1. Recommendation to the Somersworth City Council
Hilltop Commission
Recommendation to the Somersworth City Council
July 25, 2016

2. Hilltop Commission Members Martin P. Dumont, Sr., Chair
Jessica Paradis, Member of Council
Madeline DeSantis, Friends of Somersworth
Chris Smith, Community-at-Large
Robert Belmore, City Mgr.
Scott Smith, City of Somersworth
Jeni Mosca, Superintendent
Sarah McGraw
Karen Terletzky
Peter Michaud, New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources

3. Our Charge
Explore, develop, and finalize a sustainable proposal for the city council to implement for the reuse of the historic Hilltop School building
Explore feasibility of financing or investors for the reuse of the historic Hilltop School building
Present these findings for proposed legislation to the city council to vote upon by October 3rd, 2016

4. Well Constructed, it has “Good Bones”
Building Assets
Well Constructed, it has “Good Bones”
24,666 Square Feet of Floor Space
Good Study Documentation
Listed to the National Register of Historic Places
Located in a Beautiful Neighborhood with Incredible Hill Top Views

5. The building has been sitting fallow for several years.
Building Challenges
The building has been sitting fallow for several years.
The building has some water related damage and vandalism that needs to be corrected as part of the overall rehabilitation.
The building has outdated systems that will need to be modernized as part of the overall rehabilitation.

6. Located in a Beautiful Neighborhood with Incredible Hill Top Views
Building Challenges
Located in a Beautiful Neighborhood with Incredible Hill Top Views
Hilltop School ->
Downtown

7. Life Safety Code Issues 24, 600 square feet of space
ADA Code Issues
Life Safety Code Issues
24, 600 square feet of space
Divided between 12 Levels on 3 Floors
Building
Challenges

8. A High Rehabilitation Cost Due to Code Issues & Multi-Floor Design
Building Challenges
A High Rehabilitation Cost Due to
Code Issues & Multi-Floor Design

9. Study Matrix Scenarios
Hilltop Commission
Study Matrix Scenarios
No Build/Status Quo
Building Demolition/Public Park
City Owned & Financed Rehabilitation
Long Term Lease
Rehabilitation as a Private/Public Partnership
Private Rehabilitation with Public Land Ownership
Divestment of Building & Land for Private Development
Sell With Restrictions
Sell With No Restrictions

10. Hilltop Commission Study Matrix Criteria Established Interest
Administrative Impact
Benefit the Tax Base
Public Benefit/Value to the City
Financial Impact
Legal Issues
Zoning Issues
Other Factors:
Possible Financial Incentives
Public Perception / Impact to the Hill Residents

11. Study Matrix Scenarios
Hilltop Commission
Study Matrix Scenarios
No Build
Building Demolition/Public Park
City Owned & Financed Rehabilitation
Long Term Lease
Rehabilitation as a Private/Public Partnership
Divestment of Building & Land for Private Development
Private Rehabilitation with Public Land Ownership
With Reasonable Restrictions

12. Private Rehabilitation with Public Land Ownership
With Reasonable Restrictions
Investment Incentives:
Utilize RSA 79-E, 20% Preservation Tax Credit, New Market Tax Credits if available.
Park Funding Sources:
Land & Water Conservation Fund, city can identify small pools of money that could help with this, private investment/fundraising, offsite improvement funding from developer of the property.
Added Benefit:
Land could be used to expand services in the downtown in the future if needed.
Commission members that lived on the hill feel that the neighborhood would like to see the city keep some sort of stake into the property.

13. Private Rehabilitation with Public Land Ownership
Suggested Restrictions:
Ensure that property complies with zoning and historic district overlay and is sensitive of height of new construction and sight lines along the hill.
Ensure the exterior of the building is preserved.
Require that the front lawn is treated with respect.
Any new additions must be subservient, compatible, and discernable to the historic building.
City explore sharing some costs of the development of community space in the publically owned property with the developer of what will be the privately owned property. City should examine community needs.
The RFP should present the incentive programs the building is eligible for that will help the developer and city achieve the economic and preservation values the community hopes to achieve with the future rehab of this building.
Look at allowing residential (requires a zoning change) and encourage/require market rate housing.

14. Case Studies

15. Lafayette School, Portsmouth

16. Notre Dame School, Berlin

17. Notre Dame School, Berlin

18. Hilltop School, Somersworth Proud Past, Bright Future