The possibilities for development along Route 11 seem enormous. It was disclosed last week a “national retail development firm” is interested in an 85-acre site to the east of Wal-Mart. While there are no details concerning the interest, it seems an offer has been made on a tract of land across the road from the Remember When Diner.
Route 11, connected to the Spaulding Turnpike at the turnpike’s Exit 15, has undergone broad change during the past several years. Expansion by Wal-Mart, new restaurants, a Harley-Davidson store and Rochester’s first nationally branded hotel seems to be only the beginning of major changes along the roadway that connects southeastern New Hampshire with the Lakes Region and with Maine.
Rochester has a large land mass, much of which is developable and situated adjacent to major roadways that serve as connectors with nearby communities as well as paths for intracity travel.
Construction of a major shopping plaza is under way adjacent to Route 202 and the Spaulding Turnpike. The plaza is scheduled to open in the fall and will include such nationally known stores as Lowe’s and Kohl’s.
When The Flatley Company chose the site for The Rochester Shoppes it picked a site that would generate traffic. Development of Route 11 offers similar promise. Commerce along the roadway is easily accessible to residents from a variety of communities. Both Route 11 and the Spaulding Turnpike make it easy for shoppers from Maine who are seeking to avoid their state’s rising sales taxes.
Clearly Rochester is focused on economic development. It’s a sharp focus — one from which everyone in the city benefits.
