From:	Karen Edwards
Sent:	Tuesday, October 21, 2014 3:24 PM
To:	Karen Edwards
Subject:	FW: Mill Plaza development



Karen Edwards
Town of Durham
15 Newmarket Road
Durham, NH 03824
(603) 868-8064
www.ci.durham.nh.us

From: Beth Potier []  
Sent: Monday, October 20, 2014 1:29 PM 
To: Karen Edwards; Michael Behrendt 
Cc: Brent Bell 
Subject: Mill Plaza development

Planning Board, 
 
Because I will not be able to attend Wednesday's public session, I want to be sure to register my 
concerns about the proposed Mill Plaza development. In brief, I urge the Planning Board to 
proceed very cautiously (which you seem to be doing) in the approvals process, and to deny 
outright, to the best of your ability, the developer's proposal for student housing.
As others have commented, Durham appears to be reaching capacity for student housing. Surely 
business owners and economic development gurus have discerned that students, while bringing a 
youthful vitality to Durham, only live, shop, and eat here six months of the year. More student 
housing is a poor way to spur economic growth.
I also worry about the downward economic pressure these new student apartments will exert on 
the town's "legacy" student housing, much of it locally owned and managed. If students flee the 
older apartment complexes for the gleaming amenities across Main Street, I fear that the older 
complexes will lower their rent, in turn lowering their income to spend on the good management 
that helps the student renters remain good neighbors.
I'm concerned, too, about the impact of any redevelopment on the existing small businesses in 
the plaza, many of which provide critical and well-used services to the community. Please 
consider demanding a thorough relocation and compensation plan to these small businesses so 
they can continue to thrive in our community through any redevelopment.
Thank you, 
Beth Potier
(52 Mill Pond Rd.: But please do not publish my address)