By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
HAMPTON – The state Liquor Commission has scrapped current plans to redevelop two parcels of land on either side of Interstate 95 into welcome centers at Hampton.
The process, which began in 2019, had four bidders and the process was to select one and negotiate the final terms, which was underway.
But on Wednesday, the commission issued a notice of cancellation/withdrawal from the RFP process citing a condition in the process that reads “notwithstanding any other provision of this RFP, this RFP does not commit the NHLC to award a contract or enter into an agreement. The NHLC reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to reject any and all submissions, or any portions thereof, at any time; to cancel this RFP and to solicit new submissions under a new acquisition process.”
The developers were asked to create a New Hampshire themed proposal for both the southbound and northbound sides of the highway totaling almost 90 acres which included liquor stores.
There was no announcement of whose proposal was selected for the final terms.
One of the four bidders is a New Hampshire company that already operates welcome centers on Interstate 93 at Hooksett, Common Man Roadside.
Also listed as bidders were Global Montello Group Corporation of Waltham, Mass., Nouria Energy Corporation, of Worcester, Mass., and Petrogas Group US Inc. (doing business as Applegreen) in Andover, Mass.
According to the real estate listing: “These very unique and prime development sites, on highly trafficked I-95, are ideal for highway based businesses. With over 62,000 vehicles passing daily and well over 100,000 daily vehicles during peak summer months…”
“These are the largest direct highway access lots ever offered in the state of New Hampshire and are the perfect opportunity for a buyer/developer looking to invest in a signature property,” it reads.
Part of the proposal indicated that the liquor stores would remain open during construction.
Hampton created a special zone to allow for development of the two sites.
The notice of cancelling indicated that the information would remain confidential.
A spokesman for the Liquor Commission referred questions to Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s office, which didn’t respond to an email from InDepthNH.org Thursday.