CLAREMONT — Matt Vlangas, principal of Downtown Realty in Bedford, N.H., has invested in downtown Claremont because of a strong belief in his vision for the city’s future.

In 2022, his company purchased the Union Block at the corner of Pleasant Street and Opera House Square, which houses 40 apartments and ground floor retail space.

Subsequent to that, Downtown Realty bought the Baker’s Block and Rand Block, both on Pleasant Street, and the Fitch Manor on Myrtle Street, which has undergone a complete renovation of the 12 two-bedroom and 12 one-bedroom apartments.

“We came to Claremont for a variety of reasons, not the least of which, we saw opportunity,” Vlangas said in the Baker Block office of Brick House Management, which launched in October to manage the company’s local assets. “We believe there is room for growth here and we believe the people of the town want to see that growth happen. They want to see things come back to life here and we are doing our best to facilitate that change.”

Vlangas tempered his optimism with the understanding that the growth he envisions will take time.

“The economic growth side has been challenging,” Vlangas said. “There have not been a lot of people right now that we have found who want to take a risk and open a business downtown.”

A negative connotation that has been attached to the city for so long has not been completely lifted, he said.

“There are not enough people talking about Claremont in a positive way to flip that script, but I am hopeful we will see that change,” Vlangas added.

Vlangas described his business as a “conglomerate, an amalgamation of a variety of different companies.” Downtown Realty buys and sells properties; Red Brick Investments owns and operates properties and Brick House Management manages properties.

“We call ourselves a vertically integrated investment firm,” Vlangas said. “That means we can help you buy it, lease it, renovate it, divest from it and manage it. Anything you need done with real estate, whether it is land, commercial, retail or residential we have a business that can touch that for you.”

The decision to open the office in Claremont — Brick House Management at 43 Pleasant St. — was primarily to better manage the company’s local properties.

“Our assets in the region needed management and we started Brick House so we could give care and attention to the properties we own that they deserve,” Vlangas said. “This will be our Claremont headquarters of Downtown Realty.”

Vlangas emphasized that while Downtown Realty is based in Bedford, they are not out-of-town landlords.

“We don’t buy and walk the other way,” he said, adding that he is in Claremont regularly. “Unless you have that hands-on management, things will fall apart. Our top priority is to keep tenants as happy as possible.”

Locally, Chris Qualls is Brick House’s property manager and Sheldon Farley, owner of the property maintenance business Shel-Bees, is the project manager for Brick House Management. Matthew Lefebrve is Downtown Realty’s principal broker.

Downtown Realty has 61 market rate apartments in the city and 13 in Newport plus 13 commercial units in Claremont. Vlangas said they have been permitted to construct eight, two-bedroom apartments on the upper floors of the Rand Block at 32-40 Pleasant St. Fitch Manor has been renamed Kite Hill Commons.

Vlangas said city officials have made his efforts in Claremont a positive experience, with pre-meetings to discuss and resolve issues before presentations to permitting boards, which is something he does not see in other towns.

“I can be critical at times but the manner in which they have helped us with these projects has been truly wonderful,” Vlangas said. “Going through the permitting process for the Rand Block was very easy.”

Vlangas reiterated that he invested in downtown Claremont properties to turn them around and bring in people who will facilitate economic growth, such as teachers, nurses, business professionals, CPAs, lawyers and engineers, which in turn will attract small businesses downtown to serve that population.

“Those with disposable income will be a benefit to Claremont.”

Patrick O’Grady can be reached a pogclmt@gmail.com.