The Economic Development Department is pleased to announce that the City of Rochester has selected a local developer to redevelop the former Saint Elizabeth Seton School, which the City purchased in April 2024.

The City of Rochester acquired the property from the Diocese of Manchester for a total $1.7MM, utilizing $750K from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and $950K from the REDC Non-Capital Reserve Fund previously approved for affordable housing projects.

According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, ARPA funds may be used to acquire property so long as there is an affordable housing component to the project.

“We will require an affordable housing component,” said Michael Scala, Director of Economic Development. “Additionally, we will retain easements for the Riverwalk due to its proximity to the Cocheco River and the downtown district.”

Scala says the strategic redevelopment of the property is critical to its ongoing downtown revitalization efforts and the future of the Riverwalk, while simultaneously addressing the pressing need for additional affordable housing units in Rochester.

To ensure the redevelopment aligns with the City’s goals for affordable housing and downtown revitalization, a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued.

“Four submissions were received in response to the RFP concerning the redevelopment of the St. Elizabeth Seton parcel,” said Scala. “After review and discussion, local developer Steve Miller was selected by the City Council on the basis that his group’s proposal best addressed the goals and requirements outlined in the RFP.”

Miller is an experienced developer with several local projects that include both single-family and multi-family construction. He recently completed a 52-unit residential building on Fownes Mill Court, adjacent to the former Saint Elizabeth Seton School.

Miller’s proposal, submitted through Great Woods Development LLC, calls for the adaptive reuse of the former school to create 25 residential units, along with the construction of a new four-story building featuring 35 additional units and 29 covered parking spaces.

Six of the total units will be reserved as affordable housing for households earning up to 80% of the Median Household Income (MHI) for a period of 20 years.

The purchase offer includes an option for future discussion regarding abatement and remediation offsets. Additionally, Miller and City have negotiated the possibility of the construction of a riverwalk connection from Bridge Street, across the former St. Elizabeth Seton property, to Fownes Mill. Miller would perform the construction of this city-funded riverwalk connection.