By Phyllis A. Muzeroll e-Ticker News
CLAREMONT, NH–The Claremont Planning Board gave its approval Monday night to the site plan for the mix use renovation project for a Monadnock Mill building on Water Street. Jeff and Sarah Barrette, owners of the Ink Factory now located on Pleasant Street in Claremont, have purchased and plan to move their business into the 13 Water Street building in the fall. In July of last year, the City Council approved a new Community Revitalization Tax Relief Incentive designed to enhance the downtown and City Center areas by providing property tax incentives for the rehabilitation, or in some cases, replacement, of qualifying real estate improvement projects. Thirteen Water Street meets the criteria, and the Barrettes applied for and received approval from the Council in August to receive the tax credit to rehab and make the building functional again. The 1840 structure served as a women’s dormitory for the Monadnocks Mills in its heyday.
Officially known as Boarding House/Storehouse No. 5 by the Monadnock Mills Co., it formerly housed Reliable Paper, and the property is currently assessed at $112,300. It is located in the historic district and down tax increment finance (TIF) district. The Barrettes will be investing about $470,000 in the project. The Ink Factory will be located on the ground floor and use about 80% of the space. A small retail space will also be available for rent, and the second floor will be used as a mini self storage area, accessible from Crescent Street. Jeff Barrette told the Planning Board that they plan to renovate the building according to National Parks Service criteria, which are more stringent than the City’s own historic district commission requirements.
The board granted a special use permit for the project, recognizing the Ink Factory as a light industrial use of the building; the business does tee-shirt and other clothing printing. There will be some 30 mini self storage spaces of 100 square feet on the second floor, and Barrette said he expected those would be used for residential needs.
The issue of landscaping was one topic discussed, and while Barrette said there “is not much space for it, most of it is already hard- scaped”, he indicated they would be happy to entertain any suggestions to add a touch of landscaping.
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