Owners of 959 Elm Street ask planning board for one-year extension to complete conditions on 36-unit conversion

Project Elm LLC, the new owner of the Dunlap Building at 959 Elm Street, asked the Manchester Planning & Zoning Board on May 1 for a one-year extension to fulfill conditions tied to an earlier site-plan approval that permits conversion of upper-floor office space into 36 residential units while retaining commercial tenants on the first floor.

The request matters because the March 2024 conditional approval included several conditions the new owners say they need time to meet. Applicant attorney Suzanne Bridal told the board the property was purchased in March and the change in ownership is the principal reason the developers are seeking extra time to secure engineering work and other requirements.

Board members heard from the applicant team and staff and received no public comments. Bridal said the requested extension would run to May 16, 2026, and that the owners were already consulting engineers and moving forward on preparations. Planning staff indicated they would provide a report and the board expected to decide on the extension at the next meeting in two weeks.

The board did not vote on the extension that evening. Staff confirmed no written public comments had been received about this application, and applicants said they were comfortable awaiting the staff report and a decision at the May 15 meeting.

Planning staff advised the applicants to continue working with city reviewers to document progress on outstanding conditions. The board closed the public hearing for this item and will consider a final action at its next meeting.