DOVER, N.H. — Nearly four decades after residents first envisioned transforming Dover’s former public works site into a vibrant waterfront destination, city officials, developers and community members gathered Tuesday to celebrate the completion of two major milestones in that effort: Nebi Park and The Truette Apartments.
The City of Dover and Boston-based commercial real estate developer Cathartes hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 14 at the new Nebi Park Pavilion, commemorating the latest phase of the city’s long-running Waterfront District redevelopment.
“The development of Dover’s Waterfront District is a success story nearly forty years in the making,” Mayor Dennis Shanahan said during the ceremony. “Dover residents have advocated for the revitalization of the Waterfront District since the early 1980s, and the Cochecho Waterfront District Advisory Committee and Cathartes turned that vision into reality. We are proud of the progress we have made and look forward to welcoming the community into this neighborhood.”
The ceremony recognized the transformation of what was once a municipal public works site into a mixed-use neighborhood designed to reconnect downtown Dover with the Cochecho River, the city’s historic shipping corridor. The redevelopment has been guided by the Cochecho Waterfront Development Advisory Committee (CWDAC), which was established in 2004 after years of planning and environmental remediation.
As part of the celebration, officials unveiled a dedication plaque, while members of the Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook Abenaki People performed a traditional song honoring the site’s heritage. The park’s name, “Nebi,” comes from the Abenaki word for “water.”
Cathartes Managing Director and Partner Jeff Johnston reflected on the public-private partnership that has shaped the redevelopment since the company joined the project in 2018.
“The City put its trust in us—a private developer—to take on this property and shape its master plan, and that is a responsibility we have tried to live up to every step of the way,” Johnston said. “From the very first conversations about the master plan, this site was never just about buildings. The City and CWDAC were clear from day one: whatever we built here had to reconnect the site to downtown and celebrate the Cochecho River.”
The redevelopment traces its roots to the mid-1980s, when residents raised concerns about pollution and the location of the city’s public works facility along the riverfront. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, the public works plant and garage were relocated, clearing the way for restoration efforts and future development. Although plans stalled during the 2008 recession, the project regained momentum with Cathartes’ involvement.
Former CWDAC Chair Dana Lynch credited the project’s success to decades of community persistence.
“This successful outcome has evolved over time, but the obstacles and setbacks along the way have not deterred us, and, in fact, have seeded an improved project outcome,” Lynch said. “We have done this together. We should all be proud of this betterment of our community.”
Nebi Park, now open to the public, spans 3.5 acres along the Cochecho River and includes a 2,300-square-foot pavilion, picnic areas, green space for community events and a waterfront trail connecting to Maglaras Park. The park also features a canoe sculpture and a “Liberty Tree” elm planted by the Margery Sullivan Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, with a formal dedication scheduled for July 18.
Adjacent to the park is The Truette, a 220-unit mixed-use residential community that has already welcomed more than 160 residents. The development also houses Topolino Restaurant, opened earlier this year by James Beard Award-winning chef Evan Hennessey.
The Truette includes a 5,000-square-foot coworking space known as The Perch, rooftop amenities, fitness facilities, kayak and paddleboard access, resident programming and pet-friendly features. Studio through three-bedroom apartments, as well as luxury townhomes, are currently available for lease.
When fully built out, Dover’s Waterfront District is expected to include more than 400 residential units and approximately 20,000 square feet of commercial space.
Looking ahead, Johnston announced that the next phase of development, Rivelle, a 43-unit condominium building, is on track for completion in early spring next year. Sales of the condominiums are already underway.
Tuesday’s celebration marked not only the opening of new homes and public space but also the realization of a community vision decades in the making, reconnecting Dover’s downtown with its historic waterfront while creating new opportunities for residents and visitors alike.
