Liberty Commits $2.4 Million to Preserving Concord Gasholder

Wonderful news! Three years after initiating plans for the demolition of the historic 1888 Concord, NH Gasholder, property owner Liberty has agreed to commit nearly $2.4 million toward its preservation and revitalization. This transformative decision is the result of a collaborative effort between Liberty (formerly Liberty Utilities), the N.H. Preservation Alliance, and the City of Concord to re-imagine and re-purpose the Gasholder and two-acre gasworks site to benefit the community.

“Liberty is proud to play a part in this community-led effort to save the Gasholder,” said Liberty-NH President Neil Proudman. “After spending more than a year listening to the community and working with stakeholders, culminating with approval from the Public Utilities Commission, we believe this mutually developed plan is the best and least cost option for Liberty’s customers and for the community of Concord. This plan is a win-win – it puts the Gasholder on a pathway for preservation, protects the environment and public health and safety, and will save money for Liberty’s customers compared to the alternatives.”

The Gasholder, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is considered the last of its kind in the country with inner workings intact. Cities around the globe have turned their gasworks sites into vibrant community destinations, galvanizing neighborhoods and highlighting energy conservation, environmental progress, and economic development.

“The City of Concord has been a strong supporter of this preservation effort, helping coordinate the efforts of Liberty and the N.H. Preservation Alliance,” said Concord City Manager Tom Aspell. “Liberty’s significant private investment should benefit the city in many ways, from historic preservation to environmental remediation and economic development. We look forward to seeing the preservation of this great community asset for generations to come.”

Left to right: James Wieck, Hydrogeologist/Associate Principal, GZA; Bobby Segal, CEO, Sanel NAPA; Neil Proudman, President, Liberty-NH; Michael Bruss, President, Bruss Project Management; Althea Barton, Special Projects, N.H. Preservation Alliance; Frank Lemay, President, Milestone Engineering & Construction; Jennifer Goodman, Executive Director, N.H. Preservation Alliance; Tom Evarts, President, Yankee Steeplejack Company; John Wathne, Founder-Principal, and Jillian Borghardt, Structural Engineer Preservation Designer, Structures North Consulting Engineers; Nicholas Mitchell, former Board Chair, N.H. Preservation Alliance; Ron Rayner, Environmental Advisor. Photo credit: Steve Booth Photography

The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (PUC), whose mission is to ensure that customers of regulated utilities receive safe, adequate, and reliable service at just and reasonable rates, has authorized Liberty to stabilize, preserve and utilize the Gasholder as part of its ongoing remediation efforts. The preservation of the Gasholder is a remedy long ago approved by the N.H. Department of Environmental Services’ Remedial Action Plan for the property.

“This commitment is an enormous boost for this challenging project,” said Jeanie Forrester, chair of the N.H. Preservation Alliance Board of Directors. “More funding is needed, but Liberty’s commitment makes it much more feasible to fully rehabilitate the building and find a use for the property that allows for public enjoyment and is a catalyst for robust development along the city’s old rail yards.” 

Neil Proudman and preservation consultant Elizabeth Durfee Hengen discussed the relevance of the 1888 Gasholder in this short video by the late John Gfroerer. Learn more in the Gasholder FAQs.

Three million dollars is considered the minimum cost of rehabilitation. This new financial commitment through the PUC offers momentum for needed additional fundraising. Next steps are to complete pre-development work as the parties talk to stakeholders about possible future uses of the site.

Over the years, neighbors, civic and business leaders, and preservationists from across the state and country have rallied to the cause. The N.H. Community Development Finance Authority provided pre-development support. In 2021, an anonymous donor and long-time supporter of the N.H. Preservation Alliance made a $500,000 gift to catalyze action and spur additional investment in the project. Emergency stabilization was completed in 2022 with costs covered by Liberty and the Preservation Alliance. It helped avoid collapse of the structure, making the site safer and giving time for the work needed to secure additional funding.

Because of its national significance and redevelopment potential, the Preservation Alliance listed the Gasholder on its Seven to Save list for a second time in 2020 after Liberty announced plans to seek a demolition permit due to the imminent risk of collapse. Since then, the Preservation Alliance has hosted public forums, helped support redevelopment analysis and nominated the building for national Most Endangered status and a federal historic preservation grant. The Preservation Alliance helps strengthen communities and local economies by supporting and encouraging the revitalization and protection of historic buildings and places through leadership, education, and advocacy.

Thank you for your interest in saving and re-imagining the Concord Gasholder. Email your comments and questions to projects@nhpreservation.org with “gasholder” in the subject line or call us at 603-224-2281. Learn more at www.saveourgasholder.org.