STRATHAM — One of the owners of McFarland Ford is planning to transform the former Scamman’s Home & Garden Showplace property at 57 Portsmouth Ave. into a car dealership.
Chris Lane, co-owner of Exeter-based McFarland Ford, purchased the 6.5-acre property from the Scamman family in August for $3.5 million, through 57 Portsmouth Ave. LLC. He highlighted the location’s potential in a previous interview, citing its “great visibility” and “high-traffic road with a lot of frontage.”
On Wednesday, Jan. 8, Lane is scheduled to appear before the Planning Board for a preliminary consultation. He intends to demolish the existing 10,500-square-foot home and garden store and replace it with a 35,000-square-foot car dealership.
“The development will feature a relocated site entrance, ample parking, and modern facilities,” the application states. “The project will also include improved stormwater management to address increased impervious area. The property will utilize an on-site well and septic system.”
Calls made to Lane were not immediately returned.
The proposed hours of operation for the dealership are 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
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McFarland Ford puts forward plans for two new dealerships
At the same meeting, McFarland Ford will also seek a preliminary consultation for its current car dealership on the nearly 10-acre lot at 50 Portsmouth Ave. The plans involve demolishing the existing 10,356-square-foot structure and replacing it with two new car dealerships, totaling approximately 50,000 square feet.
According to the application, “a shared driveway will connect the dealerships to Portsmouth Avenue and a future town road extending to Frying Pan Lane. The development will provide ample parking, modern facilities, and improved stormwater management to accommodate increased impervious area.”
If both applications are approved, this will add another three car dealerships to the existing five along the one-mile stretch between 71 and 140 Portsmouth Ave. on the Stratham-Exeter town line.
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Scamman’s Home & Garden Showplace was staple for 40 years
This past October, Karl Scamman announced his decision to close Scamman’s Home & Garden Showplace in January after nearly 40 years of operation, citing that it was “time to retire.”
The property was originally part of the 206-acre Scamman Farm, owned and operated by Karl’s parents, Doug and Stella Scamman. Stella noted that they separated the 6.5-acre parcel when Karl decided to open the garden center.
Stella added that the farm next door remains open and continues to be operated by the Scamman family.
The Scammans are a well-known and prominent family in town, recognized for their community involvement both locally and across the state. Karl’s father, Doug Scamman, served as speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 2004 to 2006.
The farm has served as a campaign stop for numerous Republican presidential candidates, including Mitt Romney, who announced his run for president there in 2011, and a visit from former President George W. Bush in 2004. The farm was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2019.
On May 10, 2021, a fire burned down a barn and also damaged other structures on the property.
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