Event Recap: Where We Live Tour at Dover's Cottages at Back River Road

On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, over 30 housing professionals and curious comm

unity members attended a Where We Live Tour hosted at the Cottages at Back River Road in Dover. Tour participants represented all sides of the housing sector, from municipal leadership to financial institutions to advocacy groups and many more.

The group was guided by the developers of the Cottages, John and Maggie Randolph, providing an inside look into the process of planning, building, and managing a workforce housing development.

The Workforce Housing Coalition first visited the Cottages in 2023, when the development was still under construction. Now complete with grass, pavement, and residents, the project is a testament to the progress and determination that is essential for any innovation.

The photo on the left is from our first walking tour of the Cottages in 2023, and on the right, our tour in May 2026.

About the Process:

John and Maggie Randolph have become household names in the affordable housing space, but development isn’t their only role. They are business owners and community leaders that saw the problem firsthand and took action.

The Randolph’s own and operate Harmony Homes, a set of two assisted living facilities in Durham, NH. It was after speaking with their own employees about their struggles with finding and affording housing in the area that they expanded into affordable housing development.

To gain community support, a developer must have an argument that appeals to the greater public, as well as potential residents. Throughout the tour, John and Maggie expressed the economic constraints that are tied to communities that don’t provide ample housing options for essential workers.

Another critical piece was destigmatizing the idea of those living in workforce housing and recreating the narrative to focus on these individuals being closer to the people and communities that they serve.

The Cottages at Back River Road also required municipal support. The City of Dover, long a leader in the housing space, was integral in permitting a project with such density. The use of Transfer of Development Rights allowed for the increased number of units on the lot (from 9 to 44), while ensuring permanent affordability and the conservation of outlying rural land.

About the Cottages:

In all, there are 44 tiny homes, including two ADA-accessible units, organized in “pocket communities” or clusters on a 7-acre site.

Each cottage measures 544 square feet with enough room for one bedroom, one bathroom, a full kitchen and a loft upstairs; without the loft, the cottage totals under 400 square feet.

During the tour, John and Maggie took the group into two cottages, with the same exterior appearance and layout, but decorated with individual flare and identity.

Even in a small space, it was clear the cottage had been made a home. The high ceilings and efficient use of space made the spaces feel much bigger than they’d seemed on paper, a sentiment that was reflected by all tour attendees.

For John and Maggie, efficiency is the gateway to a streamlined, affordable product. After constructing 44 units, the building crew (that has also remained consistent) has gotten it down to a science.

Materials have been tailored to exactly what is necessary; timing has been defined to the minute so electricians can work inside just as the structure is solidified. As John noted, the amount of waste created for one cottage can now fit into one small trashcan, and they can go from raw material to an occupied unit in about two weeks.

The cottages are also entirely electrified, adding to the efficiencies for both the residents and the property management. Utilities are included in the overall cost of the unit, which limits duplicative costs or procedure that falls on the residents.

About the Impact:

Throughout the tour, John and Maggie stressed the impact of the Cottages. With only 44 units, the development has changed the lives of the region’s most essential workers.

Employers, like Harmony Homes, are able to retain staff for longer periods of time. Productivity and efficiency at work is higher, without the added stress of a far commute.

Plus, when service members and essential workers are able to live in the area that they represent, bonds within the community are deepened and overall vitality increases.

John used the example of a Dover schoolteacher who had been commuting an hour to work and who can now bike to work, come home for lunch, and establish themselves as a trusted representative of, and participant in, the Dover community.

This is just one of numerous stories that illustrate the individual and community impacts of workforce housing. When we allow for, plan, and build housing for essential and community workers, the entire region is made better and our public systems are made stronger. 

What’s Next?

Even with a proven positive impact, these types of workforce housing developments remain rare on the Seacoast. The waitlist for the Cottages is extremely long, and there is rarely a vacancy. When a unit does open up, vacancy usually doesn’t last for more than a couple of weeks.

The Randolph’s expressed that they would love to develop more of these projects in the future and are actively searching for other parcels that could fit their needs. At the same time, they support other developers getting into this space and are happy to share tips and tricks along the way.

For the Cottages at Back River Road, there are many factors that had to fall into place, from funding to community engagement to zoning. However, John and Maggie would agree that every setback and challenge was worth it for the lifelong impacts made through these homes.

Thank you to John and Maggie Randolph for hosting us all and giving such powerful insights into the work. Thank you to Stella’s Cafe for welcoming our group for a post-tour lunch. And a very special thank you to all of the participants, leaders, and changemakers who joined us for the tour.