestrian routings from accessible parking stalls to sidewalks and entrances and suggested adding a northwest-level pedestrian access door from the garage into the internal sidewalk/alley to minimize the need for users to cross drive aisles.

Process and timing

Applicants requested a one-year extension of their approval (to August 2026) and said they would return with required detail. The board kept the public hearing open and agreed the project team could return at the next meeting (July 17) with the requested materials and final documentation so staff could prepare a final report for a decision.