Work Force Housing Law in New Hampshire

By Jim on January 5th, 2009

Is it me or does New Hampshire’s “work force housing law” passed last year seem downright obnoxious?

With the state’s new work-force housing law taking effect in July, some towns are pushing ahead to meet the new requirements.

But some towns just won’t have it all figured out.

The law says towns must provide the opportunity for developers to build work-force housing – defined in the Nashua region as a home selling for no more than $262,000 or a rental unit priced at $1,180 a month – in more than half of its residential areas.

There also must be some place in town allowing multifamily housing with at least five dwelling units.

Why is the state government even getting involved with what kind of housing is built in towns in New Hampshire? It seems to me that that is a local development issue not a state government issue. I find this law quite disturbing in its implications but it doesn’t surprise me given who is in control in Concord these days.

Be sure to drop by the thread about it in the City-Data forum.