# 10.8.2026 Housing Committee

The City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Mayor’s Housing Blue Ribbon Committee met on October 8, 2026 (the meeting title date; metadata is timestamped October 9 UTC). The committee reviewed a financial model for a hypothetical 110-unit apartment project to inform its draft RSA 79-E housing ordinance. The example assumed approximately $43 million in total development costs (under $400,000 per unit), $13 million in owner equity, and a $30 million loan; it showed how construction costs, rents, financing, affordability requirements, and the length of a tax exemption affect project viability. No contracts, bids, vendor selections, or purchasing decisions were considered, and no procurement activity was identified.

Members discussed possible changes to the draft ordinance, including allowing affordability levels up to 100% of area median income, varying required affordable-unit shares—discussed as a target around 10% with project-specific flexibility—and tying affordability commitments to the RSA 79-E exemption period. They also raised simplifying income verification and clarifying how the Planning Board and City Council would review proposals. These were recommendations and topics for further staff work, not adopted policy decisions. The committee approved the prior meeting minutes and later voted to adjourn; it also discussed rescheduling its November meeting because of a conflicting joint CIP meeting.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure
**Published:** October 09, 2026

### Sources
- [10.8.2026 Housing Committee](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV9DWG0-VRk) - City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire