A groundbreaking was held at Redberry Farm in Epping May 9, 2024. From left are Roger Davis, Nesreen Itani, Dennis Mires, Deborah DeScenza, Rob Dapice, Ignatius MacLellan and Matt Billings. (Photo by Deb Cram/Seacoastonline)
Farmstead of New England: Housing for adults with autism breaks ground in Epping
Farmstead of New England is expanding its footprint, building additional “much needed” housing for people with autism and other developmental disabilities.
The nonprofit, which runs a residential farm assisted living facility at Rosewald Farm in Hillsborough, broke ground Thursday on its latest project at 38 Plumer Road in Epping.
The project, called Redberry Farm, will be built in four phases comprising eight residential buildings.
“We have a waiting list of over 160 people, so the apartments being built are much needed,” said DeScenza.
Tiffany McCorkle, program coordinator for Farmstead of New England, said they offer a “unique service model” that combines assisted living with independence. Those who live there also participate in farming activities and connect with nature.
“So, they will come out here and they’ll grow vegetables, feed the animals… and then they also get community integration like we’ll take them to the gym, we’ll take them swimming, to the library – things that give them an opportunity to have a full life where in most communities, they don’t have that,” said McCorkle.
Project manager Nesreen Itani, of Dennis Mires PA The Architects, said a great deal of thought went into the design of the residential units.
Each building is designed with four one-bedroom apartments surrounding a common room and are ADA-compliant and handicap accessible.
“Part of the challenges of this project is to provide the right space for the type of people who will be using this space,” she said. “ …It’s all about functionality. How can we provide a safe environment for the people who are using this facility and their needs.”
DeScenza said it cost about $1 million to build each building and another million just for the infrastructure.
The total cost for phase 1 of the project, which consists of two buildings, is $3.5 million, which DeScenza said has been raised through fundraising and funds from New Hampshire Housing.
She said the remaining phases of the project will heavily rely on additional funding and grants.
DeScenza said phase 1 is set to be completed by November.
DeScenza said she founded Farmstead of New England in 1999 as a way to help care for her son, Andrew.
“Farmstead of New England began as a dream for my son,” she said. “I wanted him to be in a setting in which both he and his staff would have plenty of access to others for socialization and support. I didn’t want him to be isolated, but I also didn’t want him to be in a setting that was so large it would be impersonal. I want him to have access to outdoor space and to nature. Finally, I wanted him to have the stability of a long-term home.”
DeScenza opened the first care facility in Hillsborough in 2003, which offered 24 units and a few acres of garden space for the animals.
“What keeps me going is seeing smiles on people’s faces and then suddenly constant emails and phone calls from families saying, ‘Do you have a room for my child?’” she said. “Twenty-five years ago, we gave this company a plural name and a wide geographical reference, very intentional because I had hoped that eventually, we’d have a farmstead in every state in New England.” — Aqeel Hisham, Portsmouth Herald
Rendering of proposed building at 25 Lowell Street in Manchester. (Courtesy photo)
North Street Properties acquires 25 Lowell Street in Manchester
Real estate investment & development firm North Street Properties has acquired 25-27 Lowell Street in Manchester. Formally known as the Wellington Trade Center, the vacant five story, 61,920-square-foot office building in downtown Manchester will be repositioned into a 76-unit apartment community with construction beginning this month.
“We are thrilled to take on 25 Lowell Street. This project serves as a case of how adaptive reuse can yield substantial benefits for future tenants and the downtown Manchester neighborhood. By repositioning an existing office building, we hope to create a positive impact on the community of Manchester for years to come.” said Sean Engel, principal of North Street Properties.
“We are extremely grateful to the City of Manchester for their cooperation throughout the approval process. As we begin this exciting project, we’re looking forward to offering quality housing to this growing neighborhood and community.” said Derek Lawton, Principal of North Street Properties.
In October of 2023, North Street Properties was awarded a 6-year tax incentive under New Hampshire’s RSA 79-E Community Revitalization Tax Relief Program. Under the program, an owner of a qualified structure may apply to receive relief from increases in property taxes for a set period of time.
A familiar face is taking over Derry’s planning department
A longtime member of Derry’s Town Hall staff is retiring.
After 40 years of working for Derry, Town Planner George Sioras announced he’ll be retiring at the end of August. His replacement is a familiar face in town, former planning assistant Elizabeth Robidoux.
“We try to be fair and professional with everyone and try to balance the needs of the community and residents, but also be fair with developers,” Sioras said. “It can be a challenge sometimes, but Liz has the personality that can do that. She can bring both sides of an issue together and try to be fair.”
Robidoux was the planning assistant until August 2023, when she resigned to become the Town Planner for Hooksett. She had served as the assistant for 16 years in Derry and said that this feels like she’s coming home.
“I’m looking forward to coming back,” Robidoux said. She added that she never anticipated coming back to Derry, though. “Hooksett is an extremely vibrant, dynamic community and it has so much to offer. I honestly expected to finish my career here.”
While she won’t be starting until the middle of August, Robidoux said there are a few projects she is excited to work on. Among those projects are the exit 4a corridor, the evolution of Ryan Hill, and the continued revitalization of downtown.
Sioras said Robidoux was instrumental in creating Derry’s master plan in 2020 and said he has no doubt that she will be able to execute it.
“Every community is different, has its strengths and visions, so I can’t say it’s any one thing I’ll bring with me,” Robidoux said. “It’s like a culmination of experience since I’ve been in Hooksett.”
Sioras began his career as planner in Derry in 1984. Throughout his career, he has helped push through numerous projects, such as revitalizing the downtown, protecting the Adams Memorial Building and building a new municipal center at 14 Manning St.
What he’s most proud of is the interdisciplinary team that approves different applications for the board.
The Technical Review Committee is composed of representatives from the planning board, fire department, police department, school system, waste management, and more to help understand the scope of projects that come to town, Sioras said. Through this committee, all potentially impacted town services get a voice.
Sioras said that type of work, and work environment, is what he’ll miss most once his retirement begins.
“Some of the long-term employees I’ve worked with on the second floor, they’re like family members to me,” Sioras said. “I’m going to miss that day-to-day, family environment.” — Katelyn Sahagian, Eagle Tribune
Northeast Credit Union has put its 100 Borthwick Ave. property in Portsmouth on the market as it prepares to move its headquarters to Dover. (Photo by Deb Cram/Seacoastonline)
Northeast Credit Union home for sale before moving to Dover
Northeast Credit Union has put its Portsmouth headquarters on the market for $9.5 million as the company transitions to a new home in Dover in the near future.
Cushman & Wakefield commercial real estate listed the 100 Borthwick Ave. building, marking the first time the property has been for sale. The two-story, 47,745-square-foot building was constructed in 1974 and renovated as recently as 2020.
“Northeast Credit Union outgrew this building and is expanding and relocating to Education Way in Dover,” Cushman & Wakefield says of the property in a listing. “This is a rare opportunity to acquire property along Borthwick Avenue and join tenants such as Portsmouth Hospital, Liberty Mutual, Highliner Foods and numerous medical users.”
The office building listing is being marketed as a “redevelopment opportunity” on the Cushman & Wakefield listing. Acceptable uses for the building allowed by the city of Portsmouth in the zoning district include a post-secondary school, a hospital, a hotel or motel with upwards of 125 rooms, a museum, a municipally operated park, professional office space, a publishing facility or similar electronic production operation and wireless telecommunication facilities, among others.
Founded at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in 1936, Northeast Credit Union purchased the 100 Education Way building in Dover in September for $7.5 million. The following month, company leaders, Dover officials and stakeholders celebrated Northeast Credit Union’s eventual move to Dover with a groundbreaking ceremony.
The 100,000-square-foot building in Dover was formerly occupied by Cognia, which was a new name after a merger involving Measured Progress, an education company specializing in testing and accreditation. Northeast Credit Union leaders estimated the Dover headquarters will open in early 2025 to house the majority of the company’s 400-plus employees.
The New Hampshire and Maine credit union’s longtime Portsmouth headquarters are adjacent to Portsmouth Regional Hospital, numerous medical offices and Liberty Mutual.
Cushman & Wakefield’s advertisement of the property notes the building is on almost 13 acres of land with 530 parking spaces. The building is connected to municipal utilities and has a CSX rail line running through the site.
“The balance of the building consists of a mix of private offices, open space, board room, several conference rooms, kitchenette/break rooms, fitness center and seven sets of restrooms, one set with lockers and showers. The office space features two electrical feeds, two elevators, is fully air-conditioned and wet sprinklered throughout,” the listing adds.
The lower level of the building spans 14,904 square feet, while the first level is 20,344 square feet in size and the second floor is 12,497 square feet.
Northeast Credit Union’s Portsmouth headquarters are located less than 10 minutes from downtown. The company has 17 branches throughout Maine and New Hampshire and reports having 166,000-plus members and over $2 billion in assets. — Ian Lenahan, Portsmouth Herald
Another piece of Chinese owned property in Nashua has come to the public’s attention — the former Daniel Webster College property, encompassing some 52 acres. Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess encouraged the Board of Aldermen on Sept. 9 to pass a resolution giving him the authority to seek state and/or federal funds to purchase the property, currently owned by Xinhua Education Consulting Services Corp.
The nonprofit and ReVision Energy expand renewable energy portfolio with new solar panels across five properties in the Monadnock Region
While home prices might be moderating in other parts of the country, the median price of a single-family house in New Hampshire rose to $550,000 in August, the second highest price point this current year. That price is just $3,000 more than the $547,000 recorded in July, but it is $47,500 more than January’s $502,500. The highest median price in 2025 was $569,450, recorded in June and the most ever recorded in the state.
ApprenticeshipNH has partnered with Associated Builders and Contractors of New Hampshire/Vermont and Elm Grove Companies to launch New Hampshire’s first registered apprenticeship program (RAP) for maintenance technicians
Explore how post-pandemic growth, affordability challenges, and evolving housing trends are transforming the Queen City’s future.
The Lake Estate on Winnisquam sees diamonds and stars in its future
Amid a statewide housing shortage, a religious nonprofit recently opened applications for more than 60 new workforce housing apartments in Peterborough.
Concord considers $535K rail purchase to extend Greenway Trail, raising questions for Scenic Railriders
Relax & Co., which provided an array of services to property owners in the Lake Sunapee area, had already been forced to lay off workers earlier this month.
