At a Tuesday work session on Aug. 12, 2025, the Manchester City Council and city staff discussed neighborhood improvements in Ward 2 focused on a problem-plagued bus shelter area, possible relocation of a mini food pantry and the city-owned open space, use of a vacant Broadmoor property as a community engagement station for police and public works, and options to encourage housing or other development on underused city parcels. "Staff has done a very good job of delineating the issues...and also did a very good job of delineating proposed solutions," Mayor Greenberg said as the council opened the topic.

The council heard accounts from staff and from two residents and business owners who said street-level activity around the bus shelter and adjacent parking lot is interfering with businesses and residential leasing. Denise, the new manager at Maplewood Loop Apartments, told the council she is struggling to lease units because of frequent drug activity and fighting and asked for “a little bit more support.” Shannon, owner of Sugarfix 101, urged faster removal of amenities she said attract loitering: "The food pantry has to go, the benches have to go, and the power needs to be turned off," she said, adding that she photographs recurring daytime and nighttime gatherings and calls police frequently.

Why it matters: Council members and staff linked safety and perception concerns at the bus shelter to impediments for nearby businesses and underused city property. Staff said the site is city-owned and adjacent green space and parking could be repurposed or redeveloped; council members raised rezoning and tax-abatement tools to attract development. The issues also intersect with social services: the city has lacked a social services coordinator since May, and staff said the vacancy has reduced outreach capacity during a summer rise in activity.

Most important facts
- City staff confirmed an earlier administrative step: electrical power to the bus shelter was cut. Staff said cutting power has not produced a clear change in daytime activity and the power was briefly restored for an event before being shut off again. (Staff comment)
- Staff said they will ask MapleGood to recommend new locations for the mini pantry and are discussing siting it closer to the street or elsewhere on nearby city-owned property. (Staff comment)
- Parks funding: staff said the city received a $410,000 county parks grant for renovations at Yale Park and expects an additional roughly $150,000 in the coming fiscal year for related improvements; Parks and Recreation Commission community input will guide use of those funds. (Staff comment)
- Social services coordinator: the position has been vacant since May; staff reviewed 54 candidates, invited 20 to a second interview phase, and said the city probably will not fill the role until September. The staff member said that person connects people to resources but cannot force engagement. (Staff comment)
- Broadmoor and police presence: staff said Broadmoor offered a vacant building previously used as a police substation, and the city is discussing using the space as a community engagement station for patrol officers and public works staff. (Staff comment)

Discussion and limits of authority
Council members discussed longer-term design options for the street and parking pattern around Yale and the bus shelter; one council member recalled a design competition used previously for Sutton Loop Park to generate ideas. Staff noted that while rezoning and tax-abatement tools could attract development, any tax abatement would require work with the city attorney and a council resolution; staff mentioned previous closed-session discussion about possible extensions under "chapter 3 53." The social services coordinator position, staff said, exists to connect people to services but cannot compel people to engage.

Public comments and enforcement capacity
Both Denise (Maplewood Loop Apartments manager) and Shannon (Sugarfix 101 owner) described daily observations of drug use, nighttime parties and loitering around the bus shelter and requested swift physical changes and additional enforcement. Council members asked staff and police to clarify what officers may lawfully do when people are not breaking criminal laws and said the council will seek police input at a later meeting to explain operational limits.

Next steps and staff directions
- Staff will ask MapleGood to submit siting recommendations for the mini pantry. (direction to staff)
- Staff will continue to pursue rezoning options identified in the forthcoming comprehensive plan and will consult the city attorney about whether to draft a resolution or ordinance to provide tax-abatement incentives under "chapter 3 53." (direction to staff)
- Council members asked staff to explore resurfacing and capital improvements for the Maplewood parking lot and to coordinate with Broadmoor about the offered community engagement station. (direction to staff)

The council did not take a formal vote on any ordinance or allocation during the work session; members said the topic will be revisited and that staff, police and community stakeholders will be brought together for further planning.