Developer Mark McNabb recently bought the former J.J. Newberry building on Congress Street in Portsmouth, seen here Monday, June 3, 2024. It is currently home to Thirsty Moose Tap House and the Tres Diana salon. (Photo by Jeff McMenemy, Portsmouth Herald)
Developer Mark McNabb recently purchased the former J.J. Newberry property, which is located close to a previously approved downtown project he’s developing at 1 Congress St.
The J.J. Newberry department store and lunch counter in the heart of downtown closed for good in 1992. The property is now home to the Thirsty Moose Tap House and Tres Diana salon, according to Tracy Kozak, who has worked as McNabb’s architect on several projects, including the planned redevelopment of 1-3 Congress St.
The former J.J. Newberry building was built in 1920 and was most recently appraised for $8.1 million.
The purchase of the former department store building seems to be another step in McNabb’s efforts to redevelop a core part of the city’s downtown.
Integrated development expected
Reached Monday, Kozak said plans for the newly purchased Congress Street property have not been finalized. But she stated future plans would likely include “trying to integrate it with the whole development in that area.”
She added that there are “no plans to change the current tenants” in the former J.J. Newberry department store building.
In addition to the Thirsty Moose and Tres Diana, there is a “whole assortment of office space” on the upper floors of the building, Kozak said.
The city’s Historic District Commission voted in August 2022 to grant a certificate of approval for McNabb’s redevelopment of 1 Congress St.
The project, when work gets underway, will feature a boutique hotel and restaurant, according to plans filed with the city. The project includes renovating and restoring two historic buildings and constructing a three-story addition on what is now a surface parking lot.
The 1-3 Congress St. property is located close to the former J.J. Newberry store building and across the street from North Church.
McNabb’s offer to city of Portsmouth
McNabb has offered to pay potentially “several million dollars” to beautify and dramatically upgrade the area around the city’s High-Hanover parking garage, which is adjacent to his 1 Congress St. project.
In addition to improving the streetscape — which includes widening sidewalks, adding decorative lights and sprucing up the landscaping — the project also calls for “a complete rebuild of the underground infrastructure, which is failing and causing issues to some of the surrounding buildings,” Kozak told the council previously.
“The pavement is broken, the sidewalks are disheveled and too narrow, the lighting is inconsistent, that would all be addressed here, with overhead lighting, pavers on the street, flush curbs,” Kozak told the council. “Down Ladd and High (streets) there would be designated loading zones with landscaping and greenery, where currently there’s none.”
The council previously approved McNabb’s offer in concept.
McNabb to see another extension for Congress Street project
McNabb also previously sought and received a one-year extension from the HDC for its approval of the 1 Congress St. project. That extension expires on Aug. 3, Kozak said in a letter to the commission. McNabb is now seeking a second one-year extension, which is scheduled to be discussed at Wednesday’s HDC meeting.
“The project was initially delayed pending coordination with city for offsite improvements. Construction start is now delayed pending coordination of improvements in coordination with the city and with the owner’s recent acquisition of abutting J.J. Newberry property,” she wrote in the letter.
Any work on the former J.J. Newberry property will likely be coordinated with the 1 Congress St., project and McNabb’s planned improvements to areas around the garage, Kozak said Monday.
The developer does not have an anticipated start time for the 1 Congress St., redevelopment project, Kozak said.
“He’d love to get it moving as quickly as possible,” she said.
She stated McNabb is “just diving into” plans for the former J.J. Newberry building.
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