Jody Nizaka, Manchester’s economic development director, gave the Board of Mayor and Aldermen a briefing on the city’s use of the RSA 79‑E community revitalization tax relief incentive at the July 21 meeting.

Nizaka summarized the statute’s purpose: to allow local governing bodies to grant temporary tax relief to property owners who restore or replace underused buildings that yield a public benefit. She said covenants recorded at the registry of deeds protect the public benefit and that tax relief is temporary — after the relief period properties are reassessed and taxed at their post‑renovation market value.

Performance and examples

Nizaka said Manchester has approved 23 RSA 79‑E projects since 2008, with 17 projects completed and five projects in construction. She highlighted three examples:

- 20 Concord Street (Firefly Bistro and Bar): pre‑renovation value roughly $800,000; post‑relief taxable value around $1.2 million.
- Factory on Willow (252 Willow Street): pre‑renovation value about $2.1 million; assumed post‑relief value around $8.4 million.
- 8‑10 Elm Street (Citizens Bank building): pre‑renovation value $8.1 million; post‑rehab taxable value around $37.4 million.

Nizaka said completed projects contributed nearly 900 new residential units in downtown redevelopment and roughly $3.1 million in additional revenue to the city when comparing pre‑renovation values to values at the end of relief periods. She offered to provide a more detailed assessor‑verified analysis to the board if desired.

Board discussion

Aldermen asked how the program could be applied to other neighborhoods, including a state provision that creates a residential revitalization option limited by unit count; Nizaka said the residential revitalization section of state statute is currently limited to properties with fewer than five units and therefore has been used in downtown/village districts rather than higher‑density inner‑city neighborhoods. She said the economic development office, planning staff and the assessor’s office would collaborate to identify areas that might benefit.

Next steps

Nizaka told the board she would provide more detailed data on the total amount of tax relief granted versus the city’s return on investment once the assessor’s office finalizes figures.