People and Property: Real Estate and Construction News From Around NH

Londonderry plans projects for FY25-30

The town’s planning board has approved major town projects for the next five fiscal years.

The Planning Board has approved the FY 2025-2023 capital improvement plan, or CIP, which includes four school district projects and renovation of the Lions Hall.

The Moose Hill School project was condensed from two smaller projects into one big project. It would add six additional classrooms to the overpopulated school and add required updates for an all-day kindergarten.

This project would cost approximately $34.2 million, updated from the $29.2 million listed on the official CIP document. The larger renovations needed would be constructing new core facilities like a kitchen and multi-purpose room to meet requirements for a full-day school. The plan would also expand the number of classrooms and other, smaller activity areas for students.

The first part of the project — building more classrooms — would start in 2024, with the timeline of expanding to an all-day kindergarten listed as yet to be determined.

“This building was built in 2000,” said Bob Slater, the school board chair. “Kindergarten in 2000 is not what it is in 2023; it’s evolved, it’s changed as it has in all our buildings with the programs. We want to make sure they get that quality service as well as the education.”

The two other projects for the school were considered less urgent, but still necessary. One would be addressing the lack of an auditorium, the uncompleted gym, the wood foundation, and need for a new HVAC system in the high school, which would be addressed in FY2028. The other is the construction or releasing of a school district building. The two projects would add up to more than $110 million.

The Lion’s Hall project is listed as one of the top priorities for the town, and would cost approximately $1 million to $2 million to complete. The building has fallen into disrepair after centuries of use for the town, and needs to be brought up to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The three potential plans for the hall would be to demolish the building and rebuild, do minor internal repairs, or do those internal repairs as well as fixing the flow of the parking lot and potentially adding on an addition to the building.

Dave Wholley, the director of public works for the town, said the first option was a nonstarter, but the other two would be decided on later.

Wholley said the projects that come before this board are usually not for historic buildings, or community centers.

“The premise of that task was to reopen the building and restoring … it to the services or availability, if you will, to what it was before it closed,” Wholley said. “It is a 254-year-old building, and it’s not something that was planned or forecasted, and yet here we are and we have to deal with it.” — KATELYN SAHAGIAN/NORTHOFBOSTON.COM

Jewett Construction transforms Route 44 Hyundai in Raynham, Massachusetts

Jewett Construction, a design-build construction firm in Fremont, NH, has completed the Route 44 Hyundai renovation project in Raynham, Massachusetts, encompassing a wide range of renovations that have elevated the facility to meet Hyundai’s latest GDSI 2.0 branding standards.

The renovation project, spanning approximately 23,000 square feet, included both interior and exterior upgrades that encompasses various aspects of the dealership, making it more welcoming, efficient, and aligned with Hyundai’s corporate identity, including: a full showroom and sales office transformation; a new entrance vestibule; new car delivery spaces; the building’s exterior was refurbished with ACM paneling and storefront glass; upgraded shop spaces; new plumbing and HVAC systems; electrical infrastructure upgrades such as charging stations for electric vehicles.

Courtesy photo

Wentworth by the Sea recognized as No. 4 resort in the world

Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards revealed that Wentworth by the Sea in New Castle was recognized as the No. 4 resort in the World and the No. 2 resort in New England.

More than 520,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers submitted responses rating their travel experiences across the globe to offer a comprehensive look at the places they anticipate revisiting. The Readers’ Choice Awards, one of the travel industry’s longest running and most prestigious accolades, acknowledge excellence within the travel sector.

Just minutes from downtown Portsmouth, the resort features 161 luxury rooms and suites, two pools, an on-property spa and fitness center, clay tennis court and gardens. The hotel offers three dining options: SALT, serving fresh seafood, prime meats and an award-winning wine list; Latitudes, waterfront dining; and the Latitudes Sky Bar.

The resort hosts many seasonal events yearly, and is a member of the Historic Hotels of America and a part of the Opal Collection family of properties.

Developer buys long-closed nursing home in Wilder, Vermont, eyeing change to school or housing

After sitting vacant for several years, the former Brookside Nursing Home has new owners and a fresh coat of paint, giving hope to neighbors that the property will be put to productive use.

In August, a real estate firm owned by Upper Valley developer Mike Davidson purchased the former nursing home at 1200 Christian St. for $825,000.

The 67-bed facility in Wilder village ceased operations in November 2017, shortly after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced it would stop making payments to Brookside due to deficiencies in patient care.

Davidson, in a phone interview, said current plans for the property include either a school — which would have a residential component for some students — or a housing project with about 30 to 40 apartments.

“We have a housing crisis right now in the Upper Valley,” Davidson said before characterizing it as a “housing emergency.”

This week, contracted workers were painting the building exterior a pale shade of yellow. Over the weekend, workers cleared trees and overgrown vegetation from the 4-acre parcel.

The building is located in a residential district that would allow for a school to operate on a property if approved by the town Zoning Board of Adjustment.

Davidson has an extensive portfolio in White River Junction, including The Village, an 89-bed senior living facility on Gates Street, and the Ledgeworks apartment building on 132 S. Main St.

Phil, who declined to give his last name, a painter from property management firm Ledgeworks, finishes his lunch before returning to work at the former Brookside Nursing Home building in Wilder, Vt., on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. “We’re trying to bring the old girl back,” he said of the building’s neglected exterior. It has been vacant since closing in Nov. 2017, and was recently purchased by real estate company 12 Tremont Street, manageby by Tim Sidore. (Photo by James M. Patterson, Valley News)

Neighbors said in interviews that they are glad the property is being cleaned up and maintained but they’d like to know more.

“I’m happy that they’re painting it, and we’re happy that someone is planning to do something with it,” said Debbie Rodgers, who lives across the street. “We’re just kind of curious as to what’s going to go in there.”

Rodgers, citing the need for housing, said she would be receptive to a multifamily apartment building, provided there is adequate parking and lighting and a traffic plan — one that avoids sending cars onto Brookside Drive where she lives.

“If he puts in, say, 40 studio apartments, that’s possibly 80 cars that will be ripping in and out of here if they use this road,” Rodgers said. “It would be absolutely horrible.”

Anika Gilbert, who also lives on Brookside Drive, said she would not welcome an apartment project, which could result in light pollution and traffic safety concerns. She noted Brookside Drive does not have pedestrian sidewalks.

“I don’t want to live next to a big housing community,” Gilbert said.

Though apprehensive about Davidson’s plans, Gilbert said she was relieved that the property is no longer abandoned. — PATRICK ADRIAN/VALLEY NEWS