Hart: Londonderry 'Poised for Real Growth'

Acting Town Manager William Hart sounded an optimistic tone when talking about the future of Londonderry at Friday's State of the Region breakfast at Promises to Keep in Derry.

The event, put on by the Greater Derry Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, gave Hart and Derry Town Administrator John Anderson an opportunity to talk about what the future holds for the two neighboring towns.

"Londonderry, much like Derry, is poised for real growth as we come out of this difficult economic time," Hart said.

It's been an eventful year, he said, adding that the town is getting ready to go through the process of hiring a new town manager, which would allow him to return to serving solely as the town's police chief instead of the dual role he's held since last summer.

"During the year I've filled in as town manager, we've made some changes I think have benefited the community," he said. "One of the changes we're most excited about is a real innovation in how we deal with the issue of economic development."

Instead of hiring an in-house economic development director, the town is looking to outsource the work.

Hart said economic development is going to be key to the town's success in the coming years.

"We're hoping because of two important developments coming down the road that Londonderry and Derry will become a place where not only you can live, but you can work there, too, and that you can enjoy the benefits of life in Londonderry as well."

The first important opportunity, he said, is in the town's southeastern section, where it borders Derry at Exit 4. This will include the Exit 4A interchange, and the Woodmont Commons development that is now making its way through the approval process.

The second opportunity, in the town's northwest corner, is the Pettingill Road project, which would open up hundreds of acres to potential development by connecting the new airport road, Raymond Wieczorek Drive, to Londonderry.

"Obviously, these things are hopes for the future, but with each passing day, these become projects that are closer to reality," Hart said. "Day by day people are inquiring about Woodmont. Day by day people are inquiring about Pettingill Road. This is something we just didn't see even as short a time as six months to a year ago. Frankly, we didn't hear about it at all two to three years ago.

"What I think is happening here is we are sitting on the top of a wave that's about ready to break," he added. "There's a lot of pent up demand, there's a lot of opportunity."