ROCHESTER — Jeff Lefkovich of Catholic Charities New Hampshire sought Tuesday night to “provide some facts … and dispel misconceptions” about a proposed development of 80 affordable housing units in the city.
A number of Rochester residents attending a City Council meeting raised concerns “illegal aliens” would be housed in the development, if it receives city approvals to be built on Old Dover Road at the former site of a Rochester highway garage.
Lefkovich said people who apply to live at The Residences at Riverside Park will be required to be U.S. citizens with verifiable, qualifying income. He said rent prices for the one- and two-bedroom units will be set so residents won’t have to spend more than 30% of their income on housing, and would be based on the local area median income when leasing begins, which could be in 2026.
Catholic Charities New Hampshire is proposing to build The Residences at Riverside Park, an 80-unit affordable housing project at the site of the old city highway garage in Rochester
Since Catholic Charities NH’s proposal recently became public, Rochester community Facebook pages have included multiple conversations with local residents alleging undocumented immigrants could move into the property, though no officials have stated that would happen.
Catholic Charities NH has faced opposition in Rochester before
This is not the first time Catholic Charities NH has faced opposition to an affordable housing project in Rochester amid a national housing crisis. In 2022, the group backed off a plan to build 180 units of affordable housing in the city’s Gonic neighborhood.
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At that time, residents near the former Gonic Mill site spoke against the project, stating they didn’t want “low-income” housing on a site the city had been trying to redevelop for more than 20 years. They alleged the housing would bring increased crime and lower their property values while placing added burden on police and schools.
Catholic Charities NH responds to residents’ concerns
Lefkovich came to Tuesday night’s City Council meeting to present plans for the new 80-unit project. Prior to his presentation, during the public comment session, concerns were raised.
“Can you assure us that there will be no illegal housing?” asked Carol Petrusewicz.
State Rep. Tom Kaczynski, R-Rochester, claimed Catholic Charities is known nationally for “resettling illegal aliens,” referred to undocumented immigrants as “criminals” and asked Lefkovich, “Will you guarantee there will be no illegal aliens here?”
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Mayor Paul Callaghan pointed out Catholic Charities NH is not the same organization as other national groups with similar names.
Lefkovich, the executive director of real estate and housing development for Catholic Charities NH, agreed with the mayor and went on to explain the U.S. citizen requirement for residents of its properties. He also cited its deep local connections.
“We run the St. Charles School here in Rochester, the St. Anne’s Health Center in Dover, and the New Hampshire Food Bank,” he said. “We run a housing program for young mothers and children.”
The next step for the Catholic Charities project will be a formal application to the Planning Board.
This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Catholic Charities NH refutes false claims on Rochester housing plan
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