Luxury Condos Near Memorial Bridge Approved

The developers of the 80 Wright Ave. project didn't want to go before the Historic District Commission for a final vote until they were sure they would meet all of the city panel's criteria.

One month after the board gave some direction on what it wanted the mixed retail/commercial building to look like on May 9, Jennifer Ramsey, of SOMMA Studios, LLC in Portsmouth, the project architect, returned with an updated plan that met the HDC's design, mass and height requirements. Following a public hearing at City Hall on Wednesday night, the HDC voted, 6-1, to approve the project, according to city Planning Director Rick Taintor.

Attempts to reach Ramsey and Developer Stephen Kelm at SOMMA Studios, LLC, on Bow Street for comment this morning were unsuccessful.

The proposed height of the building was brought down and the design was modified to blend in more with the surrounding State Street area.

Ramsey previously said the new design removed the fifth floor and replaced it with the proposed penthouse. She also said before they removed the tower structure that was originally proposed for the corner of the building on State Street and she believes that change may have helped the project turn the corner toward possible approval in the near future.

The conceptual drawings created by Amoskeag Architectural Group that were on file a the city Planning Department also show that the proposed development's parking lot will face the proposed Memorial Bridge Veterans park that will be built between the new Scott Avenue approach for the new bridge.

Kelm's site plan calls for the demolition of the former Rosa's garage building and build a five-story, 9,138-square foot building was unanimously approved. Kelm would then build a new upscale building that will house two retailers and up to 15 luxury units with some underground parking. He said previously he expects the building to be completed in 15 months and the units will range in size from 1,100 to 3,000 square feet.