2022 by the Numbers
2023 is here, jumpstarting a whole new year of preservation work in New Hampshire. As we reflect on last year’s progress and set goals for the upcoming year, the Preservation Alliance pulled together some numbers that highlight our statewide reach in 2022.
We distributed grants to 16 nonprofits that care for historic buildings, in partnership with The 1772 Foundation. The matching grants specifically funded exterior maintenance and restoration. More about these projects can be found here.
The Bradford Center Meeting House, a 1772 Foundation grantee.
We granted 14 planning study grants thanks to a block grant through LCHIP (the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program) and an endowment that honors the legacy of Rick and Duffy Monahon. These reports assess the condition of a historic building, provide cost estimates, outline phases for rehabilitation, and help unlock larger grant asks from LCHIP, among others. They can also investigate feasibility and re-use.
2022's pool of grantees included four town halls (Wilton, Grafton, New Hampton, and Mont Vernon); one church (Dublin’s Emmanual Episcopal); three schools (Wakefield-Brookfield Historical Society, Milford’s Abbott-Laurel Schoolhouse, and Newington’s Old Stone School); one library (Jaffrey); three Portsmouth landmarks (Wentworth-Gardner Warehouse, the headquarters of the Black Heritage Trail, and the Player’s Ring); and two feasibility studies (in Concord and Plainfield).
On the smaller side, we granted four mini grants, which are used to assess smaller buildings or garner a second opinion from a preservation professional. Those recipients included the Wright Blacksmith Shop in Gilsum, the Hill Center Church, the Atkinson Center School, and the GAR Hall war memorials in Lebanon.
Eight more barns received barn assessment grants and today, more than 602 barns in 97 communities are enrolled in RSA 79-D, the barn tax incentive program.
The Wilton Town Hall, recipient of a planning study grant.
We awarded 11 preservation achievement awards. They include rehabilitations of former Seven to Save properties, the restoration of a Manchester park monument, and recognition of two New Hampshire men: John Schnitzler and Rick Geddes.
We added seven new resources to our Seven to Save list at our October announcement in Laconia. The event included tours of the Colonial Theatre, St. Joseph’s Church, and Lakeport Baptist Church – all former Seven to Save listees.
Boscawen and Swanzey became the two latest communities to enable the Community Revitalization Tax Incentive (RSA 79-E). The list of communities with this tool stands at 60.
Stratham created the state’s first Neighborhood Heritage District, an overlay district that is more flexible than a traditional historic district.
Our colleagues at the Division of Historical Resources also shared that 20 new resources were listed to the State Register of Historic Places, 91 new units of housing are under development thanks to the federal historic tax credit, and $73,000 was awarded to CLG communities. Their numbers and ours underscore wonderful increases in preservation activity statewide!
One last important number: (603) 224-2281. Give us a call or send us an email and let us know how we can help you and your community in 2023! We look forward to providing even more help, and meeting new challenges and opportunities, in the year ahead.