If all goes according to plan, Portsmouth may soon have an extra two acres of commercial space.
The plan calls for the city's federal office building to be demolishes, and a new facility built at Pease International Tradeport.
Correspondent Roger Wood reports.
ORIGINALLY THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION HAD PLANNED TO RENOVATE THE THOMAS J. MCINTYRE FEDERAL BUILDING AT A COST OF $11 MILLION DOLLARS.
BUT CITY OFFICIALS, SOME DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS AND RESIDENTS OBJECTED TO THE LOOK OF THE PLAN.
AND THEY VOICED CONCERNS OVER INCREASED SECURITY IN THE CONGESTED DOWNTOWN.
AT THE URGING OF THE STATE�S US SENATOR�S THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS REVISED THE PLAN.
AND PORTSMOUTH MAYOR EVELYN SIRRELL IS PLEASED.
(SOT SIRRELL) :12
"WITH THE COOPERATION OF SENATOR GREGG AND SENATOR SUNUNU, THEY'RE PUSHING IT ALONG VERY FAST. IT'S JUST GOING TO BE A WONDERFUL THING. IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE."
UNDER THE PLAN, PORTSMOUTH WOULD ACQUIRE THE CURRENT BUILDING AT NO COST.
THE CITY WOULD THEN DEMOLISH THE STRUCTURE AND RE-DEVELOPE THE MORE THAN 2 ACRES LEFT VACANT.
THE FEDS WOULD BUILD ANOTHER BUILDING OUT AT THE PEASE INTERNATIONAL TRADEPORT.
THE U.S. POST OFFICE WOULD REMAIN DOWNTOWN.
SENATOR JUDD GREGG SAYS ALL AGENCIES ARE IN AGREEMENT ON THE PLANNED MOVE.
(SOT GREGG) :14
"THERE ARE STILL A LOT ISSUES�MONEY IS ONE OF THEM. THE NEW BUILDING OUT AT PEASE WILL BE MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE RENOVATION. I'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET IT THROUGH MY FRIENDS ON THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, BUT I'M HOPEFUL I CAN DO THAT."
THE FEDS WOULD USE THE $11 MILLION DOLLARS PREVIOUSLY EARMARKED FOR RENOVATION FOR THE NEW FEDERAL BUILDING.
BUT GREGG SAYS THE TOTAL COST COULD EXCEED $20 MILLION DOLLARS, AND TAKE SEVERAL YEARS TO COMPLETE.
(SOT GREGG) :12
"COMPLETION OF THE PHYSICAL EVENT YOU'RE LOOKING AT 3 TO 4 YEARS, 2 TO 3 MINIMUM. BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO BUILD A BUILD, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT TO TEAR DOWN A BUILDING. AND THEN THE CITY'S GOT TO DECIDE HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD NEW BUILDINGS THERE."
BUT DESPITE THE TIMELINE, CITY MANAGER ________BOHENKO PREDICTS THE REDEVELOPED SITE WOULD BE A REAL PLUS FOR THE DOWNTOWN.
(SOT BOHENKO) :10
"WHAT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT IS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 2.2 ACRES DOWNTOWN ON THE TAX BASE. WE DON'T RECEIVE TAXES RIGHT NOW FROM THE FEDERAL BUILDING"
BOHENKO SAID THAT IT IS TOO EARLY TO PREDICT WHAT KIND OF DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE CONSTRUCTED IN PLACE OF THE CURRENT FEDERAL BUILDING.
BUT SENATOR GREGG TOLD CITY OFFICIALS HE HOPES ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE IN CHARACTER AND ENCOMPASS AMPLE GREEN SPACE.
FOR NHPR NEWS, THIS IS ROGER WOOD IN PORTSMOUTH
