Historic Hallsville School Becomes 36 New Apartments
The Manchester school site will be converted into residential housing to help address the regional housing shortage.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Commercial
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Rockland Trust has secured $9.4 million in financing to transform the historic Hallsville School in Manchester into 36 mixed-income residential apartments. This adaptive reuse project at 275 Jewett Street aims to address housing shortages in Southern New Hampshire while preserving the site’s architectural history.
Why it matters
The development directly tackles the regional housing shortage by converting an underutilized historic asset into needed residential units. By leveraging Low-Income Housing Tax Credit financing, the project adds density to the neighborhood while keeping existing amenities, such as the gymnasium, open for community use.
The redevelopment project at 275 Jewett Street involves converting the 1891 Hallsville School into 36 mixed-income residential units. Rockland Trust is backing the renovation with $9.4 million in total financing.
The players
Rockland Trust
A financial institution providing capital for community development and residential housing projects.
PROCON
A design-build firm specializing in large-scale architecture and construction projects.
Novo Studio Architects
A professional firm focused on architectural design, often involved in historic preservation and adaptive reuse.
The details
The project centers on adaptive reuse, preserving the historic masonry and clock tower while gutting the interior to create modern floor plans. Project partners PROCON and Novo Studio Architects are tasked with converting former classrooms into apartments. The design also maintains the existing gymnasium to ensure it remains available for local public recreational use.
Timeline
1891: Original construction of the Hallsville School building.
October 23, 2026: Rockland Trust formally announced the financing agreement for the project.
The Home Front
This project follows a common urban trend of utilizing Low-Income Housing Tax Credit financing to convert historic school buildings into residential housing. It marks a significant effort to boost local inventory by repurposing legacy structures rather than relying solely on new ground-up development.
Residents near Jewett Street can expect construction activity as the site transitions from a school into an apartment complex. Keep an eye on local planning board notices for potential traffic or site access changes during the renovation phase.
The takeaway
This redevelopment preserves a piece of Manchester history while contributing to the regional housing supply. Neighbors should monitor future project phases for impacts on local site access, particularly regarding the continued public use of the gymnasium.
Further reading
For more updates on local real estate developments, visit the Commercial section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NH Business Review.
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