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River's Edge gets closer to reality
By BENJAMIN KEPPLE
New Hampshire Union Leader Staff
Friday, Apr. 18, 2008 Share on Facebook
MANCHESTER – Elliot at River's Edge project, a massive health-care campus planned for the old Jac Pac Foods site south of downtown, now has the approval of the state Health Services Planning and Review Board.
The board's approval yesterday was crucial for the project, which some have called the largest development in Manchester since the Mall of New Hampshire.
"This was the big one for us," said Doug Dean, the Elliot Health System's chief executive. "We're really thrilled to have this. It's a major step for us to take toward making this project a reality."
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The project still requires some city approvals before ground can be broken at the site, just off Queen City Avenue. But things are moving along there, too.
Project developer Dick Anagnost said the city's Building and Planning & Community Development departments were reviewing the site plan for the project, and they could give their approval in a couple of weeks. Public hearings would follow.
Anagnost also said the state had approved the Jac Pac property as a brownfields site, meaning federal funds can be used to help clean the pollution there. As for the review board's decision, Anagnost said it was "wonderful."
"It's great for health care, great for the Elliot and great for the city of Manchester," Anagnost said.
Civic leaders, who have strongly supported the project, were also pleased.
"I'm thrilled for the city they were able to get unanimous approval for their Certificate of Need," said Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta.
Dean hoped construction work on the complex would start sometime this fall, and said the hospital was in the process of arranging financing for the project.
"We're certainly appreciative of all the support for this we've received from the community," Dean said.
Elliot's portion of the overall development is expected to cost about $86 million. The project in total will cost more than $100 million.
The hospital plans to offer urgent care and myriad services, ranging from physical rehabilitation to outpatient cardiac care at the location. The project's centerpiece is a four-story, 236,000-square-foot building.
In 2004, the city paid $3.5 million for the 13-acre Jac Pac site, which is next to the Merrimack River. The company bought the site from Tyson Foods Inc., which closed the plant in February of that year. A little later, Anagnost paid $3.6 million for the site.
In October 2007, Anagnost and Elliot unveiled their plans for the site. Among the other structures planned for the Elliot at River's Edge are a four-story medical office building, a three-story apartment complex with between 35 and 50 units, and a 13,000-square-foot retail store. Two additions to the main medical building, totaling 120,000 square feet, would be built as needed.
The construction effort to build the complex should create at least 250 to 300 jobs.
"Ultimately, it will prove to be an anchor for revitalizing the south end of Elm Street," said Robin Comstock, president of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.
Comstock said the review board's approval was "an exciting first step" in bringing the project to fruition.
This rendering shows the planned Elliot at River’s Edge project as it would be seen from the Queen City Bridge.
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I have lived in this city for over 30 years and it great to see how much the city has changed and is continuing to change. It's wonderful to see many changes within the city, especially the inner parts. There are still quite a few more improvements to go within these areas.
While the latest designs for the riverfront is great; I find it disconcerting that the city is still not addressing the children and young adults. While there are some places the offer activities for the kids, it is still lacking in places for the teens. I thoroughly believe if there were more facilities/entertainment areas for our teens, there would not be so much problems.
The next major project the city needs to undertake is creating a full-fledged teen/community/sports/educational center. I think this would be money well spent. I found a great website addressing this very issue with the phoenix government. Check it out Citizens of Manchester and hopefully some of our developers as well.
http://phoenix.gov/PARKS/commcntr.html
- Sharon, Manchester
Do you negative people even remember that this project originally went out to bid for idea's and proposal's? The reason it was sold to Aganost in the first place is because he was the ONLY one to bid on it. That meant NO ONE was interested in Manchester in this economy for that price. We the tax payers bought a super fund site and were able to get it off our hands for more then we paid and are adding 100 million to the tax base and you’re complaining. Get real! Aganost took a huge risk and we should be glad someone with deep pockets in this community is willing to do so for all of our benefit. If you don’t' like the project you had your own chance to bid and put up your own money, but that's right the majority of us don't have that kind of money and we can't even begin to understand the depth to which it would take to make a project this large successful. If you don't like it stay in Bedford and Nashua!
- Joshua T., Manchester, NH
project will be nice now you think your rates are high for medical when you need it,alot of us will be applying for assistance just to pay off the bills what your insurance will not cover,why you ask im going through it , also having 55 housing how about people who are under 55 and need it to where is our housing its going to take us people 3 to 5 yrs waiting list what a joke, CMC if i was you fight it.
- jim, manchester
This is a great project, but like others have said we need something for us young folk. And there is so much potential in the gas light district.
- Mike B, So. Hooksett
On one hand, most of us will be glad to see the old Jac Pac facility reborn. Unfortunately, that, and so many other businesses which employed Manchester residents will be gone forever from our landscape. Healthcare is important to our future, yet let us not forget the soap operas that have fueled the Elliot Health Care system in the past. A new building and landscaping can't erase poor medical management and restore employment to what was once a diverse employment opportunity city.
- Lynn Johnson, Manchester
Disgusting ! With their main hospital, which serves the whole community, crumbling, they decide to build a glorified shopping mall along the river. The Elliot administration is taking their hatred of CMC a bit far trying to build another mini-hospital across town. How about using that $100 million to serve the community instead of boosting your bonuses. The last thing Manchester needs is another sprawling healthcare complex. How does splitting services among 2 sites improve efficiency? I see a huge duplication of services. Hospital and Greed are a dangerous combination.
- Fred, Bedford, NH
Who says arts and entertainment venues will not be included in and around this spectacular addition to the city core? First, you have to bring the money, the jobs, the professionals who will inhabit the businesses built as part of the project. Once the elements (business and professional workers) are in place, it will be absolutely essential to add the venues that will keep them there after work.
Complaining about a lack of instant arts and entertainment venues is understandable and predictable, but it doesn't make any business sense and speaks to a desire for instant gratification more than sensible economic development.
Get the jobs. Get the workers. They will demand the services.
- Michael P., Portsmouth NH
Come on Chad R, at least get your facts straight before you start making comments. First of all, this area is no where near the Gas Light District. The Gas Light District includes all of those buildings over by Granite Street, not where the Jac Pac site was. Second of all, thanks to Guinta, the Gas Light District is even more on track than ever right now. In fact, they just had a meeting about the Gas Light District the other day, so if you were so concerned, I'm surprised I didn't see you there.
I can't understand why people would not want a project such as this. It would bring in way more jobs than a few retail shops and act as an anchor for tons of other development projects on South Elm. Furthermore, its not just going to be Elliot Hospital. There will be housing and retail along with Elliot. So in answer to your question, what would Baines do, he would have just raised taxes like he always did and build a ballpark/condos that the Manchester tax payer will eventually have to foot the bill for.
- Derek Myers, Manchester, NH
Whatever happened to the Gas Light District? There are so many better opputunitys for this area to inject some arts and entertainmet to the city Retail shops ,restraunts green spaces, it could be Manchesters calling card. I heard the mayor saying making the river a attraction to come to Manchester would benefit us all thats why we built the river walk? The Elliot building could go anywhere, seriously. I'm glad we built the river WALK and HANDS across the Merrimack to get to a rehab hospital. But Frank Guinta wont be living hear in 10 years anyway so why should he care. What would Bob Bains do?
- Chad R., manchester
I can not wait to see this project get underway. It is going to be a great benifit to the city of Manchester, the people of Manchester and the surrounding towns. I am a current Elliot Health System employee and I know that the Elliot Family is a great one...and is a responsible and caring group of people. This expansion is a great opportunity for everyone involved!
- Michelle, Penacook , NH
I completely agree with Mike R. of Bedford. I view the development of this site in this specific manner as a tragic lost opportunity to provide vitality within Manchester's urban core. Yes, his project provides a useful purpose in itself, however, its location could be anywhere within the City and be purposeful. Mike R., by the way, us people over 50 yo would love a riverwalk with arts and entertainment venues just as much as the younger folks....even though we probably would need our walkers
to get through it all : )
- Chas, Manchster
I hope that artist's rendition is not what it will really look like. Why is there a giant wall surrounding the buildings? That wall looks awful and it's only a matter of time before some our of less-desirable citizens paint graffiti all over it.
- Bryan L., Nashua, NH
I agree with David. I think we should make this as green as possible.We should incorporate grass on the roof to help keep it cool and plant as many trees as we can around it.
- MARK, RAYMOND
As useful as this might be, it would be nice to see something for the young as well.
Other cities have riverwalks with arts and entertainment venues and cafes for the young.
We're getting a hospital and 55+ housing. So much for Manchester's vibrant future.
- Mike R., Bedford
I'm very excited that the Jac Pac eyesore will be gone soon. This project has the opportunity to help make the Riverwalk a true showcase for the city. Please don't forget the green space as a crucial part of this project!
- David, Manchester
Its projects like these that expand the tax base that Manchester truly needs. Mayor Guinta, the developers and the rest of the departments involved at the city level certainly deserve praise for getting this project started.
- Derek Myers, Manchester, NH