On the Waterfront: An Update on Site Work and Project Milestones

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Dana Lynch, a long-time advocate and member of the Cochecho Waterfront Development Advisory Committee, and Jamie Stevens, the city's project manager for the waterfront development project. They discuss the progress of the project, which has been in the works for over 30 years. Lynch reflects on the project's evolution from its conceptual stages in 1990 to the current construction phase, highlighting how the vision of creating a place where people can live, work, and play has remained consistent. Stevens provides updates on the ongoing construction, including the completion of elevator shafts, infrastructure improvements, and the beginning of vertical development. They discuss the compact nature of the site, the importance of the public park component, and how the project will integrate with and expand Dover's existing downtown area. The conversation touches on the challenges of construction, the milestones achieved, and what the public can expect to see in the coming months as the project progresses towards its anticipated completion in spring 2026.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about a devastating fire that destroyed Siegel's Department Store on Central Avenue in October 1956. The fire occurred on the same day that owner Meyer Siegel was in court defending his right to open on Sundays. The store, which sold a wide variety of goods, was a total loss with damages estimated at $250,000.