At the beginning of the month, we collected our top 10 most read stories of 2023 and asked readers to tell us which was their top story of the year.

Out of nearly 100 responses, almost half (42.7%) said the plans for a large mixed-use development at the Steeplegate Mall site was their number one. We also asked why their selection was important. Here’s what readers had to say:

“The redevelopment of Steeplegate Mall will be a win-win for the city and surrounding communities while increasing the number of available housing units in the city. Multi-use development is the key to Concord’s future.”

“The impact of new housing and new business will have a very positive impact on many residents and future residents of Concord. While the loss of the Hatbox Theatre and Regal Cinema is disappointing to thousands, including myself, I trust that the entrepreneurial spirit will move individuals and business leaders to more than adequately replace their loss.”

“It seems to have the biggest change to the region. (Personally, I think it should have turned it into medical offices to offset the pressure on the hospital area and attract people from eastern towns).”

And here are the rest of our readers’ top five stories of 2023:

2. “We’ve got nowhere else to go” – Concord family homeless once again after temporary apartment stay

“We need to continue to keep the fact that we lack housing & support for many of our citizens as a priority for 2024. It needs to stay in the headlines.”

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Yesterday's Most Read Articles

Youth rally against New Hampshire’s bill allowing medical aid in dying

In the face of tragedy, Franklin softball seeks togetherness

A May tradition, the Kiwanis Fair comes to Concord this weekend

Lawyers and lawmakers assert the Department of Education is on the verge of violating the law

On the trail: Biden back to N.H. next week

Transgender sports ban heads to Sununu

Your Daily Puzzles

Cross|Word

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Typeshift

SpellTower

Really Bad Chess

3. Concord Monitor editor Mike Pride dies at 76; remembered for devotion to journalism

“The Concord Monitor was an important resource for our community, which Mike understood very well under his tenure.”

4. Long dormant Tenney Mountain Ski Area in Plymouth set to reopen

“I loved Tenney Mountain and skied there many times before I ‘aged out.’”

5. Tom Walton, who died Wednesday after suffering cardiac arrest, left the community a healthier place

“Tom Walton was an incredibly kind and inspiring person who left this world a much better place. Positive stories about people like Tom make the Concord Monitor a great resource for local news.”

Readers also told us that local stories that didn’t make the top ten most read list were what they found most impactful in 2023, including coverage of deciding the location of the new middle school in Concord, the Beaver Meadow Golf Clubhouse decision, the Logan Clegg trial, and Andy Sanborn.