Cropsey & Mitchell's 36,400 s/f Riverfront Place restoration honored

Riverfront Place, an historic mill building on the Winnipesaukee River, recently won the award for Best Building Rehabilitation over $250,000 from the New Hampshire Main St. Center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The 36,400 s/f riverfront building, adjacent to Tilton's Riverfront Park, was restored by Cropsey & Mitchell, Co., led local developer James Cropsey. A cornerstone of the community's downtown revitalization, it provides office and retail space, and 10,000 s/f of ground floor restaurant space overlooking the river, with an additional 3,000 s/f for outside dining. "This award recognizes the top-flight restoration of an historic structure. It's a one-of-kind location, that was beautifully rehabilitated and converted into space for new businesses," said Judy Rich, director of the Tilton Main St. Program. The award, which annually recognizes the most successful and aesthetically pleasing rehabilitation projects in the state, was presented May 21 at the New Hampshire Main St. Center's Excellence Awards event in Concord. So far, 10,500 s/f has been leased to stores and medical, counseling, and law offices. On-site and street parking is currently available for 70 vehicles, with another 78 to 130 available at an off-site lot, which can be tailored to tenant and restaurant needs. Located at 322 West Main St. on Rtes. 3 and 11, site of the former Tilton Endless Belt factory, the historic brick structure offers an atrium entryway, elevator, exposed brick walls, natural wood beams and columns, sun-filled corridors, and polished wood floors. Its office, retail, and restaurant space has 5-foot by 7-foot windows that face the Winnipesaukee River, River Front Park, and Main St. "It's one of the most visually pleasing places to work and shop in central New Hampshire," said Jennifer Boulanger, executive director of the Belknap County Economic Development Council (BCEDC). Eliza Leadbeater, former executive director of BCEDC said, "Riverfront Place is a class act…it's hard to find quality space in an historic, classic mill building that is bright, and airy, tastefully renovated, and fronts on both a park and a river."