Does Portsmouth HDC drive up development cost? City to study it

By: Jeff McMenemy

Outlets: Portsmouth Herald

Published: January 22, 2026

Words: 920

Last Updated: 5 days, 16 hours ago

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PORTSMOUTH — The City Council passed a substantially revised motion this week that had initially sought a report from city staff to study “how to remove new construction from the Historic District’s Commission’s purview.”

City Councilor Rich Blalock, who served four years as the council's representative on the HDC, said he was motivated to make the initial motion to address the lack of affordable housing in Portsmouth. He contended the HDC’s often monthslong …

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