People and Property: Real Estate and Construction News Roundup

Brookstone’s Fort Devens project, Hannaford readies new Exeter store … and more

Brookstone Builders Inc., Manchester, has been selected to perform an expansion project at Fort Devens in Ayer, Mass. The project involves expansion of the armory section of the Marine Readiness Center and includes demolition of existing walls and flooring and concrete, masonry, mechanical and electrical work.

North Branch Construction of Concord reports that it continues work on schedule and on budget at the historic First Congregational Church of Wolfeboro. Foundations and structural steel are complete and framing began shortly after Thanksgiving. The building is expected to be fully enclosed by the end of January.

North Branch said it has taken great precaution to carefully remove many historic elements from the church so that they may be displayed and put to use in the new sanctuary. The church’s stained glass windows and curved pews were placed in storage, where they will remain until it is time to reinstall them into the new sanctuary. The church bell was lowered before demolition and will be placed on display in a structure in front of the church.

Design of the structure by the project’s architect – G-V-V Architects of Burlington, Vt. – should be completed soon, the company reported.

Hannaford Supermarkets has announced it will open a Hannaford Supermarket & Pharmacy in the spring at 141 Portsmouth Ave., Exeter, in the former Stop & Shop building within Exeter Shopping Center Plaza. As part of the transaction, Hannaford has acquired a lease to the former Stop & Shop building in Bedford. Hannaford said it is evaluating that site and has no immediate announcements related to the property. The Exeter Hannaford will be the company’s 34th store in New Hampshire, more than any grocer in the state, the company said.

Approvals have been obtained by Jones & Beach Engineers Inc., Stratham, for the Army & Navy Association project on Daniel Street in Portsmouth. The development includes 4,000 square feet of retail space and 15 residential condominium units. Jonathan Ring is project manager for design and land permitting.

The Tulley Automotive Group has chosen Jewett Automotive Design & Construction, Raymond, to renovate its Buick/GMC dealership in Nashua. Designed by Bruce Ronayne Hamilton Architects, the project entails both interior and exterior showroom renovations, as well as upgrades designed to comply with the latest GMC image requirements. Work includes: new sales and sales manager workstations; bathrooms; flooring, ceilings and lighting; a new glass and aluminum curtainwall; and ACM cladding.

Jewett also recently completed an extensive renovation of the Lexington Toyota dealership in Lexington, Mass.

Manchester-based Socha Companies has completed construction of its most recent townhouse development at Stoneyview Way, Manchester. The 20-unit project is a mix of two- and three-bedroom units for lease.

Waterstone Mortgage Corp., a national mortgage lender, is expanding to the New England market with offices in Manchester and Newington as well as Augusta, Maine, and Newburyport, Mass. Overseeing the expansion is area manager Scott Reid.

Harriman, a full-service architecture and engineering firm with offices in Maine and New Hampshire, has announced that Karen L. Schacht has joined the firm as a senior project architect in the Manchester, N.H., office.