Portsmouth Cinema Could See Condo Replacement


Image courtesy of EMBARC Studio

A Boston-based developer that is starting to lease a prominent mixed-use project south of downtown Portsmouth looks to be attempting to follow up on that success.

Torrington Properties has filed plans with city officials to replace the now-shuttered Cinemagic multiplex with 100 condominium units.

Documents filed with the city say the 5-story building will occupy the same, 29,000-square-foot footprint that the Cinemagic building currently occupies. In addition, a 5,000-square-foot restaurant building also planned for this part of the Portsmouth Green shopping center will not be constructed thanks to the condo plans.

The project will bring 42 bicycle parking spaces, plus 97 spaces in a podium garage. Amenities will mostly consist of a private deck on the second floor, plus a club room and storage on each floor according to concept plans pitched to city officials on Aug. 19.

Under Portsmouth’s development process, Torrington will refine the project concept incorporating feedback on the concept from town officials before submitting a final proposal at a later date.

The area of Lafayette Avenue in which Portsmouth has proposed the project has been attracting an increasing number of multifamily developments in recent years, including a 95-unit building elsewhere in the shopping plaza.