160 Units of Affordable Housing Proposed in Dover

Foster's Daily Democrat- Sarah Donovan

DOVER — A developer is pitching 160 apartments in a mixed-use development at 99 Knox Marsh Road, with rents meeting the legal requirements to be considered affordable.

"Providing 100% of the units as affordable housing at HUD rates will represent the largest development in Dover, aimed at addressing the existing housing crisis facing Dover and New Hampshire as a whole," the development plan states.

The project would be a mixed-use development called Knox Landing, located on over 20 acres. Two buildings are proposed to house 80 residential units each, for a total of 160 apartments, according to plans filed with the city. The parcel is in the commercial manufacturing zone and in the Residential Commercial Mixed-Use Overlay District, according to documents filed with the city. Therefore, the applicant will "permit a padsite for a (25,000-square-foot) commercial building."

The applicant and owner is RY Development LLC, according to plans filed with the city. Its principal/manager is Neil Robbins, according to state business records.

The proposal is included in a conditional use permit application, seeking to establish a Residential Commercial Mixed-Use Overlay District. A memo states the overlay district is to "allow for a commercial and residential development plan." It is scheduled to go before the city Planning Board Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall.

What would rent cost at Knox Landing in Dover?

According to plans filed with the city, "100% of the units will represent affordable housing and offered as HUD rent restricted housing."

"The Applicant is under agreement with Elm Grove Companies, a successful developer of specialized affordable housing with financing provided by the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority (NHHFA”), utilizing Low Income Housing Tax Credit (“LIHTC”) funding," according to plans filed with the city.

Rents would be "restricted" to what is annually released by New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority and HUD, with the 60% area median income limits on rent for Multifamily Tax Subsidy Projects. For 2025, the fair market rent for Portsmouth to Rochester was $1,580 for a one-bedroom, and $1,897 for a two-bedroom, according to a chart attached in the proposal.

One and two-bedroom apartments planned

There would be 80 one-bedroom units and 80 two-bedroom units, according to project documents. A narrative by Brian White of White Appraisal included with the application, states the parcel is 20.45 acres with "an older abandoned single-family residence. The majority of the property is vacant land that is overgrown with a variety of evergreens and softwoods." The development proposed would include the two buildings with 80 residential units and a commercial/light industrial building, 25,000 square-feet in size. The residential part would have 295 parking spaces, and the commercial/light industrial building would have 49 spaces,

according to White. The development would have a pavilion, dog park and an area with a playground, in addition to a (COAST) bus stop which would be relocated to the southeastern area of the property.

White's description says the "The proposed project will enhance the views from the neighboring properties on Knox Marsh Road as the views will all be of new buildings and not of a deteriorating single-family residence."