The College on Tuesday submitted permit requests to the Town of Hanover for its proposed redevelopment of the so-called "South Block" that could reshape the southern edge of downtown.
The College-owned parcel -- bounded by South Main Street on the west, Currier Street on the east, East South Street on the north and Dorrance Place on the south -- is presently home to several businesses and a mix of student and family housing.
Ultimately, the block will be molded into a series of buildings with small park-like areas between them. South Street itself will also be improved from a design standpoint, as a sidewalk will be added and the curb will be shifted slightly to the south to align better with Maple Street.
The addition of over 4,000 square feet of offices, seven apartments and over 11,000 square feet of retail space to the block will not likely pose a burden for Hanover or its current residents, project manager John Caulo said. The increase in utility use will be "marginal," he said, while the addition of 50 new parking spaces -- 98 parking spaces will be underground in the new complex -- will ease the demand on the roads.
All five businesses, Cafe Buon Gustaio, Ramunto's Brick and Brew Pizzeria, Big Green Cuts, Stitches and Hanover True Value, will be moved to new locations on the block
