Officials and dignitaries break ground for the new Lonza manufacturing facility. (Courtesy of Lonza Biologics)Lonza and Vertex break ground on manufacturing facility, seeking cure for diabetes
Two biopharmaceutical/biotech companies broke ground on Aug. 30 for a manufacturing facility in Portsmouth that could one day produce drugs that cure Type 1 diabetes.
The 130,000-square-foot facility, located at the Pease International Tradeport, is a partnership between Lonza Biologics, also located at Pease, a manufacturer of cell and gene therapies with experience supporting the commercialization of cell therapy products, and Boston-based Vertex Pharmaceuticals, which has two stem-cell derived therapies for Type 1 diabetes (T1-D) undergoing clinical trials.
Vertex and Lonza will partner in developing and scaling manufacturing of the products and are co-investing to build the facility that will be operated by Lonza. Vertex has stated the project could bring 300 jobs to the area.
Vertex’s two therapies that the Lonza facility will support are currently in clinical trials that have shown promising results, according to a June report by Vertex.
“Establishing this strategic partnership with Lonza, a world-class manufacturing organization, is a critical milestone in Vertex’s journey to transform the treatment of Type 1 diabetes,” says Vertex President and CEO Reshma Kewalramani.
Adds Pierre-Alain Ruffieux, CEO of Lonza, “The facility will play a major role in delivering Vertex’s ambition to shape the future for patients living with T1-D. Portsmouth is the ideal location for the new facility, as it enables us to build upon our existing infrastructure, capabilities and talent in the area.” — Scott Merrill/Business NH Magazine
Hopkinton withdraws its zoning amendments
Hopkinton’s economic development committee has withdrawn its proposed zoning amendments aimed at creating more affordable housing opportunities in the town.
After residents expressed their concerns at public hearings, the committee concluded that passing the zoning amendments next year would be challenging due to the lack of confidence among residents and the need for further education in the community.
“If as a community, we aren’t able to provide housing for the different structures of individuals, seniors and families, we will end up with a more homogeneous community and that is a choice as a community we can make, but we can’t make that choice without having a conversation,” said committee member Andrea Folsom at the economic development committee meeting on Wednesday.
The Housing Committee is still in the process of assessing Hopkinton’s current housing availability and future housing requirements. Additionally, confusion surrounding data and statistics regarding the projected influx of residents into Hopkinton created worry among residents.
To accommodate smaller, more affordable dwellings in alignment with the town’s master plan, the committee proposed four recommendations for the zoning ordinances.
One of the recommendations suggests altering the zoning regulations to permit more single-family houses on smaller lots, potentially allowing for four or even eight units on a single acre, as opposed to the current regulation that requires at least two and a half acres for a single-family house.
The other recommendations focus on amending the zoning ordinances at three specific locations: Hart’s Corner, the Exit 6/Maple Street area, and land near Burnham Intervale and Pine Street.
These changes would enable a mix of residential buildings within commercial and industrial zones, promoting denser housing options and the introduction of affordable housing alternatives.
In response to the amendments, Hopkinton resident Robert Knight expressed concerns in public comment and said that the proposed overlay districts are a crude tool with the potential to inadvertently cause long-term damage to the town.
“Any new housing development should be close to village centers,” wrote Knight. “Putting new housing out at Exit 6 and Hart’s Corner seems bad for the residents and bad for the town as it provides services.”
The widespread opposition from residents primarily stems from concerns of potentially losing the town’s rural character and worries about an increased tax burden.
The need for more housing is supported by Central New Hampshire Regional Planning’s study that predicts Hopkinton will experience a substantial 9.5% increase in its population by 2050, potentially adding around 500 more residents to the town.
“I don’t think you need to give up or sacrifice a community with rural character to more densely develop or to bring in non-residential development,” said Steven Whitley. “But I recognize that people can disagree with that and there’s some nuance to having a defined rural character.” — Sruthi Gopalakrishnan/Concord Monitor
North Branch Construction earns Merit Award at 2023 ABC NH/VT Excellence in Construction Awards
North Branch received an Award of Merit for the Summit on Juniper project in Lebanon, NH, in the Residential over $1 million category at the 2023 ABC NH/VT Excellence in Construction Awards Gala held at the DoubleTree Hilton in Manchester, NH.
Summit on Juniper in Lebanon, NH (courtesy photo)
Summit on Juniper, developed by Michaels Student Living, LLC to provide graduate student housing for Dartmouth College, has also been awarded LEED Gold status by the U.S. Green Building Council and is certified for the EPA Energy Star v. 3.1 program. The project included 4, four-story apartment buildings providing 309 units with 628 beds featuring unit configurations of 1-bed, 2-bed, 3-bed, and 4-bedroom floor plans. Each apartment building also provides student study, gathering, and fitness spaces, as well as bicycle and additional resident storage space. A central clubhouse provides community gathering spaces, fitness facilities, mail and package delivery service areas, work and office space for resident use, and an on-site management office for Michaels Student Living, LLC. The project also included the construction of an operations building providing work area and storage space for the facility’s maintenance team.
JSA Design of Portsmouth, NH was the architectural design firm on the project and Vanasse Hangen Brustlin (VHB) of Bedford, NH, provided civil and landscape engineering services.
ABC Excellence in Construction Award winners are determined by an independent panel of judges based on execution of design, craftsmanship, attention to detail, safety, and other considerations. The competition includes Awards of Merit and Excellence in several categories including Electrical, Mechanical, Commercial, Institutional, Industrial, and Design-Build.
2 public hearings to review feedback on 10-year transportation plan scheduled in Concord
The Governor’s Advisory Commission on Intermodal Transportation (GACIT), which is made up of the five Executive Councilors and the Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT), announced two public meetings for November 2023: November 8, 2023, and November 29, 2023.
The intent of these meetings is not to take public testimony but rather to finalize the plan for legislative review and approval. The public may observe the proceedings.
Meeting action items will include the discussion of the Draft 2025-2034 Ten Year Transportation Improvement Plan, recent GACIT hearings, public comments, recommendations, and Councilor input and direction in updates to be made will result in the adoption of a GACIT-supported Draft 2025-2034 Ten Year Transportation Improvement Plan at the end of the GACIT process.
The GACIT meeting on November 8 will start at 3 p.m. The GACIT meeting on November 29 will start at 1:30 p.m. Both meetings will be held in the Governor and Council Chambers, Chamber Room 207, State House, 107 North Main Street, Concord, NH.
Copies of documents related to the Ten-Year Transportation Improvement Plan (2025-2034) are available for review on the NHDOT website, or by contacting the Bureau of Planning & Community Assistance at the Department of Transportation (603) 271-3344.
NHDOT programs and services are administered by the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and all applicable regulations to ensure nondiscrimination. Should you need this information in alternate formats please contact the NHDOT Public Information Office at info@dot.nh.gov, or by phone at (603) 271-6495, PO Box 483, Concord, NH 03302-0483, TDD access: Relay NH 1-800-735-2964. — Manchester Ink Link press release
Another piece of Chinese owned property in Nashua has come to the public’s attention — the former Daniel Webster College property, encompassing some 52 acres. Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess encouraged the Board of Aldermen on Sept. 9 to pass a resolution giving him the authority to seek state and/or federal funds to purchase the property, currently owned by Xinhua Education Consulting Services Corp.
The nonprofit and ReVision Energy expand renewable energy portfolio with new solar panels across five properties in the Monadnock Region
While home prices might be moderating in other parts of the country, the median price of a single-family house in New Hampshire rose to $550,000 in August, the second highest price point this current year. That price is just $3,000 more than the $547,000 recorded in July, but it is $47,500 more than January’s $502,500. The highest median price in 2025 was $569,450, recorded in June and the most ever recorded in the state.
ApprenticeshipNH has partnered with Associated Builders and Contractors of New Hampshire/Vermont and Elm Grove Companies to launch New Hampshire’s first registered apprenticeship program (RAP) for maintenance technicians
Explore how post-pandemic growth, affordability challenges, and evolving housing trends are transforming the Queen City’s future.
The Lake Estate on Winnisquam sees diamonds and stars in its future
Amid a statewide housing shortage, a religious nonprofit recently opened applications for more than 60 new workforce housing apartments in Peterborough.
Concord considers $535K rail purchase to extend Greenway Trail, raising questions for Scenic Railriders
Relax & Co., which provided an array of services to property owners in the Lake Sunapee area, had already been forced to lay off workers earlier this month.
