72 apartments in Portsmouth: Project with 15 affordable units approved

PORTSMOUTH — The city Planning Board approved a major redevelopment project that will feature 72 apartments, including 15 that will rent at work-force rates.

Developer Mark McNabb's project at 581 Lafayette Road was granted site plan approval in a unanimous vote Thursday, May 16.

Two 5-story additions with 36 apartments in each will be built at the site, which is home to two existing restaurants, including the Tour restaurant and indoor golf facility, according to the developer’s plans.

The project will include an outdoor dining area and pocket park that will be open to the public.

McNabb agreed to build a “multi-use path on the adjacent (Portsmouth) High School property that would promote pedestrian and bicycle access to the facility and … create a connection to Andrew Jarvis Drive and residents of” the redeveloped project, according to city Planning Manager Peter Stith.

McNabb received a density bonus for the project, which allowed him to build 72 apartments by agreeing to rent 20% of them at work-force rates and creating the public-realm improvements.

A mix of apartment sizes

Tracy Kozak, the architect for the project, said the two additions will “both touch the existing Tour building.”

“One is on the back, one is the side … they are each five stories,” she told the board at Thursday night’s meeting in City Hall.

More Portsmouth news: Historic building should be razed, inspector says. HDC still says no to owner.

Parking will be located on the first story and basement level, she said.

Levels 2 through 5 are all residential, Kozak said, with 36 units in each building addition.

“We have a mix of unit sizes, ranging from studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom,” Kozak said.

The 15 work-force apartments will be two- and three-bedroom units located throughout the two additions, she said.

John Chagnon, an engineer for the project team, said the work-force units will rent to people who earn 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI).

Kozak stressed “we spent a lot of time doing energy modelling” to make the units as “energy efficient and healthy as possible.”

Building lounges, rooftop deck

Each building addition has its own front door and lobby, with Building B facing Ledgewood Drive and Building A facing Lafayette Road, Kozak said.

There will be a “community lounge space” located on each building’s fifth floor that will feature “a large outdoor roof deck,” she said.

Each apartment will have a small balcony, Kozak said.

Each addition will also have solar panels on top, she said.

More local news: Portsmouth councilors don't want to 'criminalize' street campers, propose this solution

The redevelopment project will feature 173 parking spaces, more than the 162 required by the zoning ordinance, according to plans submitted with the city.

In addition, “there’s a lot of bicycle, scooter and motorcycle parking” on site for the development, which is “located in a very central part of the city,” Kozak said.

McNabb reminded the board that in addition to the parking inside the additions, the site has a parking easement with the adjacent property that allows them to use open parking spaces there if needed.

Chagnon told the board the “site plan and development proposal is in concert with the Portsmouth master plan by providing a mixed use development and affordable housing, creating a neighborhood.”

Tour restaurant owner objects to project

Ryan Lent, the owner and operator of the Tour restaurant and golf facility, wrote a letter to the board saying he objected to the redevelopment.

“The objections I have are regarding parking and disruption to our business as well as all businesses in the plaza,” Lent said.

Asked about the concerns raised in the letter, McNabb stated both Tour and the other restaurant at the site, Five 81° NE, have leases.

“We can’t just go in there and not honor their lease,” he said. “We’ll have a whole negotiation with them.”

McNabb said he will meet with the tenants before the project is ready to break ground in a year or two.

“Typically something like this during construction, we wouldn’t charge rent,” McNabb added. “I absolutely assure you that that tenant will be given their rights to their property, their lease, their parking, and then we’ll make sure that rent’s abated.”

Board member and City Councilor Beth Moreau called the redevelopment plan “a good project.”

“The connections to the high school are huge for people who might be living here as well and makes it safer than having to go out to the main road,” she said.

Board Chairman Rick Chellman credited the project for creating 15 work-force units as the city pushes for affordable housing.

Board member Paul Giuliano praised the project’s architecture and landscaping, calling both “very attractive.”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: 72 apartments in Portsmouth approved on Lafayette Road