City and state officials are clashing over a legislative plan to build a multi-story, 300-space parking garage off Green Street, across from the police station and City Hall. While both sides agree on the need for more parking, they diverge on the approach.
The New Hampshire House is seeking $740,000 this year to begin designing a rectangular garage that would span the rear parking lot of the Department of Justice building and likely stand at least four stories tall.
Developer Steve Duprey and Mayor Jim Bouley are urging the state to instead knock down the justice building and construct in its place a new office building with parking on the ground floors. Duprey said the design would give the state more spaces and better align with neighborhood aesthetics.
“I have offered to donate some time and effort to show I think it’s not only a better plan physically, it allows for some growth by the state,” Duprey said.
The garage would add more downtown parking for lawmakers and state officials, who currently use roughly 50 spots on city streets.
The design money is included in the House-approved version of the state capital budget, but needs signoff from the Senate and ultimately Gov. Chris Sununu.
Sen. Lou D’Allesandro, the Chairman of the Senate Capital Budget Committee, is opposed to demolishing the justice department building.
“There’s ample need for a parking garage, that is quite clear to me,” said D’Allesandro, a Manchester Democrat. “The city of Concord, I think, should be appreciative of that because the legislators are taking a lot of their space.”
Construction wouldn’t likely begin on the garage until 2021 and would depend on whether lawmakers agree to fund the project in a future state budget. House Chief of Staff Terry Pfaff estimates building costs at $6 million. The garage would integrate new boilers to heat the State House complex after the closure of Concord Steam. A temporary heating system is being built in the lot now and will remain for two years.
House leaders have been pushing for more parking to take stress off the dilapidated Storrs Street deck, which was built in 1976. The new garage won’t replace the Storrs Street parking, which Pfaff said will likely be rehabilitated by the state. “Folks don’t like the looks of it, maybe a rehab would be a facelift to make it more appealing for the capital,” he said.
Pfaff said House leaders have worked with city leaders, including Bouley. But some Concord officials said they haven’t been closely consulted about the garage proposal, including Matt Walsh, the city’s director of redevelopment, downtown services and special projects, and House Minority Leader Steve Shurtleff.
Shurtleff, of Concord, warned any parking project should be thoughtfully designed to match the surroundings. Given the high water table downtown, the garage likely couldn’t go deeper than one story underground, officials said.
“It’s going to be here for a long, long time,” Shurtleff said. “This is such a historic city… it’s got to be something that blends in.”
Any final plans need to be submitted to the city council or planning board at least 60 days before construction, according to state law.
The Department of Justice is housed in the former Laconia Savings Bank building. While House leaders at first considered an L-shape garage to wrap around the existing building, that plan has been scrapped.
Duprey said he has suggested the Legislature build a new justice building that matches the state complex aesthetic and spans the entire rectangular lot, bordered by School, Capitol, Green and North State streets. One idea is to close Capitol Street between the lot and the Legislative Office Building and turn it into a state complex.
“This is the last opportunity the state would have to build a substantial office building to finish out the state square,” Duprey said. “It would give the city a great opportunity to close Capitol Street. We could make that into a terrific park and plaza.”