Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council hears plan to convert Elm Street barn into two apartments under RPRZ request
Summary
At a public hearing the Keene City Council heard an application to convert a barn at 429 Elm Street into two dwelling units under the city's Residential Property Revitalization Zone program; staff found the application complete and will forward it to the Finance, Organization & Personnel committee for financial review.
A public hearing at the Keene City Council meeting considered an application asking the city to grant tax relief under RSA 79-e so a barn at 429 Elm Street can be rehabilitated into two residential units.
Community Development Director Paul Andres said staff completed an administrative review and scheduled the application for the hearing as required by RSA 79-e. Paul Andres said the committee recommended the hearing and that the matter will be sent to the Finance, Organization & Personnel (FOP) committee for review of financial details.
George Hansel of H.G. Johnson Real Estate, who represented property owners Joe and Cheryl Bagster, said the project would convert an existing barn/garage into two new apartments, increasing the property from three to five dwelling units. Hansel said the applicant estimates about $2,200,000 in rehabilitation costs and described the work as raising the barn roof to create headroom and installing interior finishes. "I work with and I'm George Hansel from H.G. Johnson Real Estate," he said, describing the owners as small-to-medium local developers and the effort as "workforce housing." He said the structure is largely a shell now and that interior work remains; he estimated completion in the fall but cautioned that interior finishes still need to be installed.
Councilors asked whether the project fit the RPRZ program limits (the program guidance referred to structures of a certain age and unit count). Hansel and staff said the application focuses on the structure being rehabilitated and characterized the request as the creation of two new units; staff indicated the city assessor will complete valuation for any abatement calculation. The mayor noted written comments would be accepted through 1 p.m. on July 7 and that the FOP committee will review the project's financial qualifications at its July 9 meeting.
The hearing closed with no members of the public requesting to speak in person. The council did not make a final determination tonight; the next step is FOP's review and then committee recommendation back to the full council.
