Dover Download

• Reimagining the Waterfront: The Birth of a Redevelopment Strategy

  In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with George Maglaras in the third installment of their series on the history of the Cochecho River. This episode focuses on the beginnings of waterfront redevelopment in Dover during the 1980s.Maglaras discusses how the mills were struggling by the 1980s, with many upper floors abandoned, and how the city had repeatedly owned and sold various mill properties through bankruptcy cycles. As a planning board member, he worked with Tim Sheldon to create the Urban Mixed Use (UMU) district, transforming the waterfront from restrictive industrial zoning to encourage mixed-use development and private investment.The conversation reveals how outdated zoning requirements made development nearly impossible, with tiny lots requiring massive minimum square footage for industrial buildings. Maglaras describes the vision of converting mill buildings into mixed-use spaces with residential units on upper floors, similar to successful projects in other former mill towns.The episode also covers some dramatic alternatives that were considered, including a shocking plan to fill in the Cochecho River with a culvert system and create a sewage lagoon at the Upper Narrows. Maglaras explains how his father and other thoughtful citizens fought against these environmentally destructive proposals.The discussion touches on the area's rich commercial history, including shipyards, beaches, and general stores that relied on river commerce, as well as the federal dredging projects that supported Dover's economy from the 1830s through 1906.

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• Back to School: New Cell Phone Rules and Dover's Academic Year Ahead

  In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Dover School District Superintendent Dr. Christine Boston about the 2025-26 school year, then reviews recent city government activities with Erin Bassegio from the Planning Department and Brian Early from Media Services.Parker and Boston discuss the major changes facing students and families, particularly the new state-mandated cell phone ban that prohibits devices from "bell to bell." Boston, who has 17 years of experience in Dover's school system in various roles, explains how the district will implement the policy while balancing safety concerns and the needs of parents. She also highlights positive developments, including a 93% staff return rate, the restoration of middle school teaming structures, new playground equipment plans, and upcoming celebrations for the middle school's 25th anniversary. Boston discusses the district's new strategic plan, which runs through 2030, focusing on student well-being and equity, as well as the exciting athletic complex project at the high school.Bassegio reviews Planning Board actions from August, including approvals related to the waterfront development project, a McDonald's proposal on Grapevine Drive, and various residential developments. The board addressed zoning amendments, conditional use permits, and site plans while managing significant community input on several projects.Early covers City Council's budget-focused agenda, including rescinding debt authorizations for the High School Athletic Complex project, funds for Broadway paving, and a Dover Housing Authority grant sponsorship.

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• Small Steps, Big Changes: The Strong Towns Approach to Urban Planning

  In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Aaron Williams about the Strong Towns movement and its local group in Dover. Williams explains that Strong Towns was founded by civil engineer Chuck Marohn, who identified that North American communities were building more infrastructure than their tax base could sustainably maintain. The movement focuses on practical, data-driven solutions to urban challenges like street safety and housing crises.A key concept discussed is the distinction between "roads" and "streets," - roads are designed for efficient movement between destinations, while streets serve as platforms for community collaboration and wealth creation. Williams argues that mixing these functions creates dangerous "stroads" that are neither efficient for travel nor conducive to local business activity. The conversation explores how Dover can orient its infrastructure toward constituents rather than just traffic flow.Williams describes his group, Strong Towns Seacoast, which meets monthly at Juniper Kitchen and advocates for incremental improvements to Dover's transportation infrastructure. Their recent successes include supporting curb bump-outs on Central Avenue and advocating for expanded bike lanes throughout the city. Parker discusses ongoing projects, including pedestrian crossing improvements that should be completed by year's end.The discussion also touches on housing policy, with Williams explaining how Strong Towns advocates for zoning changes that allow neighborhoods to adapt and grow while preserving character. Both speakers emphasize the importance of small, incremental changes that can be implemented quickly rather than waiting for large, comprehensive projects.In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Dover residents' concerns in 1925 regarding a potential national coal shortage and the rising cost of living.

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• From Brick Yards to Schooners: George Maglaras on Dover's Waterfront Past

  In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with George Maglaras for the second installment of their series about the Cochecho River and Dover's waterfront history. Building on their previous discussion about river pollution and cleanup efforts, Maglaras shares his extensive knowledge of the diverse industries that once thrived along the river from the late 1600s through the early 1900s.Maglaras details how the landing area served as Dover's commercial and industrial center for 200 years, describing the six brick yards that operated along the river and supplied materials for major cities including Boston, Portland and New York. He explains the evolution from whale oil to coal gasification for lighting Dover's streets, and how the byproducts of coal tar and creosote were initially dumped in the river before finding commercial uses.The conversation explores the shipping industry's prominence before the railroad's arrival in 1850, including stories of massive schooners like the 150-foot City of Green Bay that delivered cotton to Dover's mills. Maglaras recounts colorful local history, including Captain Flagg, a privateer-turned-pirate who became Dover's wealthiest resident and built Flagg Road (now Gulf Road).He also describes Dover's ethnic neighborhoods, and shares memories of industrial pollution from his childhood, when mills dumped resins directly out windows onto massive piles below. The discussion illustrates how the waterfront area has been developed, demolished, and redeveloped multiple times throughout Dover's history.

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• The Rise and Fall of Dover's Ash Trees

  In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Makayla Edgecomb, Assistant City Planner for the City of Dover, and Lindsay Watkins, Strafford County Forester with the University of New Hampshire's Cooperative Extension, about the critical issue facing Dover's downtown ash trees.The conversation centers on the emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle from Asia that has devastated ash tree populations across the Midwest since the early 2000s and has now reached Dover. The beautiful, shiny green beetle lays eggs in ash tree bark, and its larvae burrow into the tree's growth tissue, eventually cutting off the flow of nutrients and water. This process kills the tree from the top down, creating visible signs like branch dieback and woodpecker damage.Dover's Central Avenue is lined with approximately 54 ash trees, all of which are infected and in decline. While some treatments exist for high-value trees, they are expensive and must be repeated regularly. For Dover's street trees, replacement is the only viable option. The city plans to phase the removal and replanting to avoid clearing the entire avenue at once, and will diversify tree species to prevent future monoculture vulnerabilities.The guests organized public ash tree walks to educate residents about the problem and gather input on replacement planning. A second walk is scheduled for Aug. 21 at 6 p.m., starting at City Hall and ending at Garrison City Beer Works for community feedback on the downtown's future canopy.In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Dover's 1982 downtown renovation when the city planted over 150 ash trees along Main Street as part of a broader beautification effort, planting the very trees now threatened by the emerald ash borer.

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