THE SQUAMSCOTT BLOCK
130 Water Street (corner of Water and Front Streets), Exeter NH
The Squamscott Block is The Szanton Company's first project outside of Maine. Its purposes are: 1) to address the severe lack of affordable rental housing in Seacoast New Hampshire; 2) to add vibrancy to Exeter's downtown retail district; 3) to fill a "gap" in the streetscape of one Exeter's most important and beautiful streets; and 4) to promote "smart growth" by adding density where there is already development and public infrastructure.
The Squamscott Block began construction in November 2006 and opened in September 2007. Previously a surface parking lot next to Exeter's historic Town Hall (1856), the four-story building features 30 one and two-bedroom apartments and 2,600 square feet of retail space along busy Water Street. Sixteen of the apartments rent to households with incomes below 60% of the area median. The other 14 rent at market rates. Two levels of parking, in the crook of the "L"-shaped building, are almost entirely hidden from public view. The total number of parking spaces on the site has expanded from 55 to 108.
The Squamscott Block is on the site of two historic structures torn down in the mid-20th century to make way for parking. Both structures provided housing on their upper floors and retail space at street level, as will The Squamscott Block.
Designed by Archetype, P.A., Portland, ME, and built by North Branch Construction, Concord, NH, the project was financed by New Hampshire Housing; the town of Exeter, NH; the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority; TD Banknorth; Unitil and HUD.