Manchester Strong

04/30/2024

We don't have a housing crisis.

We are suffering a property rights crisis.

04/14/2024

Patrick Donald Binder presented what we've been up to with our calendar and AI work at this fantastic grassroots event.

Find more at manchstrong.com

04/14/2024

03/09/2024

Calvin Coolidge would be very disappointed.

Applications are open for the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food (DAMF) Crop Loss Program will provide up to $8 Million in relief in response to weather-related damages of 2023. To learn more about this program and to apply, go to the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food
website at https://www.agriculture.nh.gov/
Photo courtesy of the New Hampshire DAMF

03/03/2024

POWERFUL NEW TOOL!

CitizenPortal.ai takes the public videos of government meetings and breaks them down so that you can:
Read the transcript
Search the transcript
Get summaries that link to that spot on the video
Get alerts for keywords

This takes the insurmountable task of participating in government and makes it just a bit more doable.

Not all cities are hooked up yet (Manchester is not), but there are a few. Click to see if your town is on the list so you can use this service to better participate in local governance!

https://citizenportal.ai/SummaryBrowse/NH

02/18/2024

Do you know about parking minimums?

This is a set of regulations that require X amount of parking per Y. So, 2 spots per apartment, or 7 spots per dentist, or 10 spots per 1,000 sf. That type of thing.

At first it sounds like a good idea. Make sure there is enough parking!

Until you realize that the developer has every inventive to create the optimal amount of parking. Until you realize the tenant will pick the building with the parking best for his business. These parties know WAY MORE about their situation than the city or state government.

Ever wonder why McDonald's on 2nd has 200 parking spots? Ever wonder why the mall parking lot looks so empty?

What would you do about this?

I've started a Manchester Strong Towns initiative. We are a group of people making ourselves aware of the problems, and trying to find solutions.

In our efforts, we found that the current chair of the Manchester Planning Board Bryce Kah-un actually wants to eliminate parking minimums for all zones (currently only downtown has this exception).

All the science is in, they don't work, and aren't needed. America experimented with them for decades resulting is failure. Higher prices, worse parking, but an overabundance of that thing we all need and love... empty parking spots! :D

Well, Bryce is looking for input. You can email him, and the whole board, here: [email protected]

I'd love if you mentioned how you're in favor of eliminating parking requirements.

If you aren't, or if you have questions, lets talk here.

02/13/2024

Our FIRST initiative:

The Manchester Strong Towns land-use calendar!

We are filling it up with meetings, events, legislation hearing, and more. We must be informed first!