Dover Waterfront Project to Build Over 400 New Apartments
The Dover, NH, waterfront project is progressing as expected, according to Deputy City Manager Charlie Parker. Cathartes, based in Boston, is in charge of this project. This project has been long-awaited and created a lot of local interest.
This development will bring in an additional 400 housing units. City officials took a tour of the site in September 2024. Jamie Stevens, the project's construction manager, provided an update in September 2024. Construction is projected to be completed in March 2026.
Housing units in this development will be available in two phases. The first units will become available in October 2025, with move-in at the end of the year.
During Phase I, two buildings and three sets of townhouses will be built. These will contain 20,000 sq. ft. of commercial space and 220 residential units, according to Rob Simmons, project manager at Cathartes.
Rendering Courtesy of the City of Dover
Simmons says that the buildings will have 197 apartment units, ranging from studios to 3-bedroom units. The building containing the townhouses will have 23 units. The foundation for the first apartment building, C, was almost finished in September, with an elevator shaft installed. The foundation for the second building underwent construction in the fall. Vertical construction with steel began in October 2024. Commercial space leases were still to come in the fall of 2024. According to Simmons, food and beverage businesses have shown a lot of interest.
According to Stevens, the units will feature waterfront views, balconies, designer-style finishes, washer and dryer, and stainless steel appliances. Community amenities include a fitness center with a yoga studio, fireplace lounges with artwork, and a rooftop terrace with panoramic views. The parking garage will feature EV charging, as well as bike and kayak storage. Pet-friendly and co-working facilities will be available, filling a growing need for many area residents.
The future phases of the project will involve 5,000 sq. ft. of retail space and 200 residential units. Completion dates for the remaining phases were undetermined in late fall 2024. However, these units were expected to have a high demand level.
A new 3.4-acre public park near this development will feature a pavilion designed by NorthEast Earth Mechanics. This park will have a public boat launch that kayakers may use. Parker expected construction to begin in the spring of 2025, pending the approval of a developer for the project.
Cathartes is a developer specializing in communities across the New England region. The communities are built around a "smart living" concept, emphasizing a proper sense of wellness. The addition of the Dover development brings smart living to a part of New Hampshire seeing a lot of growth. Future development in the area is expected to fill this need by offering more housing with these amenities.
Cathartes was also responsible for the Orpheum in Dover, NH. This 130-unit building is in the downtown area. The development boasts a rooftop lounge and terrace, as well as covered and garage parking. Other amenities include a fitness center, a dog-washing station, and groom room, bike storage, and repair station, co-working spaces with conference rooms, and a resident lounge.
One of the company’s most well-known developments to date is Portwalk Place, a 5-acre, 500,000 sq. ft. development in Portsmouth, NH’s North End neighborhood. Underground parking and connections to current streets have allowed for extra office and restaurant space. There are 149 apartments, 300 parking spaces, and 50,000 sq. ft. of retail and restaurant space at street level, increasing the convenience that comes with this location.
The Harborwalk Apartments in Plymouth, MA, are on Plymouth Bay and were constructed between 2019 and 2020. There are 300 apartments in this development, with amenities like a rooftop resort-style pool and lounge, terrace, and hideaway. Other excellent amenities include co-working and conference spaces, a fitness center with spin bikes and a flex and yoga studio, a dog washing station, watercraft, and bike storage, and electric car charging in the garage.
Legacy Cathartes properties include Union Square in Somerville, MA, with 130 apartments, and Mezzo Design Lofts, a 146-unit residential building in Charlestown, MA, with lift-style housing and a landscaped courtyard. This developer’s portfolio also includes Marriott and Hilton hotel properties, office parks, and commercial buildings for artisans with non-typical workspace needs.