Candia News : development

Building begins on Exit 3 parcel

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:12:00 GMT

BY TOBY HENRY

The local “building boom” continues this week as site work begins on an Exit 3 parcel, which a developer says will become the first restaurant franchise in town.

Richard Danais of the Manchester- based firm Danais Realty said on July 17 that work has been ongoing at his Old Candia Road (Route 43) property since the July 4 weekend, and according to the current schedule, his $3 million project should be completed by the end of the year.

Last year, Danais received approval from town officials to build a convenience store, coffee shop and a gas station at the site. Danais has said the coffee shop will likely be a Dunkin’ Donuts.

Selectman Joe Duarte said town officials recently approved a slight change to the project’s bond, allowing Danais to sell a 3-acre parcel to another developer.

Danais confirmed that the parcel has been sold to a firm called Wildcat Development, a company he said has done similar projects around the state, and the firm will ultimately be responsible for finding companies that want to operate the small complex.

Although the convenience store and gas station setup has been described by Danais as similar to the “Mobil On The Run” gas stations elsewhere along Route 101, Wildcat spokesman Craig St. Peter would not reveal any of his company’s plans for the site.

Danais said he still intends to put off a second phase of the project, a plan to build five industrial storage condominiums, until the economy improves. The buildings range in size from 7,200 to up to 36,000 square feet each and were approved along with the rest of the project last year.

The work at the Danais site is coming at the end of a period of escalated commercial building in town, which includes the recently completed Liquid Planet Water Park and the new Griffinbrook Limited horse and tack shop. Both facilities are on Raymond Road (Route 27) and have already opened to the public, and a new Candia District Court also opened July 23.

Despite these well-received projects, Duarte said the town still continues to seek a developer for its own building project, a plan to build a grocery store at an Exit 3 site near where Danais’ project is being built.

He noted that the activity at the Danias site may eventually help the town in its own endeavor by spotlighting that area of town, which forms the main entrance for local traffic into Candia.

“Things are difficult everywhere, and the banks are real tight with money, but hopefully what’s going on there will bring more attention to our own big project,” he said.

Grocer expresses interest in Exit 3

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 20:52:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

One response has already come back from a grocery developer interested in the 12-acre parcel off of Exit 3 in Candia.

The Exit 3 Committee announced the delivery of Requests for Proposals to area grocers. More will be sent out shortly, said committee member John Cole, who compiled the document outlining the town’s intent for the property’s use.

“They’re looking at it, and they’re very interested,” said committee chairman and Selectman Joe Duarte about the responding party.

The deadline for official responses is Jan. 28, but committee members have agreed to adjust that deadline if necessary.

After that, the committee will set up meetings with interested parties to go over their plans for developing the property. Those meetings will likely be nonpublic to protect the developer’s plans, but committee members added that public information meetings introducing potential developers to the community will be scheduled before any deals go through.

The packets have been on display for public viewing in the past few weeks at the Town Hall, Smyth Library, Stubby’s Restaurant and Fred’s Auto.

The request states the town’s intent for the developer to finance, design and construct a minimum 40,000-square-foot “concept style grocery store.” It goes on to say that Candia residents have expressed interest in including a pharmacy and family- style restaurant in the development.

It includes the criteria by which potential developers will be considered, which include “a demonstrated knowledge of rural development” and “a demonstrated cash liquidity to ensure the satisfaction of all commitments and undertakings.”

The document asks for a financial analysis to ensure that the developer is monetarily fit to take on the project, which would include the developer’s cash flow projections for a period of ten years.

At a meeting on Nov. 26, Cole said the packet was submitted to DeMoula’s first, as the community members voiced enthusiasm for getting that particular grocery store. Packets were also submitted to Harvest Market and Vista foods, he added.

Duarte said the town counsel, Bart Mayer, thoroughly reviewed the draft of the packet and cleaned up some of the language to make sure there were no misconceptions of any of the building and financial specifications listed in the document.

“It’s pretty concise. It’s clear,” Duarte said. “I don’t see many places where they could go astray.”

Committee members agreed site walks should be encouraged for the community as well as responding developers in order to see first hand what the land truly offers.

The committee will meet as needed in the coming months until responses come in prompting meetings with potential buyers, committee members agreed.

Following that will be the public presentations prior to a final decision on the developer.

Before the project can go much further, a petition circulated through town in October asking the land sale be resubmitted to voters. It requires a warrant article be passed in March to get the voters’ blessing.

Voters approved a town warrant article in 2003 giving the Selectmen the right to vote to sell and acquire the property for the purpose of building a 40,000- square-foot retail establishment after hosting two public input sessions.

The article also allowed Candia residents to submit a petition prior to such a vote with the signatures of at least 50 registered voters asking the land sale decision be brought to voters again at Town Meeting.

The question: “Are you in favor of the proposed sale of town property at Exit 3?” will now be included on the town warrant in March.

Selectman frustrated by stalled development

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 19:03:00 GMT

BY SUSAN WARE

Selectman Joe Duarte said he is fed up with the vocal minority that is trying to stall the development of town-owned land off Exit 3 on Route 101.

“As long as I’m here, the people of Candia are going to get what they want. But I’m the one in the limelight, and honestly, I’m getting tired of being clobbered,” said Duarte.

Duarte is spearheading an effort to bring a mid-sized grocery store and pharmacy to an outlying area of town. In order to be sure this is what the people want, he is taking several measures, including a forum, petitions and the creation of a resident panel to assist the Board of Selectmen.

“Over and over we hear from folks who have to carpool to get groceries, or seniors who have to drive 10 miles for prescriptions and teens who can’t find a job. It isn’t right,” said Duarte.

Opponents of the project say that Candia’s quaint character and rural charm would be lost if commercialism is allowed to creep in.

Supporters say that the town is letting progress pass them by and that the days of having to travel for food, medication and other necessities are over.

Town Meeting has already given selectmen the authority to sell the main piece – a 9.5-acre lot of the three lots parcel off of Route 101.

Two other lots – .96 acres and 2.5 acres need voter approval before they can be sold. The .96-acre lot needs to be included in the sale because it offers a curb cut.

“When I ran for selectman, I promised to be the voice of the residents. I told them to tell me what they want, and I’ll do what the majority wants,” said Duarte.

In March 2003 the town voted to buy the last piece of a three-parcel lot for the sole purpose of courting a developer. The project, which has been batted around town hall for more than 20 years, didn’t gain any ground after the purchase.

But on July 16, a standing room-only crowd at a public forum gave the Board of Selectman the green light to move forward with the development. After dozens of residents spoke in support, Duarte conducted a roll call and three-quarters of the audience, including all selectmen, stood up in approval.

But things aren’t always as they seem. Duarte said that not all of the selectmen are on board with the plan, and that politics forced them to stand in support.

To further gauge what residents want, selectmen placed petitions – one in favor of developing the land, the other against – at prominent spots around Candia, such as town hall, the library and Stubby’s Place.

Duarte said that 304 have signed in favor, and 23 signed against.

For Duarte, it is clear that the majority of people in town want this project to come to fruition. But the vocal minority is the faction that is making things tough, said Duarte.

“Only five or six people spoke against the project during the forum, that’s because they all sit in corners and hide and don’t say anything, then they show up in numbers at the selectmen’s meeting and slam me from every corner,” said Duarte.
The July 16 forum was heated at times and that hasn’t stopped, said Duarte.

As requested at the forum, the selectmen have begun forming a resident panel to assist with the project, and so far three residents – Betsy Kruse, John Cole and Charlie Bowman – all with histories of civic involvement in town, have requested to be on the panel.

Duarte is pleased with the balance that these residents bring to the panel and said the panel will be a great help to the board because they will ensure that residents get exactly the development that they want.

“I’m not getting paid a million dollars to do this, but I will tell you this, that I will do whatever it takes to get the majority what they want. And it seems they have spoken, they want a grocery store,” said Duarte.

If a resident is interested in a seat on the panel, send a letter of interest to the Candia Board of Selectmen by Aug. 10.