Manchester, NH, welcomes you

To those of us who call it home, Manchester, NH, while not without its challenges, is known as a pretty nice place to live. To more that a few living outside of the city, however, Manchester has the reputation as being far from a "city of choice."

For many, Manchester is a place to work, to dine, to catch a concert or a game, but live? No!

It's my impression that many of the folks who share this viewpoint have in mind not the Manchester of today, but the Manchester of the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s. This was the time after the city's mills had closed down, but before the revitalization of the center city, downtown and the Millyard began in earnest in the mid-to-late 90s. Based on everything I've heard, Hunter S. Thompson wasn't far off the mark when he referred to Manchester, NH, as a "broken down mill town on the Merrimack River with an aggressive chamber of commerce and America's worst newspaper" in his 1972 classic, Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72.

But even though the city is much more vibrant than it once was, the Queen City still has a negative image problem that it can't seem to shake, the best efforts of the Manchester Economic Development Office and the aforementioned chamber of commerce notwithstanding.

Of course, such perceptions aren't helped when those driving into downtown hop off I-293 at exit 5 and are greeted by this sight:

Here's a closer look at the small patch of green space at the end of the off ramp which separates the vehicles heading to the east and west sides:

It's green space, yes, but not nicely landscaped green space. Or even occasionally-mowed green space.

It's little things like overgrown weeds that can turn people off to a place before they even really set foot in it. Indeed, the message it sends is: this city doesn't care.

It's cliche, but true: you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Comments

[Brian]

Well done!
The "City" it seems only pays attention to the downtown area... and not very well either, how hard is it to mow a small strip of weeds. Frank Guinta should have a look at this post...