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MARK STEBBINS COMMUNITY CENTER EFFORT FINDS NEW LOCATION ON MANCHESTER’S WEST SIDE
December 1st, 2023
After several months of reviewing options and exploring possible sites for a new West Side Manchester community center, the Board of Directors of the Mark Stebbins Community Center (MSCC) and the Board of Commissioners for the Manchester Housing and Redevelopment Authority (MHRA) are thrilled to announce the two entities have signed a 75-year lease to build and operate a new facility for local children and residents. MHRA owns the land and has fully agreed to the project. MHRA will lease the land to MSCC for a nominal amount, and MSCC will raise the funds and build a community center accessible to children and families throughout the West Side. Feasibility studies and project planning is now underway for the site. A construction timeline is being developed now.
The Center will focus on providing services for youth and families on the West Side, in keeping with Mark Stebbins’ lifelong philanthropic impact and deep ties to the community. Boys & Girls Club and Amoskeag Health will be providing services for youth and families through the Center here on the West Side, just as they do now on the East Side. These two organizations have been providing services in partnership for years. All services will be specifically for youth and families, such as affordable, walkable childcare, after school care, access to affordable health care, community meeting space and additional needed support services in coordination with fellow nonprofit providers.
MARK STEBBINS COMMUNITY CENTER EFFORT SEEKS NEW LOCATION ON MANCHESTER’S WEST SIDE
January 4th, 2023
Due Diligence Review of Property Concludes Not Enough Space to Build
Manchester, NH – After several weeks of review, field research and measurements, the Board of
Directors of the Mark Stebbins Community Center has unanimously voted to seek a new location for a
West Side children and family centered facility for the city of Manchester. The Board has notified the
Mayor and Board of Aldermen of this decision. The search is now underway to find a new location
nearby to relocate the project.
“The topography, the traffic and the fact that we made promises to neighbors and abutters about our
approach led us to the only conclusion, we have to look elsewhere,” says William Steele, Chairman of
the center’s Board of Directors. “We were not going to compromise and break promises, so we will find
a location that is more suitable to the vision we have for this community center. We deeply appreciate
all of the support from parents, neighbors and from the administration and staff at the two schools next
door. We are undaunted and simply need to find more space.”
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