Connie Bean Rec Center Bidding Process Ends Today

Developers who may still be interested in purchasing the former Connie Bean Recreation Center on Daniel Street have until 1 p.m. on Wednesday to submit their sealed bids.

After nearly a month of soliciting seal bids with the help of Paul McInnis Real Estate Auctions of Portsmouth, city officials indicated they have received several offers from developers and more sealed bids could be received before the deadline.

"As of last week, they had done 15 tours of the building," said Deputy City Manager Dave Allen. "Typically, people won't submit them until the last minute."

Allen said the bids will be opened at City Hall in Conference Room A at 1 p.m. on Wednesday and the dollar amounts submitted by each developer will be revealed. The five highest bids will then move onto the competitive open auction at the former Connie Bean Recreation Center at 1 p.m. on Thursday, he said. Ultimately, the highest bidder will be awarded the building and site, Allen said.

The City Council voted in August to sell the former Connie Bean Recreation Center after the city received approval from the Rockingham County Superior Probate Court to clear the charitable restrictions that are part of the former recreation center's deed.The city's new Connie Bean Recreation Center located next to Portsmouth Middle School opened in September.

Since the council voted to sell the property, there has been a great deal of debate over how the former recreation center should be redeveloped. During a public hearing at City Hall on Nov. 27, city residents indicated they favored seeing a portion of the former recreation center turned into a new Senior Center with some of the existing site set aside for additional parking.