Study Circle 20: Sherburne

Vision Statement

Portsmouth, NH is:

  • A society of knowledgeable and engaged citizens, whose future draws unusual strength from its past while promoting understanding among its citizens;
  • A community dedicated to cultural, social and economic progress for every person.
  • A home for innovation and creativity in all forms;
  • A community thoroughly committed to a thoughtful and sustainable progress in which every citizen is able to realize his or her full potential;
  • A geographical location with distinctive natural treasures and relaxed charm that will impassion our spirits and welcome our guests for years to come due to our citizen's deep respect for the environment and its resources.

    Summary of Major Themes

    Our study circle discussed several themes. The group decided to select three themes to explore in-depth, which are defined below. Other themes raised by the group are documented in the appendix.

    Theme 1 Culture and History

    Celebrate our historical, cultural, and geographical uniqueness. Bring city together by celebrating our common history.

    Theme 2 Entrepreneurial Spirit

    Encouraging innovation for commercial purposes.

    Theme 3 Land Use and Natural Resources

    Responsible use of city's natural resources and open spaces through a "green" and sustainable approach to the environment (locally and globally). Connect all parts of the city.

    Points of Disagreement

    The group was not able to form consensus on how much change the community should encourage. The discussion took the form of determining the right balance between viewing the City of Portsmouth as an open door to economic or other interests that are likely to cause changes in the fundamental nature of the community versus maintaining and celebrating the community in its current state.

    An example of this was the tension between wanting to encourage local businesses while also seeking to contain the number of national chain stores that might seek office space downtown.

    The group showed unanimity on wanting to keep national chains from opening retail space downtown, but saw this as a contradiction if Portsmouth was to be truly an "open door” for everyone.

    Conclusions and Recommendations

    History and Culture

  • This study circle endorses the Portsmouth Cultural Plan (12/01)
  • Affirm Portsmouth's unique flavor of diversity, which is grounded in its history as a working port city. The port and its environs foster diverse commercial and cultural/artistic interests that promote a unique form of economic and cultural diversity. This should be recognized and celebrated.
  • Return the New Hampshire State House to Portsmouth. Design this building for multi-functional use, which may include an educational and cultural center.
  • Save the Carey House, which has historical significance as a location used for the Portsmouth Peace Treaty.
  • Celebrate Portsmouth - Greater exposure and communication throughout the city
  • Close Market Square periodically- Have local businesses, non-profit groups and government showcase their products and services.
  • Non-profits and governmental agencies open doors for free to all Portsmouth residents for prescribed periods to conduct tours and share information.
  • Create celebrations of our history tied to specific historical events. This might include celebrations of significant historical events from our commercial history.

    Entrepreneurial Spirit and Creativity

  • Portsmouth should develop ways to support local start-up businesses and artists.
  • Use city buildings to incubate local businesses and encourage local artists.
  • Change regulations to support use of local buildings for local businesses and artists.
  • Retain and encourage artists to live and work in city - maintain artist colony flavor

    Land Use and Natural Resources

  • Encourage “LEED” certified buildings (Green buildings)
  • Construct river walk from downtown to Spinnaker Point
  • Improve Peirce Island for better recreation
  • Create sidewalks and bike paths that connect the entire city, for example:

    -- Patriots Park

    -- Beechstone apartments

    -- Ceders apartments

    -- Elwyn Park

  • Place recycling bins around the city
  • Require businesses to recycle
  • Place trees throughout the city. For example, plant trees in the center of Market Street Extension that could be decorated during the holiday season. This entrance to the city, in particular, is not welcoming and could be enhanced greatly by trees.
  • Use city resources to plant new trees and encourage bulk purchases of environmentally appropriate trees by private citizens.

    Appendix

    This section includes supporting documents from the working sessions.

    1/31/2003 Session:

    Population and Social Character

    More racial diversity

    Maintain artist's 'colony' flavor

    Encourage entrepreneurial spirit

    Economic diversity

    Regional Concerns

    Improved regional planning

    Encourage productive political participation (locally and regionally)

    Vision

    Use history to understand city

    character built environment

    More involvement in community affairs and way to encourage other to interact

    High level of involvement by everyone

    Land Use

    Preserving the remaining open and green spaces, including the waterfront

    Protect open spaces

    Housing

    Costs: rental & home ownership costs are outrageous.

    Lower cost of living/lowering property taxes/

    End Portsmouth donor status

    Availability of affordable housing

    Affordable housing for elderly retired/low income

    Affordable housing- young/elderly

    Affordable housing

    Economic Development

    Preserving the small business and not losing our town to large corporations (business rental prop.)

    Affordability taxes/Downtown safety

    Work to restructure the NH tax situation (prop tax donor)

    Transportation

    Continued public transportation options

    Alternatives to the automobile in the downtown

    Convenient parking: State St./Strawbery Banke

    Public Facilities and Services

    More downtown parking or upgrade to trans. system

    Solve the Lafayette School problem

    Maintain/encourage public use lands

    Continued improvement of infrastructure

    Underutilized town assets:

    Lafayette School

    1812 Hospital bldg

    JKF bldg

    Less cars downtown

    Natural Hazard and Emergency Mgmt.

    Air pollution/quality (coal-burning plant)

    Clean up Pease and Navy yard

    Natural Resources

    Making Portsmouth a ‘greener’ community/more environmentally responsible (comm. recycle)

    Improve waterfront access/River walk

    Accessibility: sidewalks, bike routes

    Protect open space (ground and air)

    Recreation

    Develop/maintain teen activities

    Expand recreation services across the lifespan

    Maintain social activities (Market Square Day, First Night)

    Continued educational opportunities

    Utilize Pierce Island for more recreation

    Enhance Waterfront for recreation

    Cultural and Historic Resources

    Maintain historic spaces/expand protected buildings

    Encourage diversity or arts of cultural support arts

    Preserve our historical heritage that develops city character

    Return State House

    Establish a Portsmouth Historical Society

    Larger are for the arts/building/big events

    Social Services

    Provide support, both financially and through advocacy

    2/2/2003 Session:

    Housing

    The group discussed the following points regarding the housing issue:

  • Donor status-continue to advocate a solution to donor status
  • City-guaranteed loans for first-time or lower income home buyers
  • Affordable housing: friendly city codes and zoning to allow housing in more areas
  • Uniform enforcement of codes
  • Rent control
  • Advocate regional solutions (Portsmouth is deeply affected by regional decisions; i.e. Pease)
  • Financially-feasible housing for current residents
  • Creative nonprofit partnerships (i.e. Cary House)
  • Housing options at Pease
  • 1st time home-buyers cannot afford to buy here
  • Underutilized town assets that might be converted to housing
  • Lafayette
  • 1892
  • Frank Jones Mill Buildings
  • Federal Building

    Public Services and Facilities

    The following points were discussed regarding public services and facilities:

  • Underutilized town assets
  • Partnerships with non-profits for cultural and historical use
  • Walking-friendly sidewalks
  • Trees vs. walkable sidewalks-we want both
  • Level, wide sidewalks to encourage more walking, fewer cars
  • Market Street Extension improvement (Spinnaker Point to town)
  • Connect Atlantic Heights/ Spinnaker Point to city
  • Make it walkable, bikable, or a fitness course
  • More attractive “entrance to the city”
  • Utilize the Adopt-a-Spot group
  • Improved city tree care/plantings
  • Utilize Cooperative Extension
  • Urban Forestry Center
  • Appropriate trees purchased in bulk-cooperate with neighborhood associations
  • Close certain streets to traffic

    Ceres

    Porter

    Market (downtown)

    Atkinson

  • Support for Social Services
  • Reinstate Citizen Review Board for requests

    2/12/2003

    Maintain the Entrepreneurial Spirit

  • Community volunteers database to help start-up business/small business
  • City incentives/support for locally owned and operated businesses
  • Directory of locally owned businesses
  • Create an association of such businesses
  • Maintain unique flavor of city
  • Businesses offer to educate public on their business (i.e. oriental rug clinic)

    Land Use and Natural Resources

  • Encourage “LEED” certified buildings (Green buildings)
  • Open space - ground/air
  • River walk to Spinnaker
  • Improve Peirce Island for better recreation
  • Connecting bike/walk paths for entire city

    Patriots Park

    Beechstone

    Ceders

    Elwyn Park

  • Recycling bins around town
  • Businesses required to recycle

    City with an Open Door

    (Copied verbatim)

  • More economic, political and social diversity - inclusiveness, all voices heard
  • social openness
  • recognizing history, encourage events that celebrate the city's history
  • support for cultural and historic resources
  • protect/preserve historical heritage
  • encourage diversity of arts and cultural support of arts
  • government/non-profit partnerships
  • return the state house
  • establish Portsmouth Historical Society/coordinating entity for historical houses, Strawbery Banke, Athenaeum
  • larger venue for arts/big events
  • artists colony flavor
  • non-profit (arts and culture, historical) create citizen-free day
  • celebrate “Portsmouth Day”, a real Market Square Day.

    The City of Portsmouth shall support/protect/preserve its arts, culture, heritage and historic resources by:

    1 Establishment of a Portsmouth Historical Society that would function as a consortium for the city's historical venues (e.g. Strawbery Banke, Athenaeum(SP?).

    2 Celebrating the city, it's history and culture, through “Portsmouth Day”, a real Market Square Day, with activities limited to Portsmouth cultural, business, arts groups, non-profit organizations and city department (Public Works - workshops on recycling, etc.) activities.

    3 Development of “City with an Open Door” policies that encourage and support diverse arts, cultural and historic expressions.

    4 Develop and implement a process to encourage inclusiveness of all Portsmouth residents in carrying out the 10 year plan.


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