Bluebird Project Receives Community Development Block Grant

NORTH CONWAY, NH, April 8, 2022—The Bluebird Project’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application for assistance to acquire the cottages at 213 Seavey Street in North Conway Village was approved by the New Hampshire Community Development Authority’s Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) on April 7th. The grant provides $470,000 to go toward the purchase and other expenses related to turning the cottages into affordable housing for at least 10 years. The Bluebird Project worked with the Town of Conway to apply for this grant, with the Selectboard approving it 5-0. The project still requires Governor & Council approval to be finalized.

“We are excited to work with CDFA to bring more affordable housing to Conway,” said Eliza Grant, Director and Manager of The Bluebird Project.

“We are thankful for their hard work and generosity in offering and administering this grant, as well as the efforts of our grant consultant Donna Lane. We look forward to bringing this project to fruition. We are also thankful to the owners of the Spruce Moose, who have been wonderfully supportive during this process, and who share our dedication to the Mount Washington Valley community.”

CDBG grants are awarded biannually by the Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA), which provides financial as well as other assistance to promote community development in NH. CDBG grants are specifically awarded to housing or public facility related initiatives.

Bluebird hopes to complete the sale of the property this summer and once the units are renovated, they will be available for rent. Some units require only minor touch ups, while one unit will be undergoing a major renovation. The cottages are currently part of the Spruce Moose Lodge B&B which is a longstanding hospitality business in the Valley and primarily operates out of the historic home located next door to the cottages.

The Bluebird Project is a partnership between Eliza Grant and Kit Hickey that develops housing in the Mount Washington Valley, with a focus on affordable housing. The Bluebird Project works to conserve local and historic structures, re-purposing them as housing. You can contact them at thebluebirdprojectnh@gmail.com or find them on Facebook.