Dover hires waterfront park contractor for $19.5M: Project expected to begin soon
DOVER — Public improvements along the Cochecho River appear to finally be on the horizon after years of delay.
With newly approved funding, the City Council has selected a contractor to construct the city's portion of the waterfront redevelopment: a 3.4-acre public park. The park is planned to stabilize the river shoreline, grading the elevation to account for projected sea level rise and installing a stormwater management system with green infrastructure, according to city plans. The park is planned to feature a public boat dock, kayak launch and other amenities.
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The park will complement developer Cathartes' project to bring a high-end residential and commercial development to the waterfront. That private project will see the company build three mixed-use buildings, two multi-family buildings and three clusters of townhouses for a total of 418 residential units and roughly 26,000 square feet of commercial space.
On Wednesday night, the City Council unanimously voted to increase the allowable amount to be bonded for the public improvements by an additional $6 million. The total is being tacked onto $14 million of unissued debt that has been authorized in the past.
Prior city cost estimates for the public improvements fell within the $13 million to $15 million range. Costs increased due to supply chain trends and inflated costs, which required additional bonding.
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City Manager Michael Joyal Jr. indicated Dover’s portion of the waterfront work could begin in the coming months.
“As you know, we recently went out to bid for the public improvements to be made along the waterfront starting this summer, and the costs exceeded the original estimates,” he told the council. “This additional funding will allow us to proceed and complete that project.”
The City Council also unanimously voted to award the contract for the public improvements project to Northeast Earth Mechanics LLC of Pittsfield for just over $19.5 million.
The other bidder was Severino Trucking Co. Inc.
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In the fall, the city received zero bids for the public improvements park from four pre-qualified firms. A concern shared by the companies was the Army Corps of Engineer permit, which required completing shoreline work by March 15, 2023. The four potential bidders felt it was an unrealistic timeline.
The city’s new bidding process began in January, accompanied by a new permit from the Army Corps of Engineers allowing for upland work on the park project to be completed before the work begins.
This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Dover NH waterfront park contractor hired
