Downtown Condo Project Ready to Move

The area near the new Memorial Bridge continues to be a hot bed of commercial and residential development with several projects in the works, including the now eight-year-old Pier 2 Luxury Homes.

Paul McInnis, Inc., first approached the city Planning Department with plans to build four luxury condominium units on the site of the former Pier I restaurant next to Prescott Park in 2005. According to city documents, the proposed development was presented to city planners again in 2011 and was approved by the Planning Board and the Historic District Commission.

The building permit was extended in 2012 after the former Memorial Bridge was permanently closed in July 2011 and work got underway to build the new Memorial Bridge.

On Friday afternoon as Archer Western Contractors crews continued to work on the new span, a sign posted by Paul McInnis, Inc, in front of a fenced in area that contains the concrete foundation for the four luxury homes stated they will soon be built and soon be for sale.

Lisa DeStefano Architects of Portsmouth has done the design for the new luxury units that will give homeowners a private boat dock, a balcony and impressive views of the new bridge, Portsmouth Harbor and Prescott Park.

The four units range in size from 3,542 square feet to 4,791 square feet, according to the Paul McInnis, Inc., Pier II website. There is also a deck lounge area and garden rooftop area that can be used by all of the homeowners, according to the web site. Each unit also comes with two garage spaces and offers one-floor living with elevator access.

Currently, while McInnis is marketing the four condominium waterfront units to prospective buyers, he has not listed any prices for the units on his website. There is also no timetable on when the units will be constructed. The new Memorial Bridge is scheduled to be completed in July.

When completed, the Pier II Luxury Homes will join other developments such as , the soon to be reopened The Rosa restaurant on State Street and the Connie Bean center, which will eventually be transformed into a combination of residential condominiums and retail shops.