Proposed Development at 153 Fisherville Road

On February 22, 2023, the developer held a meeting at Beaver Meadow School to discuss and solicit feedback on a mixed-used development at 153 Fisherville Road. There were about 45 to 50 attendees at the meeting. The questions and concerns that were brought up by the attendees were varied and ranged from zoning issues to the commercial component of the project, various infrastructure considerations, and building-related issues. The meeting was recorded by ConcordTV and made available on their YouTube channel.

Community meeting on proposed development

You are invited to a neighborhood meeting to share information and discuss a proposed new development.

When: February 22, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Where: Beaver Meadow School Cafeteria

The developers will be hosting a community meeting to discuss and solicit input for a newly proposed, mixed use housing and business complex at 153 Fisherville Road, just North of Winsor Ave and abutting Alice Drive.

Hosts: Shane Carter CEO of NH Sustainable Communities and Scott Frankiewicz, NH Land Consultants

Introductions by Ward 2 City Councilor Erle Pierce

New Penacook Businesses expected

We expect to have new business tenants in Penacook, with Warren Street Architects next to Penacook Family Physicians on Crescent St., and Strings And Things Music on Village St in the former Citizens Bank.  On Whitney Road at Merchants Way we should see Jersey Mike's Subs and Service Credit Union.  Site plan approval has been granted by the Planning Board for Starbucks at 8 Whitney Road and a small pharmacy at 10 Whitney Road, directly across from the Wendy’s Restaurant.  Also planned is a sit-down restaurant, urgent care, and several other retailers.

Penacook Community Center and Library Branch construction

The Concord Planning Board approved plans for the new Boys and Girls Club of Central New Hampshire building, and agreements have been finalized with the City to house the Penacook Branch Library at this new location.  We will see demolition of the buildings currently on site, and then this spring construction of the new building should start.  Financial support for this project has been so strong that the Boys and Girls Club's fundraising campaign has officially ended, as they have exceeded their goal of $5.2 million.

Paving and reclamation work set for 23 Penacook streets this year

Those of you who attended the Penacook Village Association meeting last month got to hear about this, and residents of the streets scheduled for work should soon receive correspondence by mail from the City with more information.

The streets slated for work this year are: Barnett Street; Bonney Street; Brodeur Street; Bye Street; Canal Street (from Village St, to Community Dr.); Chandler Street; Coral Street; Dolphin Street; Electric Avenue; Elliott Street; Fifield Street; Hardy Avenue; MacCoy Street; Merrimack Street; Meter Street; Shaw Street; Stark Street  Steeple View; Summer Street; Sweatt Street; Tanner Street; Webster Place (Elm St. to town line); Winter Street.  

Weather permitting, work will begin at the end of March or early April on streets west of Village St., such as Coral, Chandler, Electric, Elliott, Fifield, Sweatt, and Webster.  Starting in June, work will begin on streets to the east of Village St.

Some basic points to keep in mind are:

• During the construction, streets will be closed to on-street parking between 7am and 5pm. One lane of traffic will be maintained at all times during the construction.

• There will be some minor vibrations caused by the equipment used to complete the work.  As a precaution, valuables should be taken from walls or shelves to prevent any damage and can be returned to position after final pavement is completed.
• As part of the preparation for the paving program, you will see City crews clearing back vegetation within the public right of way.

Residents on these streets will also receive information on the City's Curb Cost Share Program, and Sustainable Street Tree Program.  If you do not have granite curbing, this is an opportunity to get it installed along your entire property line that abuts the street, at a cost to you of $27.60 per linear foot.  There is also an opportunity to have a tree planted in your front yard.  The City has the capacity to plant between 25 and 30 trees per year in suitable locations.  All property owners can take advantage of this program.

For more information, or if anyone experiences any issues during the work, you can reach out to Jim Major (Concord's Highway and Utilities Superintendent), Project Manager, at 603-228-2737 or jmajor@concordnh.gov.  Fred Schaefer is the on-site inspector for the City and he can be reached at 603-228-2737 or fschaefer@concordnh.gov.

Free CAT service to the Windmill for Thanksgiving

Concord Area Transit (CAT) is pleased to announce it will provide free round-trip transportation to The Windmill Family Restaurant, 172 Loudon Rd, on Thanksgiving Day to help Concord residents in need of transportation get to the annual Thanksgiving Dinner. Call CAT in advance to reserve a seat at 603-225-1989, and ask for the Thanksgiving Day shuttle. The Windmill wants everyone to be able to enjoy a good Thanksgiving meal, regardless of income status. They're also accepting cash and pie donations, and volunteers interested in helping can call 603-225-0600.

Planning Board meeting December 21 for new Penacook Community Center

The Concord Planning Board set a public hearing for December 21 at 7:00 pm in Council Chambers, 37 Green St, to receive input on the Boys and Girls Club of Central NH's proposal to construct a new community and day care center at 76 Community Drive. At its November 16 meeting, the Planning Board decided that the application is complete; all related documents are available here. If you wish to provide input but can't attend the meeting you can send your comments to hshank@concordnh.gov.

This year also marks the 75th anniversary of local residents raising funds and planning construction of the Penacook Youth Center at the Community Drive location, as noted on the Penacook NH Yesterday & Today Facebook page. We were fortunate then as we are to this day to have community members provide their vision, support and volunteer time to help enrich our village. However, the current Penacook Community Center buildings are in a state beyond reasonable repair and reuse, and the proposal calls for demolition of all existing buildings and construction of a new, 8,900 square foot, single-story building. Construction would begin in spring 2023, and the facility would be completed in late spring / early summer 2024.

City Council meeting December 12 for new Branch Library

At its November 14 meeting, City Council set a public hearing for December 12 at 7:00 pm in Council Chambers, 37 Green St, to receive input on establishing a new Penacook Branch Library and Community Center, by appropriating $1,300,000 for the acquisition of real estate to be developed at 76 Community Drive. Documents related to the public hearing are available here. If you wish to provide input but can't attend the meeting you can send your comments to cityclerk@concordnh.gov.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of converting 1,080 square feet of space at the former Penacook Police Station at 3 Merrimack St. to house the Penacook Branch Library. It's a cozy and charming space, however, the City is faced with potentially $900,000 of total estimated renovation costs to the building, which even if repaired would still have limitations as to size, accessibility, and parking. There has been an ongoing but unsuccessful search for property acquisition suitable for a branch move. There have been public input meetings and much discussion over the past several years as to the preferred path forward. The community has consistently expressed interest in maintaining a bricks and mortar branch, rather than a bookmobile or temporary structure.

The current proposal is for the City to own about 1,470 square feet of space to house the library, and for meeting space and public use. Included would be kitchen facilities and bathrooms. If approved, the City Manager would enter into a purchase and sale agreement with the Boys and Girls Club of Central NH to acquire a portion of the new building to be constructed. Also included is authorization to sell 3 Merrimack St., which is assessed for $330,900, with a deed restriction to ensure that the historic 1899 building would be preserved. To accommodate parking for a new use, a small, vacant City lot at Sanders and Merrimack Streets, assessed at $16,600, would also be sold.

PVA Tree Lighting on December 7

November 29 [update]:

Due to inclement weather, the PVA has changed the date for the 17th Annual Penacook Tree Lighting to Wednesday, December 7, at 6:00 pm at Boudreau Square on Village Street. Attendees can assemble around 5:30 pm to hear carols and singing featuring the Penacook Elementary School Chorus, the Merrimack Valley High School Holiday Ensemble Band, and the Blanchard Family Singers, and watch Santa arrive courtesy of the Concord Fire Department.

November 7:

The PVA will be hosting the 17th Annual Penacook Tree Lighting event on Wednesday, November 30 at Boudreau Square on Village Street. Folks can start to assemble around 5:30 pm to hear carols and singing featuring the Penacook Elementary School Chorus and Blanchard Family Singers and watch Santa arrive courtesy of the Concord Fire Department.

Christmas tree in Penacook, NH.

PVA Annual Meeting on December 8

Everyone is invited to our Annual Meeting, with guest speaker Matt Walsh, Concord's Director of Redevelopment, Downtown Services & Special Projects, on Thursday December 8 at 7:00 pm at the Penacook Elementary School cafeteria. The following projects are planned to be discussed:

  • Canal St Park Update (final design, grant & permitting update)

  • Penacook Landing Phase 2 Update (site work for the second apartment building is underway)

  • Whitney Rd development (including Merchants Way and additional projects in development permitting)

  • Spring / Summer 2023 Paving Program for Penacook Village (preliminary overview)

Phase 2 of the Penacook Landing apartments

The Caleb Group has just closed on its financing package for Phase 2 of the Penacook Landing Project located at 35 Canal Street, to allow construction of a new 20,000SF building featuring 20 new apartments (18 of which will be affordable units). In addition to adding much-needed housing to our community, the project will generate $107,515 in permitting revenues for the City and approximately $45,000 in property tax revenues annually.

Proposed plan for park and phase 2 of Penacook Landing

The new park is in design phase based on community input received at the June public meeting. Watch here for more details on the next meeting.

Lilac Street/Borough Road Intersection meeting

A public meeting to discuss proposed improvements to the Lilac Street/Borough Road Intersection will be held at 6:00 pm on October 6, 2022 at the Penacook Elementary School cafeteria, 60 Village St. The proposed plan involves removal of the existing “slip lane” at the intersection. Changing the current intersection will improve pedestrian and motor vehicle safety by eliminating high speed turns, and improving sight distance. Construction is scheduled for Spring / Summer 2023.

Lilac Street at Burough Road

Additional meetings will be coming to discuss with residents the paving work planned for eighteen additional Penacook streets. Abutters will be sent meeting notices by mail from the City. Watch this space for further information.

Forum With the Candidates for the NH State Legislature

On Wednesday, October 19, the League of Women Voters of New Hampshire and the Penacook Village Association will be sponsoring a forum with the candidates for state House Districts 1, 15, 16, and 28 and state Senate District 15. The forum will be held at the Merrimack Valley High School Library and moderated by the League’s state president, Liz Tentarelli.

The forum will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. The high school library will open at 6:30 so candidates and voters can meet and chat before the forum.

Candidates will be introduced and give a brief opening statement, and there will be a question and answer session. Bring your written questions for the candidates with you to the forum.

The forum will be taped by ConcordTV and will be available a few days after the forum on the League’s website, at http://lwvnh.org/candidate-forums-and-debates/, and the Penacook Village Association’s website, at https://www.penacook.org/.

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Penacook Village Association is exempt from federal income tax under sec. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service code. Contributions to the Penacook Village Association are deductible under sec. 170(b)(1)(a) of the code. Tax ID 27-0511386.

Penacook Village Association, P.O. Box 6174, Penacook, NH 03303 | Copyright 2019, Penacook Village Association