Tower at Lofts at Mill No. 1 – photo from Brady Sullivan

For the first time in its 175-year history, high-end apartments have found a home in the Amoskeag Millyard. New coffee shops and upscale lunch spots have popped up along the riverfront in the Millyard and on Elm Street. The Manchester Food Co-op is moving closer to opening a community-owned natural grocery store downtown. Hippo de Mayo, which has quickly become one of downtown’s biggest events of the year, is just a month away. And the mayor is even talking about the prospects of a downtown movie theater.

Before the new guiding plan for downtown is released, some of the things envisioned at February’s Next Steps Summit are coming to fruition. The summit, attended by over 100 people, sought community input as Intown Manchester prepares to draft a plan to guide the growth of downtown in the coming years. Housing was touted as a catalyst for future growth downtown, and for helping the area grow beyond its dining, nightlife and entertainment base.

As one of the city’s major developers, Arthur Sullivan of Brady Sullivan, said: “Once more people start living downtown again, you are going to see a downtown renaissance, and it won’t just be restaurants.“

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