Portsmouth To Decide Future Of Federal McIntyre Building

PORTSMOUTH, NH — The City Council is getting ready to decide on the future of the McIntyre Federal Building, which houses tenants including the U.S. Post Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The building, located on Daniel Street, is owned by the federal government's General Services Administration, which plans to dispose of the building by the end of this year, and all tenants — including the post office — have been giving notices to vacate. The city is considering acquiring the building and rehabilitating it.

According to Valerie Rochon, president of Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth, the post office will is relocating to Heritage Avenue but has expressed interest in returning to the McIntyre Building after renovations are complete. Current plans for the building include space for the post office.

Another tenant interested in occupying the newly rehabilitated space is the high-tech marketing firm HubSpot. In April the company announced its intent to move into a larger office space in the McIntyre Building, stating "the project would feature the very best and latest in urban design providing a variety of public space and lifestyle amenities that would benefit residents, businesses, and the entire community of Portsmouth."

"The proposed McIntyre project would include a number of features, including open space, co-working spaces, markets and more that the Redgate-Kane development team has designed to transform an underutilized block while furthering downtown Portsmouth's commitment of community first," said HubSpot Senior Director of Global Real Estate and Facilities Ken Papa.

HubSpot, which opened a small office in Portsmouth in 2015, has grown by more than 600 percent in the past several years, according to the company.

Other current tenants of the McIntyre Building include the FBI and the Social Security Administration. Those two agencies will not remain in the building and the federal government is trying to identify the appropriate space for their relocation, Rochon stated in June.

The proposed rehabilitation project includes creating easily adaptable public spaces for gatherings and activities that would complement the downtown. Design would focus on the site being pedestrian-friendly and allowing for a market-based mix of uses that are of interest to local residents. The project would be completed through a private-public partnership.

The Thomas J. McIntyre Federal Building has been in Portsmouth for more than 50 years and has housed several government agencies over that time. But in 2016, the GSA began the disposal of the building, stating it is a surplus to its needs, according to city officials. All current tenants have been given notices to vacate by January 2020, according to Rochon.

City officials are now considering acquiring the McIntyre Building through the Historic Surplus Property Program. Public input on the proposal has taken place through the McIntyre Blue Ribbon Steering Committee and the project is now under the consideration of the full City Council.

On Monday night the City Council is scheduled to meet with financial consultant David Eaton of Colliers International to review the proposed financial plan for the project. Then, a public dialogue with the consultant is scheduled to take place Monday, July 8. Residents will be able to ask questions about the plan during the dialogue session. Both meetings are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.