Another big parcel for sale

[TiltonBB]

It appears that the reason the property was sold is because it was not financially feasible to operate it as a summer camp. There are many other summer camps on the lake and maybe the law of supply and demand contributed to the downfall.

One upside that has not been mentioned is that if this property is developed as planned that town will realize a significant increase in taxable value and therefore tax revenue when it is completed. And, not to generalize, but when people purchase the higher cost homes often they are beyond their child raising years so the occupants of these properties will likely contribute substantially to the town's finances while being a minimal burden on town services.

[TomC]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

One upside that has not been mentioned is that if this property is developed as planned that town will realize a significant increase in taxable value and therefore tax revenue when it is completed. And, not to generalize, but when people purchase the higher cost homes often they are beyond their child raising years so the occupants of these properties will likely contribute substantially to the town's finances while being a minimal burden on town services.

What do you think will happen? That revenue goes to sustaining the current town budget and thus reduces the tax burden on everyone else - or the budget balloons as new ways to spend the windfall are found?

[Weekend Pundit]

The last thing needed is more high-end housing, regardless of what town we're talking about. What we really need is workforce housing (not to be confused with subsidized housing).

When a typical house for a family of four is running ~$500,000, that locks a lot of people out of housing. How many employers can't hire anyone because there isn't any affordable housing for their prospective employees? Pretty much anyone making less than $100K will not be able to afford to buy a house and anyone making less then $70K won't be able to afford rent.

[WinnisquamZ]

Originally Posted by Weekend Pundit

The last thing needed is more high-end housing, regardless of what town we're talking about. What we really need is workforce housing (not to be confused with subsidized housing).

When a typical house for a family of four is running ~$500,000, that locks a lot of people out of housing. How many employers can't hire anyone because there isn't any affordable housing for their prospective employees? Pretty much anyone making less than $100K will not be able to afford to buy a house and anyone making less then $70K won't be able to afford rent.

Why must current tax payers supply “workforce housing”? If a business decides to open or operate in this area knowing unemployment is at zero isn’t that on them? It’s not the taxpayers responsibility to support one’s business plan.

[Weekend Pundit]

Originally Posted by WinnisquamZ

Why must current tax payers supply “workforce housing”? If a business decides to open or operate in this area knowing unemployment is at zero isn’t that on them? It’s not the taxpayers responsibility to support one’s business plan.

Who said anything about the taxpayers doing any of this? Mostly it's a matter of making it less difficult for such housing to be built. I have seen far too much of the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) and BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone) attitude delay or destroy worthy developments.

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by Weekend Pundit

Who said anything about the taxpayers doing any of this? Mostly it's a matter of making it less difficult for such housing to be built. I have seen far too much of the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) and BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone) attitude delay or destroy worthy developments.

That isn't likely to be the case on this parcel.
We all understand that lakefront development would be higher value housing that what we would typically be expecting for starter homes.

NH HB 1361 (?) I believe would be what a developer would use to increase workforce housing should they wish to go that route.

[Weekend Pundit]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

That isn't likely to be the case on this parcel.
We all understand that lakefront development would be higher value housing that what we would typically be expecting for starter homes.

NH HB 1361 (?) I believe would be what a developer would use to increase workforce housing should they wish to go that route.

My comment was aimed at towns in general, not specifically Meredith. Yeah, it was off-topic. My bad.

Goodness knows workforce housing is needed across the state. That's certainly true of Gilford.

[John Mercier]

That can fix it for all of the towns/cities.
Just a matter of it being invoked, and the municipality realizing what the cost of a lost court case would be.

[fatlazyless]

95-acres of land, 4500 feet of Lake Winnipesaukee waterfront, one third or 30-acres of the 95-acres land is a beautiful wetlands area with tall pine trees, close to the Meredith Neck Rd that gets flooded from time to time.

Two photos ..... https://gis.vgsi.com/MeredithNH/Parcel.aspx?pid=1765 ..... of the camp buildings, built in 1830 and 1965. These two buildings are the only existing buildings on the 95.38 acre property. There's a large waterfront dock, suitable for a camp waterfront which is set in the lake water, in the lake.

A drawing that shows the proposed seven lots and a large non-buildable area ...... http://www.stevecapykw.com/former-gi...or-18-million/.

Maybe this non-buildable wetlands area will receive 'current use' low tax status and be protected from future development. This very attractive wetlands area is what's seen from the road while driving.

Where is this Camp Menotomy 95-acre property? ...... http://www.mapquest.com/us/new=Hamps...tomy-450115226

Individual summer camp for young people in New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont have typically been in existence for 80 to 110-years, created before World War II, and now cost about $14,500 for a camper to attend a seven week session from June 25 to August 10.

Each new house will probably have to pay the Town of Meredith maybe $35,000/year in property tax, plus they spend on building materials, construction labor, maintenance, local business', local services, restaurants, boats and cars. So, these seven new waterfront home owners will help support the local economy, big time ..... and long time.

The last year that Camp Menotomy Girl Scout Camp actually had a full eight week or seven week session was probably in the year 1999 or 2000.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/26/ny...cout-camp.html ..... Nov 26, 2006: Southampton NY buys a 65-acre Camp Tekakwitha on great Peconic Bay for $16.5 million.

The chance that the Town of Meredith or the State of N.H.would buy Camp Menotomy are probably close to ZERO.