The construction site at New Hampshire Hospital off of Clinton Street in Concord. (Photo by Geoff Forester, Concord Monitor)
Work continues on new state psychiatric hospital in Concord
Work is continuing on the new forensic psychiatric hospital on Clinton Street in Concord, although you’d be hard-pressed to recognize it when driving by.
“In any construction, you have visible things happening, not-very-visible things happening, and then engineering and planning. You don’t see them, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t happening,” said Charlie Arlinghaus, commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services, which manages many state government construction projects.
He said most soil work has been done without finding any unpleasant surprises.
“The thing that’s happening most right now is … a lot of concrete work, testing of the concrete, analysis of the concrete, and the foundations. That’s the most important part of any building,” he said. “It’s like when building a basement and foundation of your house.”
The lack of conspicuous activity at the much-publicized project has led a number of readers to tell the Monitor that it had reached an impasse of some sort, which resulted in a halt of work. Arlinghaus said there’s no impasse and the work is on schedule.
“We expect to finish the project at the end of 2026, early ‘27,” he said.
The 24-bed facility will be the state’s first forensic psychiatric hospital. It is being built adjacent to the existing New Hampshire Hospital, an inpatient psychiatric facility on Clinton Street in south Concord. It will cater to defendants in the criminal justice system who suffer from severe mental illness, those who are deemed unfit to stand trial due to mental health challenges, and people who are civilly committed to treatment. All of those require stricter safety protocols than are the norm at the psychiatric hospital.
“Essentially, we’re building a new building that will be attached to the old building. It’s not an addition,” Arlinghaus said.
Concern about security at New Hampshire Hospital following a fatal shooting in November 2023 led the Executive Council to approve a $3 million contract to place armed guards in the building.
The site of the new facility was formerly the visitor parking lot for the New Hampshire Hospital. A second state project in Concord – the new legislative parking garage next to the State House – encountered some hangups when asbestos needed to be cleaned from the ground prior to construction. — David Brooks, Concord Monitor
Claremont seeks buyer for former state office building
The city is seeking a buyer to redevelop a former state office building on Water Street and to cover the city’s costs.
The city’s total debt on its recent purchase of the building and parking spaces in front of the building will be about $800,000, City Manager Yoshi Manale told the City Council this week.
The city bought the vacant building for $700,000 earlier this year and later purchased 20 privately owned parking spaces for $45,000. Carrying costs, $21,000 so far, and anticipated interest add to the total.
Carrying costs listed by the city manager include settlement charges, water and sewer, electricity, which will decrease because the building is vacant, and insurance. The building is kept at 40 degrees, but the city paid $19,000 for oil after the purchase.
Once the building is sold, the fund balance account to pay the carrying costs will be replenished from the proceeds, Claremont Finance Director Nancy Bates said.
The city bought the 32,000-square-foot, four-story brick building to control its possible redevelopment and in hopes a developer will convert it to housing, hospitality use or office space.
There has been some interest from developers but no offers yet, city officials said this week. The state vacated the building, which had been used by the departments of Motor Vehicles and Health and Human Services, in 2023. — Valley News Staff
Darrell Britton
ReArch Construction expands with new office to open on the Seacoast
ReArch Construction will be expanding into southern New Hampshire with immediate plans to open an office on the Seacoast. This move allows the company to better serve its clients in the region while further fueling its growth and continued success in the construction industry.
ReArch is unveiling a brand refresh as part of this exciting expansion, transitioning from ReArch Company to ReArch Construction, in reflection of the company’s focus and expertise in the industry.
As part of the expansion, the company hired Darrell “Britt” Britton as VP of corporate development and MEP and Mike McLaughlin as VP, project executive.
“We are thrilled to expand our footprint into southern New Hampshire, and I am confident that the addition of New Hampshire team members Darrell and Mike will be integral to our continued success,” said John Illick, CEO of ReArch Construction. “Their vast experience and familiarity with southern NH and MA will help us better serve our clients and take ReArch to the next level as we continue to grow and build in this exciting new market.”
Gorham town leaders eye a future for 123 Main St. structure
Following approval of a warrant article at town meeing, Gorham officials are ready to begin the work of exploring options for the sale of the red wooden building at 123 Main St., site of the SAU office and family resource center.
The Gorham Community Learning Center is in the process of relocating from 123 Main St. to a bigger child care site down Main Street.
Per Gorham Town Meeting Warrant Article 15, residents voted: “To authorize the board of selectmen to sell the town’s ownership in the 123 Main Street building in Gorham, otherwise known as the Family Resource Center or “FRC” Building.”
The town of Gorham owns 89 percent of the building, and the Gorham school district owns 11 percent. But the town is tired of being a landlord and wants to remove its name from the deed. It’s a study that began at least five years ago.
“The Board of Selectmen appreciated the feedback from the voters at town meeting and are planning to explore the options available for a sale of some kind in 2025-26,” said Town Manager Peter Gagnon in an email. “We will continue to have discussions with the Gorham Randolph Shelburne School District (as they are 11 percent owners) and see what is feasible. We will also collaborate with the Family Resource Center and the Gorham Community Learning Center as their interests are also important to the town. Currently we are still in the exploration phase.”
David Backler, superintendent of SAU 20, which includes the Gorham-Randolph-Shelburne cooperative school district, also in an email, said he is “waiting to meet with the town to discuss this plan further.”
Discussion during debate continued the acrimonious tone of the March 11 meeting night between some residents and town officials.
Adam White, a former selectman and member of the Gorham Taxpayers Association, said a “backroom deal” to sell the building to another non-profit was in the works.
“Adam, there’s no deal, there’s no deal whatsoever,” Selectman Mike Waddell said that night.
Depending on the 123 Main St. building’s next owner, a payment in lieu of taxes could be possible. Town meeting voters gave the board of selectmen the feedback needed to move ahead with a plan for the structure.
There are two entities that now have a payment in lieu of taxes plan in place with the town, confirmed Michelle Lutz, assessing clerk: the White Mountain Paper Co. mill in Cascade Flats and North Country Education Services on Gorham Hill. Combined, the two PILOT agreements paid to the town are $130,968.
A bit of the structure’s history was given.
“The town has done its duty in protecting the building,” Waddell said.
At least 20 years ago, according to Waddell, the structure was on the verge of being torn down and a parking lot created.
A non-profit stepped in and money from a grant helped save the building, keeping it structurally sound.
Options for the building’s next life include a non-profit taking it over, having the school district do the same or selling it to a private enterprise.
Nothing is set in stone.
“There is nothing on the table that we have acted on,” Gagnon told town meeting attendees.
“A non-profit can bring money into a building that neither a town nor a for-profit enterprise can do,” Waddell explained.
“As long as the Gorham-Randolph-Shelburne district owns 11 percent of the building, “nobody’s going anywhere,” Waddell said to town meeting attendees.
In the end, so that town officials could begin to work on the site’s future, voters overwhelmingly approved the warrant article.
The Family Resource Center maintains the building.
Discussion at the March 11 town meeting also stirred talk of what non-profits in the town mean to some residents.
“You’re forgetting all the services the resource center provides to our community,” Deirdre Blair, artist and owner of The 3 Sisters Gallery on Exchange Street, said.
“Non-profits are not evil,” a woman from the audience spoke, not giving her name. “It’s what makes us a warm inviting community.” — Lisa D. Connell, Berlin Sun
