LONDONDERRY — The new addition to the Londonderry Freezer Warehouse received a warm reception Friday morning when company officials invited state and town officials to get a firsthand peek.

Located at 219 Rockingham Road, the 87,000-square-foot addition is the company's second since building the original 60,000-square-foot facility in 1998.

In late January, the Planning Board unanimously approved the plans incorporating the two Rockingham Road freezer facilities, expanding onto an adjacent lot, which had been purchased by the Verani family last year.

Ed Dougherty owns both the Londonderry Freezer Warehouse and Highwood Cold Storage located next door.

Both parcels have been rezoned from commercial to industrial, and the two lots have been merged. At the time of the board's approval, town officials noted that the current warehouse use is much more compatible with the industrial district, as the use is already well established in this location.

Highwood Cold Storage was built in 2002 at 101,000 square feet and was expanded in 2005 to a total of 126,00 square feet.

Tucked behind heavy vegetation, neither facility is visible from Route 28.

With the new 82,000-square-foot addition of warehouse space, office and quality control areas, the site now offers a combined 176,000 square feet of space.

Among those attending Friday's event were state Sen. Sharon Carson, DRED Commissioner George Bald, DRED Business Development Manager Michael Bergeron, Londonderry's acting Town Manager Bill Hart, Londonderry Community Development Director Andre Garron, Bedford Design consultant Robert Baskerville and Prudential Verani Realty President Giovanni Verani.

Garron noted that Dougherty “had made over a total of a 300,000 square foot investment in Londonderry.”

“We appreciate (Dougherty's) and his staff's commitment to stay and grow in Londonderry,” said Garron. “The warehouse continues to be a respected business leader within the community.”

aguilmet@newstote.com