Published September 13, 2023

2 Russell Street

Written by Andrew Samonas

To learn more about what the planning, approval stages, timelines, and what final sites will look like for this development click here for the Portsmouth town planning site.

2 Russell Street

Planning Stage

Completion TBD

Local Developers Seek to Fill Empty Lot

A major downtown development has been proposed to feature 80 market-priced residential units, commercial and office space. The site of this potential new development is now an empty surface parking lot set to hold three separate new buildings. The proposal comes from well-know local developers Two International Group and Ocean Properties. This project is still in proposal and planning stages.

Separate Buildings, Better Views

You may remember a previously approved development for this same lot, called Harborcorp. This project saw much opposition in the form of legal challenges because of size and scale of the building. This new proposal with new developers have made the decision to separate their project into three new buildings that will provide space and better views between each one, which thrilled the Historic District Commission. The three-building plan includes a five-story building on the corner of Green and Russell Streets with retail on the first floor and apartments above. It will also feature a roof deck. The second building will be exclusively condos and the third an office building.

OUR TAKE

Portsmouth has been described as the gateway to the State for generations. We are one of the first major cities over the border from Massachusetts and Maine, we have one of the longest running ports in the country, and we are home to some of the richest history dating back to original Settlers in the 1600's. When a development like 2 Russel comes along it acts as another gateway to our city. It incorporates once an underutilized corner of downtown and creates a hub of commerce and new residents.

With the surge of developments in the North End, there has been plenty of scrutiny from locals regarding congestion and density in such a small geographical area. However, one positive of these changes is the incorporation of public amenities. Part of the development programming for 2 Russel is an extensive public park which will benefit the entire North End. Additionally, the development will connect the Sheraton side of the train tracks to the Maplewood side. Allowing pedestrians to safely pass from one side to the other will surely bolster future businesses and bring light to the connectivity of our Downtown. It is our hope, much like that of the longstanding residents of the North End that this development achieves connectivity while still respecting the historical relevance and storied past of Portsmouth’s North End.

To learn more about what the planning, approval stages, timelines, and what final sites will look like for this development click here for the Portsmouth town planning site.