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PEMBROKE
Historical treasure or parking lot?
By Jodi Wolfe
The former police station was designed in 1930 by a Manchester architect who designed the Balsams, a resort in Dixville Notch. The building has been empty since April 19, when the new Pembroke Safety Center opened. In March, the town voted down a warrant article to sell the building. The selectmen formed a committee to oversee looking into different options for the former police station. At the Nov. 22 selectmen’s meeting, there was discussion of reviving the Pembroke Regional Redevelopment Council to market and redevelop the building for commercial use, said Selectman Bill Boudreau. Selectmen have not decided who would be in charge of the Pembroke Regional Redevelopment Council, though it would likely be merchants from Suncook Village and other interested citizens, said Boudreau. Recently, the Pembroke Economic Development Committee and the Meet Me In Suncook committee, a volunteer organization, worked together and received a project development grant from the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance, a statewide preservation advocacy organization, said Jocelyn Carlucci, co-chairman of the Pembroke Economic Development Committee. Both that committee and Meet Me In Suncook are overseen by the selectmen. Through the grant, the organizations hired Peterborough architect and preservationist Rick Monahon to do a study on the town’s options for the building. On Thursday, Dec. 9, Monahon will present the results of the building-use study, laying out options to the town and reviewing building codes, disability needs, and other adaptive use issues, said Carlucci. After his presentation, there will be an open session for ideas and questions. One issue is the historical significance of the former police station. The building has come close to making the National Registry of Historic Places, said Joyce MacKay, a member of Meet Me In Suncook. If the building were to be sold, limitations may be on the sale to maintain the building’s historical value, MacKay said. However, if the town were to maintain the building, it could be used for mixed space such as town offices and commercial space, she said. “For them to sell, it doesn’t make any sense,” said Jacques Desperes, owner of Jacques’ Fine European Pastries. The town would benefit from continuing to own the building in case the need arose for another town building or for some reason the town hall couldn’t be used. “I (also) think the town should keep it because of the historical value,” Desperes said. Businesses don’t really seem to last in the Suncook Business District, said Josh Riley, manager of Famous Village Pizza. His restaurant and Desperes’ have lasted in the downtown area while others have come and gone, he said. “A lot of people don’t know the downtown exists because it’s not on a main road,” he said. There are also no offices or big companies in the downtown to entice business, he said. One of the reasons that businesses don’t survive in Suncook is because the lack of parking turns customers away, Desperes said. While some changes have been made to the downtown, it still needs a lot of work, he said. “We need some young people that come in that have some thought and vision about what should be done, but you need a place to park,” he said. The Pembroke Economic Development Committee is looking to do a study on how to increase business in Suncook, MacKay said. The issue of parking was also addressed at the Nov. 22 selectmen’s meeting. During that meeting, the selectmen discussed the possibility of using the police station parking lot as a municipal parking lot. That possibility will be reviewed with the police department and the director of public works, Boudreau said.
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