A formerly municipal parking lot is in line for a big density boost in downtown Manchester after the city Zoning Board approved a 366-unit apartment project from Lansing Melbourne Group and NeighborWorks Southern New Hampshire. 

The development team was chosen by city officials last year following an RFP process intended to boost housing of all types downtown and add more affordable housing options. The team and the city inked a master development agreement in November of last year. 

The Pearl would rise 7 stories high on the corner of Pearl and Orange Streets, on the northern end of the Elm Street strip. Under the lot’s current zoning, the 126,402-square-foot lot could only host 249 apartments, necessitating the variance.  

Plans submitted to city officials show 254 market-rate units and 60 workforce housing units priced for residents earning 100 percent of the area median income in the main building, to be constructed over a 114-space basement parking area. A further 52 affordable units, to be owned by NeighborWorks, will rise in a building separated from the main project by a 540-space parking garage that will be owned by the city. 

Manchester Ink Link reports that Zoning Board members unanimously backed the proposal, although some expressed concern about the increased density. 

As part of its development deal with Manchester officials, Lansing Melbourne also plans to build a second, similarly-sized development on the municipal Hartnett Street parking lot nearby at a later date.