The City of Keene, New Hampshire, has engaged Barrett Planning Group to develop new ways to use property tax incentives to encourage housing growth. Having used New Hampshire’s 79-E Community Revitalization Tax Relief Incentive Program to spur investment in Downtown Keene, the City wants to put two new 79-E housing incentives to work to develop more housing in and around the downtown area. This forward-thinking effort aims to support Keene’s community and economic development goals and help implement the City’s comprehensive plan. This project is a natural fit for Barrett Planning Group because we wrote the RSA 79-E Guidebook for New Hampshire Housing in 2024.
With an InvestNH Housing Opportunity Program (HOP) grant from the NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs, Keene wants to use the new features of RSA 79E to attract investment and unlock new development opportunities. Our work began in June 2025 and will formally kick off with a public workshop for the City Council in September. The workshop will cover both short-term and long-term tax implications, review current district boundaries, and explore how establishing a Housing Opportunity Zone or Residential Property Revitalization Zone could support more housing development in the community.
Additionally, we will meet with developers and investors to understand their goals and assess how the 79-E Program could align with and support their projects. Building on research we conducted for New Hampshire Housing in 2023, we will also look at what other communities, 79-E communities, are doing, compile effective practices, and develop recommendations tailored for Keene. Based on our findings, we will draft an initial resolution outlining the new program framework. The draft will incorporate feedback from City staff and include details such as project eligibility criteria, the duration of tax assessment relief, and a proposed district boundary map.
We will also host a public meeting to gather feedback from elected officials, developers, and other community stakeholders on the draft regulations and boundaries. We will finalize the resolution and present it to the City Council Committee using this input. In addition, to support successful implementation, we will develop an application form and user-friendly guidance materials to help City staff promote the program and assist both applicants and administrative staff through the process. Working on this initiative will be a memorable highlight for the Barrett team in 2025! We are excited to help Keene drive its revitalization efforts and provide for new housing.
If our experience with planning and incentives for housing development could benefit your community, we would love to connect! Contact us at bpg@barrettplanningllc.com.
