Developer proposes converting another hotel to seniors apartments
LONDON: The trend to convert hotels into seniors self care apartments and living units continues unabated.
A developer hoping to convert the Hawthorn Suites hotels on Spencer Street into apartments met with the Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday to discuss the project, which could create more than 100 units at the site.
Paredim Partners, the developer, is planning to buy the hotel at 191 Spencer St. to convert it into a market-rate, multifamily units. Paredim Partners Managing Director David Parisier and the business’s lawyer, Dory Famiglietti, met with the Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday for a pre-application discussion about the plans and to receive feedback about any concerns.
The developers wanted to meet with the PZC before buying the properties because they will need to secure a special exception permit for the site, which is in a general business zone.
“We’re very excited about the prospect of doing something in Manchester,” Parisier said. “We’ve looked at Manchester for years and never been successful in finding the right mixture, and we think this is the right mixture.”
Famiglietti gave an overview of the project, which would overhaul parts of the seven-building site.
As it stands now, the hotel is comprised of 104 units in six buildings, with units ranging from 500 to 800 square feet. All units have a private kitchen area. A seventh building on the property houses a reception and lobby area, kitchen, bar, gym, laundry facilities, management offices, and two large conference rooms.
Moving outside, there’s a sports court and swimming pool on the property, and outdoor parking areas for guests.
Paredim Partners is planning to upgrade the existing 104 units into 84 studio or one-bedroom units and 24 two-bedroom units. The project would also create between four and six additional units in the areas used for management offices and conference rooms.
Other elements of the project would expand and upgrade the gym, refresh the pool area, replace the outdoor sports court with recreational areas including a common area fire pit and grill station, modify and maximize existing outdoor parking areas, and upgrade the landscaping in the site’s common areas.
For this project to be allowed Paredim needs a special exception for the General Business Zone regulations to allow the conversion of existing hotels and motels to multifamily developments.
Many members of the commission supported the idea of proposal as a unique way to reuse property in town from one industry or use to another. Commissioner Michael Stebe called it an out-of-the-box idea, though he and others expressed some concerns about potential traffic and parking conflicts in the area with added occupancy.
“A lot of towns are at this point where there isn’t a lot of open space left to expand out for anything really, whether it’s retail, housing, industrial, or manufacturing,” Stebe said. “Repurposing and reusing existing development is at the core of a number of the conservation and development points that we have.”
Commissioner Bonnie Potacki said she was hoping the plan would have some transit-oriented development elements to it to reduce the need for parking rather than increase it. She was also disappointed that the planned apartments weren’t age-restricted or specifically for the disabled or elderly, which she feels the town needs.
An age-restricted complex is under construction near the site. Calamar Inc., a real estate developer, is building a 128-unit apartment building at 188 Spencer St. for residents age 55 and older.
The area also is near several businesses, including the Shop Rite supermarket plaza, Manchester Community College, and entrances to Interstates 84 and 384.
