To the editor:

The Nov. 2, 2021 Portsmouth special election will have a question about authorizing the Town Council to transfer 5.2 acres of town property known as the Ann Hutchinson School. 

While Church Community Housing Corporation (CCHC, a developer of low-income housing) has put together a concept of what could be done on the property, there is no agreement with the Town of Portsmouth that this plan will be followed. (Town Administrator Richard) Rainer was quoted in the Aug. 12, 2021 Portsmouth Times with probably the most truthful statement made about this project: “It (the agreement between Portsmouth and CCHC) is not set in stone.” CCHC does not yet have their financing in place; anything might change. The ballot question does not even guarantee the property will be transferred to CCHC! What happens when CCHC cannot secure the financing and the council has voter permission to transfer the property to anyone?

After debacles like the field house and the wind turbine, Portsmouth residents should require many more details before voting this council full discretionary power over a very valuable ($1-1.5M?) piece of land. This is especially true when the process, so far, has not been transparent. CCHC was chosen without a bidding process or any public analysis of the alternatives. A focus group was selected by the council to advise CCHC on their design; that group met in secret with no published minutes and would not allow members of the public to even attend the meetings. 

Furthermore, the drawing (the only document the voters have seen from CCHC) has a section of the building (labeled “condo”) that the town will be required to purchase from CCHC to replace part of the senior center. The price is “estimated” at $600K. In addition, the town must move the baseball field on the property. This proposed project will definitely cost the town a substantial amount of cash in addition to giving away the very valuable land to CCHC! The seniors may be able to use the purchased part of the building for their offices and thrift shop. However, they will have to share their places of assembly with the planned housing complex. Again, nothing is in writing as to how this would work.

Voting “no” will make this Town Council provide residents a detailed agreement with CCHC regarding this property development and the rights of the senior center. This is the minimum voters should require before giving this council permission to literally pay a developer to take over 5.2 acres of our very valuable town land. Vote no!

Thomas Grieb

110 Thayer Drive

Portsmouth