Business & Tech
Residents Praise, Slam Portsmouth Whole Foods Project
The development also includes a hotel, condominiums, conference center and public park.
Portsmouth residents on Thursday spoke out on a huge downtown development plan that includes a Whole Foods, hotel, condominiums, conference center, and public park.
The Planning Board held a public hearing on the project, drawing a crowd of about 100.
The developer is Harborcorp, the firm behind the Sheraton Harborside Hotel, which is located next to the proposed Whole Foods project.
Chris Thompson, of Harborcorp, said the project will create "hundreds" of jobs. Located at the corner of Russell Street, Deer Street, and Maplewood Avenue, it will have a footprint of 72,680 square feet and a 5-story building. Plans calls for 14 condos. There will also be room for about 650 parking spaces.
Supporters said they are excited for Whole Foods, which would be the only major grocery store downtown. Critics said the project is too big and will create a parking crunch.
The Portsmouth location would be Whole Foods' second in New Hampshire. The first is set to open next year in Nashua. The Portsmouth store is set to open in 2016.
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