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Now viewing articles posted in 2022.
August 16th 2nd Neighborhood Meeting Response
August 17th, 2022
On Tuesday, August 16th, we held a second neighborhood meeting to discuss the proposed community center project. Many thanks to all who attended and shared their thoughts, ideas and feedback. Soon, we will update this website with more FAQs to help keep everyone informed.
Neighbors still feel overlooked by community center proposal, advocates looking to build lines of communication
August 17th, 2022
MANCHESTER, N.H. – Following a similar meeting earlier in the summer on the topic, community members and local non-profit leaders gathered at Parkside Middle School to share their thoughts at the proposed Mark Stebbins Community Center planned just a few hundred feet down the street.
Organizers of the group hoping to build the proposed community center have pledged to raise $17 million through donations from individuals and other organizations while also seeking out federal funding to build the facility, which aims to honor deceased Manchester businessman and philanthropist Mark Stebbins.
Tuesday’s meeting was the latest step in what has now been a nine-month process to build a community center on the city’s West Side. Supporters of the project repeated statements made throughout the process that the West Side is underserved when it comes to community resources and providing a location for children’s recreation and family health services that is easy for West Side families to reach would be a boon.
Stebbins family apologizes to West Side neighbors for lack of communication on community center
August 17th, 2022
The brother of the late philanthropist whose name would grace a new nonprofit community center on Manchester’s West Side is apologizing to neighbors for a lack of communication about the project.
Hank Stebbins took the microphone at a community meeting Tuesday night to tell abutters he hears their concerns over a lack of dialogue between them and the organizers behind the Mark Stebbins Community Center.
“I’m sorry,” Hank Stebbins said. “I’m sorry that we didn’t communicate with you more. I’m sorry that you feel threatened by this proposal. I hear what people have said about sneaking up on you, and I’ve got to say I apologize … that was not our intent. What we did was, we had an idea about how we could make things better for people living on the West Side, particularly the kids. We love Manchester.”
West Side community center clears first hurdle
July 26th, 2022
West Side community center clears first hurdle
Aldermen declare site surplus, clearing the way for sale to nonprofit proposing the center.
Aldermen approve West Side park land sale to community center advocates
July 20th, 2022
MANCHESTER, N.H. – On Tuesday night, the Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen deemed a piece of land just south of Parkside Middle School as surplus and then determined that it is in the best interest of the city to sell it for $600,000 to a group seeking to build a new community center named a...Community center group vows to work with neighbors
July 19th, 2022
By Jonathan Phelps New Hampshire Union Leader Following neighborhood pushback, the organizers behind a proposed nonprofit community center on the West Side of Manchester are vowing to work closely with neighbors as part of the ongoing planning. The group says it has sought feedback since pl...Calling on West Side Manchester Residents - Survey
July 10th, 2022
A new community center is being planned for Manchester's West Side and we want to hear from YOU about what you think is needed in your community. You can participate in 10 different languages.
Neighborhood Meeting - 6:00pm on July 11 at Parkside Middle School
June 29th, 2022
Join us for a Neighborhood Meeting and Community Conversation to learn more about plans for a new community center in your neighborhood. The Center is proposed to be located on the city land next to Parkside Middle School and Gossler Park Elementary School (Parkside Avenue and Blucher Street).
Proposed community center heads to aldermen
June 27th, 2022
The Aldermanic Committee on Lands and Buildings agreed to consider a piece of
park land on the West Side as surplus in order to sell it to a group committed to
building a $17 million community center.
The decision made last week in a 4-1 vote to sell the 4.15-acre property for
$600,000 will need to be approved by the full board of mayor and aldermen. The
land is near Gossler Park Elementary School and Parkside Middle School.Stebbins Center - Union Leader Op Ed
June 26th, 2022
A proposed community center on Manchester’s West Side is a fitting tribute to the
late Mark Stebbins and a good use of land the city owns near Gossler Park and
Parkside schools.
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