Liberty Mutual campus ‘village’ revival: Developer seeks tenants in Dover

The initial redevelopment phase of the former Liberty Mutual campus is under way, which is expected to bring hundreds of residential units and expansive commercial space.

Brady Sullivan Properties, the developer that purchased the property, is marketing commercial spaces at what it is calling The Village at River’s Edge. It is seeking tenants for 100 and 150 Waumbec Drive, formerly known as Dover East and Dover West.

“This reimagined mixed-use development offers a unique opportunity to position your business in one of the Seacoast’s fastest-growing areas,” a Brady Sullivan Properties Facebook post states in part.

“The Village at River’s Edge is a 585,000-square-foot lifestyle campus set across more than 200 acres overlooking the Cocheco River in Dover, New Hampshire. A thoughtfully planned redevelopment is underway, bringing new Class A office, flex and industrial space, along with retail and medical pad sites, and 230 modern apartments currently under construction,” the developer’s website states.

The marketing says the property is ideal for “retail and restaurant concepts, medical and wellness users, professional office and service-based businesses.” The “high-visibility campus setting with strong accessibility” and proximity to downtown Dover and access to Route 4 and 16 are touted by the developer.

The former Liberty Mutual campus was purchased for $16.3 million on Dec. 15, 2025, according to Strafford County register of deeds records and confirmed by the city tax assessor’s office.

The former Liberty Mutual buildings in Dover are planned to be part of a large redevelopment project. (Photo by Deb Cram, Foster’s Daily Democrat)

The redevelopment of the former Liberty Mutual campus was previously proposed by Brady Sullivan Properties to be done in three phases. Donna Benton, the city’s director of planning and community development, said that is still the case to the best of her knowledge.

Developers have previously said shops and restaurants and a total of up to 500 residential units are planned.

The first phase, starting with 150 Waumbec Drive, formerly known as Dover West, a four-story, 350,000-square-foot building “is in full swing,” Benton said in an email. She said plans were signed for 150 Waumbec Drive, “but anything beyond the 150 building would need further Planning Board review and approval.”

The city Planning Board in September 2025 approved a conditional use permit for the establishment of a Residential Commercial Mixed-Use Overlay District for the site.

The redevelopment in this first phase has aimed to bring 245 residential units on the upper floors of the building. The plan previously called for 39,411 square feet of commercial space on the ground level.

Future phases of the project have called for the redevelopment of the 235,000-square-foot 100 Waumbec Drive building, and construction of five new buildings. Upon completion, the new development is expected to total 205,900 square feet of commercial space.

Benton stated no plans for future phases have been submitted yet.

Phase 3 was detailed in preliminary plans as two new four-story, 69,120-square-foot residential and commercial mixed-use buildings with 48 residential units each.

Benton has previously said Dover city staff asked Brady Sullivan Properties to hold a “public charrette,” which is a community design process. The goal is to get input on what the community would like to see in the second and third phases of the Liberty Mutual development. Benton said in a recent email this public charrette is still required to be held and hasn’t yet been scheduled.