development

Rochester Seeking Concepts for Redevelopment of Two Downtown Properties

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  City of Rochester
Blaine Cox, City Manager
31 Wakefield Street
Rochester, NH 03867

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Rochester Seeking Concepts for Redevelopment of Two Downtown Properties

ROCHESTER — City Manager Blaine Cox is pleased to announce that Rochester is actively seeking proposals for redevelopment of two city owned properties downtown.

In a newly-issued Request for Proposals, the city is seeking concepts for potential re-purposing of the Salinger Block (10 North Main St.) and the Scenic Theater (12/14 North Main St.

Developers interested in responding to the RFP are encouraged to conduct a site visit and tour the existing buildings on Tuesday, Dec. 4, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. To schedule a visit, contact the Office of Economic Development at 603-335-7522.

The properties are potentially eligible for a variety of tax credits and other incentives, including the Downtown Revitalization Tax Incentive, Rochester JOB Loan Program, Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credits and more.

“These properties are located right in the heart of our downtown, making them extremely attractive for redevelopment in any number of ways,” City Manager Cox said. “I’m looking forward to seeing the ideas come out of this process, and for the eventual progress on revitalizing these two key properties.”

City leaders expect proposals would include some combination of residential, restaurant or retail space that will further diversify the downtown area.

Responses to the RFP are due Dec. 27.

For more information about the RFP and the properties, click here.

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City of Rochester Names Jennifer Marsh as 2016 Employee of the Year

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City of Rochester
Daniel Fitzpatrick, City Manager
31 Wakefield Street
Rochester, NH 03867

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, Feb. 6, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

City of Rochester Names Jennifer Marsh as 2016 Employee of the Year

Jennifer Marsh was named the City of Rochester’s 2016 Employee of the Year. (Courtesy Photo)

ROCHESTER — City Manager Dan Fitzpatrick, along with the Employee Recognition and Achievement Team, is pleased to announce that Jennifer Marsh has been named Rochester’s 2016 Employee of the Year.

Marsh, an Economic Development Specialist within the City’s Economic Development Department, has worked for the City of Rochester since 2014. In her role, Marsh provides technical assistance to small businesses and supports ongoing efforts in business retention and expansion.

Additionally, Marsh leads the department’s Business Roundtables and the Quarterly Manufacturers Exchanges, and serves on the Government Affairs team within the Chamber of Commerce as well as the Economic Restructuring team with the Rochester Main Street Organization.

Nominated by Karen Pollard, who heads up the Economic Development Department, Marsh was chosen for taking the lead on multiple projects in the past year, including the Farmers Market at the Rochester Commons, the Seacoast Manufacturing Exchange and the Job Opportunity Benefit (JOB) Loan Program.

“Jenn consistently puts Rochester in a positive light through her daily interactions with people inside and outside of City Hall,” City Manager Fitzpatrick said. “I thank Karen for recognizing what a valuable employee she has in Jenn, and am pleased to honor someone who has done so much for Rochester in a short time.”

Marsh’s relationship-building and sales skills, honed from years of working as a real estate agent, benefit not only her team, but also local small businesses. She is the chair of the Technical Review Group, where multiple departments interact to ensure the city is providing the best customer service to each applicant as they prepare to go before the Planning Board.

Rochester’s Employee of the Year award is a fairly new designation. The award, an extension of the longstanding Employee of the Month program, was created by City Manager Fitzpatrick and the Employee Recognition and Achievement Team in 2012. The team, which is made up of eight permanent members and two rotating members from different departments, accepts nominations for the Employee of the Year and also uses the nominations of the Employee of the Month to select the recipient each year.

“I’d like to thank City Manager Fitzpatrick, the Achievement Team and Karen for honoring me with this prestigious award,” Marsh said. “I look forward to continuing to form positive relationships with local businesses and encourage all community members to look into the economic development resources the City of Rochester has to offer. I work in an amazing community and am blessed to have such great co-workers and a business community that really cares about the City they live and work in.”

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Dartmouth Police Provide Update on Progress Toward New Police Station

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Dartmouth Police Department
Robert W. Szala, Police Chief
249 Russells Mills Road
South Dartmouth, MA 02748

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Dartmouth Police Provide Update on Progress Toward New Police Station

DARTMOUTH — The Dartmouth Police Station project is on schedule, and the feasibility study is underway.

The goal of the project is to construct the Town of Dartmouth’s first standalone police station, at a reasonable cost, with room for growth. If approved and built, the police station is expected to serve the town’s needs for the most of the remaining century and beyond.

The Carell Group (TCG) met with the Police Chief’s Advisory Group on Dec. 14 and presented preliminary design proposals and floorplans. The project calls for a 21,500 sq. ft. two-story facility that is designed to meet the town’s aesthetic and functionality needs.

The Advisory Group voted, after a thorough review of the plans, to accept the concept for the purposes of generating a cost estimate of the project. The architect was authorized to proceed with an estimate. In addition to the physical plant, other project costs are currently being estimated, including: communications equipment, professional fees, technology, office equipment, and testing services. The goal is to complete the project budget with all research, estimating, and quotations simultaneously with the building/site cost estimate. This would give the town a realistic and complete picture of the cost of the police station project.

A draft budget is anticipated at the end of January. The draft feasibility study will be given to the town on Feb. 15, and the final version is expected to be ready March 1.

Ballfields
TCG will be meeting with the Park Board on Jan. 17 to begin discussions on the existing ball fields at the Gidley School and options for alternative locations, including the possibility of building new ballfields on the former police station site.

Gidley Demolition
Approval was received in December to demolish the Gidley School. Key elements of the building will be salvaged for use in the new police station.

The bidding process for the demolition of the Gidley School began on Jan. 4 with pre-bid briefing and a walk-through held on Jan. 10. Formal bids are due on Jan. 25 and demolition could begin as early as February or March.

Public Presentations
A public update to the Dartmouth Select Board is scheduled for Feb. 6, and a Joint Select Board/FinCom Presentation is scheduled for March 6.

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Dartmouth Police Announce Progress Toward New Police Station

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Dartmouth Police Department
Robert W. Szala, Police Chief
249 Russells Mills Road
South Dartmouth, MA 02748

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Dartmouth Police Announce Progress Toward New Police Station

DARTMOUTH — Plans for the new Dartmouth Police Station are currently underway.

The police department signed a contract with The Carell Group (TCG) on Oct. 21 to conduct a feasibility study for the new station. TCG thoroughly reviewed the department’s operations and staffing, as well as the current and future needs of the station and the projected growth of the town.

The Dartmouth Site Selection Committee (SSC) reviewed several sites. In response to the Request for Proposals, issued by the town, one private parcel proposal was considered for a location behind the Walmart property, on Route 6 and Cross Road.

The SSC also reviewed an available town-owned parcel where the abandoned Gidley School site, located at 1390 Tucker Road. A selection matrix was used to compare the two proposed parcels. The SSC unanimously agreed that 1390 Tucker Road was the most beneficial location for the new station. TCG’s design team is now in the process of evaluating the Tucker Road property. Evaluation of the site includes a topographical and boundary survey, existing conditions and structures verification, a utility study, review of zoning and regulatory issues and a views and exposure assessment.

An additional contract was signed with The Carell Group on Nov. 1 to prepare for bidding and to administer the hazardous material abatement and demolition of the former Gidley School. A partially completed building permit for the demolition of the school has been submitted to the Building Department to start the process. The design team met with the Historic Commission on Dec. 5, and an agreement was reached among commission members, Police Chief Robert Szala, and Town Administrator David Cressman to incorporate some portion of the Gidley School building into the new police station, which will create an architecturally prudent design for Dartmouth.

The site and building investigations are in progress and the bidding is expected to begin by Jan. 1. Demolition could begin in February or March.

The design team and project manager are working on finalizing the overall budget which will include the hard construction costs, along with development costs such as, equipment and furnishings, consultant fees, utility company fees and material testing. Design decisions are on track to be completed by the first week of January, and the draft of the study will follow in the early spring.

The goal of the project is to produce the town’s first standalone police station, at a reasonable cost, with room for growth. If approved and built, the police station is expected to serve the town’s needs for the most of the remaining century and beyond.

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