author donates $1 million to new facility in Exeter

The Squamscott Community Commons recently announced a major donation from renowned local author Dan Brown and his wife, Blythe. The best-selling author of “The Da Vinci Code” pitched in $1 million dollars toward construction of a nonprofit facility that will house a YMCA and a number of service agencies at the former location of the Exeter High School annex on Linden Street.

SCC Executive Director Carol Walker Aten announced the donation on Thursday, May 10, as she unveiled early design plans for the 80,000-square-foot building. The project is still in the conceptual design phase and a final cost has not been determined. Construction will begin once the organization has raised 75 percent of the necessary funds, but Aten could not say how much the organization has raised so far.“Having grown up in Exeter, I’m excited about the prospect of this important new addition to our community,” Brown said in a written statement. “The Common’s impact on public health and wellness will span every economic and social boundary. Blythe and I hope that the community can make this valuable project a reality.” The author graduated from Phillip’s Exeter Academy and currently lives in Rye.

The SCC plans to implement sustainable design options and alternative energy to make the building environmentally friendly and efficient. It also plans to recycle much of the current building, dismantling salvageable sections before demolishing the structure. The construction process is expected to last 18 months.

“We still would like to see the doors open in mid 2009, that’s the goal,” Aten said.

Dover waterfront plans move forward

Plans for major development at the Cocheco Waterfront in Dover cleared a significant hurdle on Monday, May 7, when an advisory committee voted to push forward with the project.

The Cocheco Waterfront Development Advisory Committee endorsed a “term sheet” laying out specifics of the plan by a vote of 10-0. Two committee members abstained from the vote until the results of a pending land appraisal are made public, but City Manager Mike Joyal said both of the abstaining members support the project.

Dickinson Development Corp. plans to build condominiums and retail and office spaces on the 21-acre site north of Henry Law Park, as well as a restaurant and a large park. The plan calls for an existing footbridge to be relocated to make way for a new bridge enabling vehicular traffic to enter the site.

The term sheet lays out specific requirements for the developer to meet regarding public and private improvements at the site. The Dover Housing Authority now must approve the term sheet, and the City Council must reaffirm that the advisory committee has the authority to oversee the project before it is finalized, Joyal explained. The term sheet provides the framework for a final land disposition agreement that must be agreed upon by Dec. 31, Joyal added.

A group called the Dover Taxpayers Association has been distributing documents in opposition to the proposed project, but Joyal feels the group’s gripes are unfounded.

“There’s a flyer or brochure being handed out to our residents which contains misleading and incorrect information. One of the items is that the taxpayers will have to raise additional funds, and that’s absolutely false,” Joyal said, noting that Dickinson Development must cover all costs associated with the project. “There’s no additional funds that are required or even expected to be raised in order to complete this project.”

To view the term sheet and details of the project, visit the city’s Web site at www.ci.dover.nh.us.

historic UNH hall to be rebuilt 

One of the oldest unrenovated structures on the University of New Hampshire campus, DeMeritt Hall, will soon be torn down and rebuilt on the same location. Originally constructed in 1914, DeMeritt Hall houses the UNH Physics Department. Expected to last from June 2007 to July 2008, the construction project is part of the Knowledge Economy Education Plan (KEEP). The state will provide $18.3 million in funding, while the university must raise an additional $2.5 million for the project.

A farewell ceremony on Saturday, May 5, was attended by students, alumni, former faculty and former department chairs. “They shared stories and fond memories. There were horror stories as well,” said Debra JohnyBear, public relations assistant at the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at UNH. One professor recalled when a torrent of water flooded his ground floor classroom. The source of the water was a water-filled canvas tank, in which professor Harry Hall was conducting experiments for the Navy. Even at the ceremonial closing, the buildings disrepair was evident when a missing handle made it impossible to place a chain and padlock on the door.  

DeMeritt Hall is named after Albert DeMeritt, a state representative from Durham who organized the effort to secure state funding for the new building. The original building cost about $80,000 to build and was completed in about a year. It is being rebuilt to replace the wooden floors with a steel floor structure, increase floor to ceiling height and make the facility more appropriate for 21st century science needs. According to the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences’ Web site, the school opted to rebuild instead of renovating because renovation always creates unexpected challenges that add time and expenses to the project. Also, the cost savings of renovation were not enough to balance the difficulty of working within the old structure.

Nesmith Hall will temporarily house most of the building’s offices and labs during construction.