Acquisition of 10 Hampton Road

The Town has signed a purchase and sale agreement for property located at 10 Hampton Road.  This would be the new home of Exeter Parks and Recreation.

The cost for the property is 1.15 million dollars negotiated down from an original asking price of 1.35 million. A fair price was sought, using property value estimates ranging from $800,000 to $1.395 million obtained from local realtors.

WHY IS THIS PROPERTY IMPORTANT?

1.      Abuts the Recreation Park and allows a second access point to the upper fields improving accessibility for all recreation participants. 

2.     Increases available parking for Recreation Park users. The 10 Hampton Road property currently has 45 parking spaces. Additional parking spaces could be added in the future. 

3.    Current buildings on the property can house the Parks & Recreation Department staff and programming with minimal renovations.

4.    Existing building has more programmable space. 10 Hampton Road has the capacity for 3 ADA accessible programming spaces on the first floor whereas the 32 Court St property has only 1 ADA accessible space on the first floor. 

5.   Summer Camp access to indoor space in case of emergency or dangerous weather. Currently, the campers wait in the bathrooms during quick-moving weather. 

6.    Property is large enough for future expansion to create a multi-generational community center.

7.    Improved response times for Recreation Administrative staff to the pool and programming in case of an emergency.

8.    Allows Parks and Recreation to move into the current building and evaluate the long-term recreational needs of the community with a more fiscally appropriate timeline that does not compete with other important projects in Town.

COST SAVINGS CURRENT AND FUTURE
Purchase of this property in 2022 will support the current and future needs of the Parks and Recreation Department. The property size allows for the potential of future expansion to the building and garage. The goal will be for Parks and Recreation to improve the structures and property a little each year so that the cost to the taxpayers is fiscally responsible and doesn’t negatively impact the tax rate. We expect the FY22 renovations to cost no more than $100,000, however, we are currently working to finalize that number which we will have as we start presentations to the various boards. Parks and Recreation could immediately reduce their Capital Improvement Plan requests by eliminating or modifying several current project proposals, which would save the town millions of dollars over the next 2-8 years.
 

Eliminate from the current Capital Improvement Plan:
• $4.5 million - Athletic field/ Parking expansion at Recreation Park.
• $75,000 - Accessibility Assessment of 30/32 Court Street
Modify for future Capital Improvement Plan:
• $6.5 million change to $2-3 million - Multi-generational Community Center

•  In 6-8 years: Building improvement & expansion to include building a gymnasium, additional programming & meeting spaces, department storage, and outdoor access to bathrooms.

Although the Recreation Department will request to improve the building and property each year through the CIP and budget processes, those requests will be broken into smaller pieces that benefit the town by stretching the timeline to support better fiscal planning.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE COURT STREET PROPERTY?
The relocation of the Parks and Recreation Department to Hampton Road would enable the town to
consider future uses of the 30/32 Court St property.

WHY IS NOW THE TIME?
This property only recently became available for purchase. If the Town is unable to secure the property now, the chance to own a property that abuts the park and can support a community center will be
lost. The current property market in the seacoast makes this property very attractive to local developers and we are fortunate the property owner was willing to negotiate with the Town potentially allowing future expansion of the Parks and Recreation Department.

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