Splaine: Speaking up for our neighbors and neighborhood is good citizenship, not NIMBYism
The recent discussion of uses for Portsmouth's former Sherburne School, now home to Lister Academy, in the Pannaway Manor neighborhood gave people the opportunity to visit an ongoing need — affordable housing. It also allowed for discussion about what is "affordable," and how development affects a neighborhood and the quality of life of those living there.
At the meeting a couple of weeks ago at Lister Academy, from what I read and heard it seems our good mayor generated an inclusive discussion about how a large housing development would impact the area. That neighborhood has withstood considerable challenges in recent decades, especially with Pease Tradeport changes. They have to tolerate continued problems with constant noise from the Interstate with no sound barriers. With the closing of the Sherburne Elementary School, they lost a good resource for children, as well as a location for social activities.
It is inaccurate and demeaning to characterize residents' concerns about what is placed at Lister Academy as "nimbyism," or not caring for others. From my years of hearing from residents about what goes on in their own neighborhoods, I can attest that all of us could be called "NIMBY" if the definition is being concerned about what happens near our homes. Speaking out for our neighborhood and our neighbors is good citizenship.
More:Pannaway Manor residents push back on NIMBY claims
Portsmouth Housing Authority Director Craig Welch does good work, and it's clear he's listening, as is the City Council. That's their job. As Mayor Deaglan McEachern and others say, discussions about Lister Academy will continue, but decisions will slow down. Residents have time to propose alternative uses − there are many good ones other than large-scale housing − while the PHA reexamines possibilities and considers smaller housing options there and elsewhere.
There's that word: "options," the missing word in affordable housing. We need affordable housing options because right now we don't have many. We have some, including the 300 or so homes in what people call "mobile home parks." Disclosure: I live in one. Comfortable two- and three-bedroom, 750- to 1,000-square-foot homes — including new ones — can be bought for under $100,000, sometimes much less, or rented at lower cost than many apartments. If we reduce the stigma of "mobile" and consider that they are just cost-efficient homes that aren't stick-built over a hole in the ground, it's a good choice. Over years they increase in value, and the smaller ones cost little to heat or cool. Taxes and maintenance are comparatively low.
Another view:Columnist D. Allan Kerr writes: We need to get over our backyard bias on affordable housing in Portsmouth
We want to live in a community we can enjoy, and Portsmouth is chosen for lots of reasons. The real estate mantra of "location, location, location" is true for storefronts, commercial property, and homes. Where we work and live is important to us even more than how much space we have to put stuff we buy so that we can buy more stuff we don't need.
Unfortunately, with ever-increasing property taxes put on homeowners and landlords, and the always-increasing costs of living, including inflation, energy, childcare, food, transportation, health, and education expenses, options in housing are more important than ever. Most of those options need not be subsidized if they are constructed at reasonable cost.
Those options may include micro-housing, "tiny houses," and rooming houses. Even employer-built hostels and dormitory-style housing. No, they're not for everyone. But at least on a temporary basis of a few months or years, those options may be attractive for a number of people of limited means or credit difficulties who want to live and work here until they can afford more. A lot of living can be done in a 500- to 600-square-foot, well-planned and designed home or apartment.
Some of our better conscience-oriented developers might be encouraged to build them without profit motivation, and our local creative architects can design them well. There may be city-owned property that could be offered or leased to developers to make costs lower. A Google search on any of those options will find communities which have done it. Let's use our own innovative talent. We're all in this together, and this year as we look at how far Portsmouth has come during our past 400 years, and where we want to go in coming decades, let's accept the challenge to create a community people of all incomes and ages can call home for the years ahead.
Next time: Karen Conard, Pease Development Authority member.Jim Splaine has served variously since 1969 as Portsmouth assistant mayor, Police Commission member, and School Board member, as well as New Hampshire state senator and representative. He can be reached at jimsplaineportsmouth@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Splaine: Loving your neighborhood is not NIMBY; housing options needed
