Major Downtown Project May Get More Time

The developers of a major commercial/residential project received some positive feedback from city planners on Tuesday who favored giving them more time to move forward with their project.

The city's Technical Advisory Committee voted unanimously to a grant the motion made by 233 Vaughn St., LLC, to receive a second one-year extension of Site Plan Approval which was granted by the Planning Board in 2010 and amended in 2011. The request must still be approved by the Planning Board when it meets in August.

Carol Goodknight, the principal architect for the project, said she was very pleased with the TAC panel's vote and she is optimistic the Planning Board will give the developers the greenlight. She said the developers are able to move ahead with their project because they have the needed financing in place.

The project known as 233 Vaughn St. calls for a four-story building that would include retail and residential space, according to the CJ Architects web site.

The developers want a second one–year extension of

If approved, the new building would also include a built-in pool, green roof planting and a spectacular view of the city and the Piscataqua River, according to CJ Architects' web site. The building's design would also incorporate Geothermal energy and advanced building envelope technology to achieve a LEED Gold rating, according to the firm's web site.

According to CJ Architects web site, the project also calls for below-grade parking and an exterior dining plaza. If approved, the development would abut the proposed 111 Maplewood Avenue project that also calls for a mixed residential and commercial use. Both of these developments would also be located near Portwalk and the Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel in what is known as the city's northern tier.