FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Media Contact: Jordan Mayblum
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Workforce Housing Coalition of the Greater Seacoast Awards City of Rochester 2018 Municipal Leadership Award

ROCHESTER –City Manager Blaine Cox is pleased to share that the City of Rochester was recently awarded the 2018 Municipal Leadership Award by the Workforce Housing Coalition of the Greater Seacoast. 

The Workforce Housing Coalition of the Greater Seacoast is a partnership between local business, government and community groups seeking to support the creation of diverse housing opportunities in the New Hampshire and Maine seacoast region.

The award was presented to Community Development Coordinator and Grants Manager Julian L. Long and, in absentia, Senior Planner Michelle Mears, on Tuesday, June 4 at 3D Artspace in Portsmouth. The presentation was part of the Workforce Housing Coalition’s 2019 Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner.

Rochester was chosen to receive the award because of the city’s 2018 workforce housing charrette. Last September, the city partnered with the Workforce Housing Coalition of the Greater Seacoast to host a housing charrette, which brought together public officials, city staff, workers, employers, residents, volunteer architects and housing developers to brainstorm possible workforce housing opportunities in the area of 13-15 Hanson Street.

“We want Rochester to be a city where people can live, work and thrive, and offering diverse housing options is a critical component of that balance,” City Manager Cox said. “An immense amount of time and effort went into the charrette this September, and it’s exciting to have that hard work recognized by the Workforce Housing Coalition of the Greater Seacoast.”

The charrette team was co-chaired by Long and Senior Planner Michelle Mears. 

The charrette was a two day event, which included a downtown walking tour, two community listening sessions, the creation of design options for the project site and the unveiling of the finished design concepts. To learn more about the charrette, click here. 

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