Seacoast Online: Portsmouth's historic Carey Cottage begins new life with first tenant

A view of the renovated Carey Cottage after the completion of the project in November 2020.

By Elizabeth Dinan, Portsmouth Herald

PORTSMOUTH — Saved from possible demolition and revived by the nonprofit group GoodWork, the historic 38-room Carey Cottage has its first nonprofit tenant, the Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation. 

Jennifer Kennedy, Blue Ocean’s executive director and cofounder, signed a lease for 600 square feet of office space, in the east wing of the 400 Little Harbor Road property, with GoodWork CEO Molly Hodgson on Thursday. Other office space for nonprofits remains available, while GoodWork also is renting apartments in Carey Cottage, a shorefront estate with a rich history. 

GoodWork is the primary lease holder and manager of Carey Cottage, while the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests is the property owner. 

“We are so excited to move our offices to Carey Cottage, and the timing is perfect since we will celebrate our 20th anniversary in 2021, Kennedy said in a prepared statement. "This location, with its access to the water and meeting and workshop space, will allow us to expand our programs and better serve our audience. GoodWork brings great energy to the space, and it will be inspiring to work alongside so many nonprofits working for a better world.“