Strafford News

Work is underway at the city-owned waterfront parcel on River Street. Construction and infrastructure firm, Northeast Earth Mechanics, Inc., is mobilizing equipment at the site, marking the commencement of the development of the waterfront property. A ground-breaking ceremony will be held at the site in the coming weeks.

Northeast Earth is slated to start installing fencing along Washington Street Extension on Monday, June 12. Upon installation, public dock use will be limited. Dock access will also be available for the Gundalow event scheduled for later this month, part of the city's 400th-anniversary celebration.

Dover's waterfront development represents a considerable undertaking. Public improvement measures form a significant part of this project, from constructing a new street system for site access to establishing necessary utilities for the upcoming buildings. A new 3.4-acre public riverfront park, shoreline stabilization, site grading to account for projected sea-level rise, and a new stormwater management system with green infrastructure are also part of the project.

The city also plans to upgrade the River Street pump station, which handles roughly 80% of the city’s wastewater. With the pump station approaching its 30th year, the City Council has approved an amendment to its contract with Wright-Pierce to undertake the design work for these upgrades.

The project also includes a private development component, led by developer Cathartes, which is expected to begin next year once some of the public improvements are complete. The development plan includes three mixed-use buildings, two multi-family buildings, and three clusters of townhouses.

Approved by the Planning Board in June 2022, the development aims to revitalize the Dover waterfront and introduce approximately 26,000 square feet of commercial space and 418 residential units, comprising both rental and condominium units for sale.

The waterfront development project, which has been in the planning stages for years, took a significant step forward with the approval of the city's public improvements plan and Cathartes' site plan last year.

For more information about the waterfront development project, visit https://www.dover.nh.gov/government/city-operations/planning/cochecho-waterfront-development/.

Original source can be found here.