Developer meets opposition on garage demolition

Historic District Commission wants old structure preserved

The Historic District Commission has raised concerns about the demolition of this building because of historical significance.Jeff Mcmenemy photo

EXETER A long-time local businessman's efforts to demolish an abandoned garage in the downtown to put up a new mixed-use development has run into opposition from the town's Historic District Commission.

Pam Gjettum, the chairman of the commission, told Allen Lampert, the owner of the garage at 1 Franklin St., she is opposed to having the building demolished because she believes it is "historically significant."

"They would be tearing down something that means something to Exeter," Gjettum said during the commission's recent meeting in Town Offices.

The commission eventually deadlocked 2-2 on a vote to demolish the building.

But Gjettum said in an interview earlier this week that a recent tour of the site the first garage and car dealership in Exeter has her hopeful that commission members can work with Lampert's architect to save at least some elements of the garage.

"They're thinking about (putting) a restaurant there," Gjettum said. "At least if we could save a wall or save a facade so people could look at it and know there was a garage there once."

Gjettum said she is "cautiously optimistic" that something could be worked out.

"Al is a really, really nice guy and he does a lot for the town," Gjettum said.

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Developer meets opposition on garage demolition