Apartments at old trolley garage in Rochester approved: Affordable units planned
ROCHESTER — Construction of nine housing units at the former trolley garage at 1 Old Dover Road has been approved by the city's Planning Board.
Humoresque LLC had originally proposed 11 apartments, but after some suggested conditions offered by the board, reduced the number to nine.
Paul Delisle, who owns the property with his brother, Mark, went to the board with the revised site plan March 18. After discussion, the board accepted the plan as complete and approved it.
"I downsized to nine, making some units larger and assuring there are windows in each unit," said Delisle. "I have outlined the egress as requested, detailed a green space in the back corner for resident use and show the location of the dumpster, enclosed and fenced."
While the agenda called for a public hearing, no one from the public commented.
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In an earlier interview Delisle said they want to bring affordable housing to the Lilac City. Both brothers are Rochester natives and already own Merchants Plaza, the commercial space on the ground floor of the building that was originally a trolley garage. There are several small businesses, including their property management company, there that will remain, he said.
The brothers named their property management company Humoresque as a nod to their youth, a time when the building was a roller skating rink, concert and function hall, named Humoresque.
City Planning Director Shanna Saunders said the plan had been continued from Feb. 5 and had been sent back to the city's technical review group for input.
"As such, we recommend the plan be accepted and approved," said Saunders. "One request we have is for the lines in the parking lot to be repainted and delineated for the residents and the commercial units."
What are planned rent prices for Humoresque apartments in Rochester?
Delisle said the affordable housing apartments will be on the second floor. The site plan application lists the pricing at approximately $1,350 for a one-bedroom apartment with an efficient heat pump system providing low-cost heating and cooling.
"Certainly, they will be no more than $1,500," said Delisle, in an earlier interview. "We have similar holdings in Portsmouth, Rochester and Somersworth. It is important to us to keep rents lower. I think it's crazy what is out there now for rent. People really need this, and we want to provide it. We already have some Section 8 units, and we work with veterans' programs to try and help with housing there. I am an advocate of affordable housing. Sometimes people just need a hand, and we want to provide that where we can."
Delisle said they recently completed a 12-unit project on Charles Street in the city. He said they feel strongly about helping with the housing situation.
"This is a unique building," said Delisle. "It started as a trolley garage, used for repairs and storage of the cars. When automobiles came into more play, it was converted to the skating rink. We used to go there. Jim McManus, a former councilor, used to have a fruit and vegetable stand out front in 1975, and my brother and I used to work there."
In the early 1990s, the building became Merchants Plaza.
This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Apartments at old trolley garage in Rochester NH approved
