Wide Open saloon Weirs beach

[no-engine]

Drive by this afternoon. New Cumberland's sign, not the blue/white plastic look. Looks like an attempt to look "green", as in conservation.

Saloon: definitely a trailer used for construction site office is placed in back. Large bulletin board device stands as if attached, and with lots papers.
Maybe demolition permit, building permits, etc. There was setting on edge of driveway to drive-in a series of concrete pipes. I did not get out of my vehicle, and was only briefly stopped in Lobster Pound parking lot.

Instead of speculating about the uses of other sites nearby, why not someone check it out at planning board office; minutes are public record!

[no-engine]

Originally Posted by no-engine

Drive by this afternoon. New Cumberland's sign, not the blue/white plastic look. Looks like an attempt to look "green", as in conservation.

Saloon: definitely a trailer used for construction site office is placed in back. Large bulletin board device stands as if attached, and with lots papers.
Maybe demolition permit, building permits, etc. There was setting on edge of driveway to drive-in a series of concrete pipes. I did not get out of my vehicle, and was only briefly stopped in Lobster Pound parking lot.

Instead of speculating about the uses of other sites nearby, why not someone check it out at planning board office; minutes are public record!

Behind the burned eye-soar, the trailer and gear and piping makes the site look more & more like the office/staging area for Busby Construction of the roundabout just over the Bridge! (a little site rental income for owner!) Large back hoe was working the banking towards the mini golf park, left side as heading over bridge towards Weirs Fire Station.

I need to drive by later today and will observe.

[corollaman]

I wish they would just knock it down and get it over with. It's been almost 2 years! How long is this whole thing gonna go on for??? Enough already! It's such an eyesore. I'm sure it has made property values in the area drop.

[no-engine]

Definitely the contractor for roundabout; newspaper stories confirm.
Also, observations from drive Laconia > Meredith, this morning.

Guess we must live with the eyesore and the firemarshall's continuing investigation. Arson or not?

[Sunset View]

Originally Posted by corollaman

I wish they would just knock it down and get it over with. It's been almost 2 years! How long is this whole thing gonna go on for??? Enough already! It's such an eyesore. I'm sure it has made property values in the area drop.

It's an utter embarrassment to the community, to the potential tourists and to city government who have allowed this debacle to continue! Hard to imagine Don Thurston and his brothers along with the Lobster Pound owners living with this pile of garbage much longer. If this is the standard the city lives with, it's onlly a matter of time before the entire area lowers its standards for cleanliness, presentation and quality of image!
Tear It Down NOW!

[crowsnest]

Originally Posted by Sunset View

It's an utter embarrassment to the community, to the potential tourists and to city government who have allowed this debacle to continue! Hard to imagine Don Thurston and his brothers along with the Lobster Pound owners living with this pile of garbage much longer. If this is the standard the city lives with, it's onlly a matter of time before the entire area lowers its standards for cleanliness, presentation and quality of image!
Tear It Down NOW!

well said - TAKE IT DOWN

[LongBay]

My next prediction on this debacle is The Wall at Fenway Park will come down before the Wide Open. So let's see what's still standing by end of day July 1st, 2012.

[LongBay]

Originally Posted by LongBay

My next prediction on this debacle is The Wall at Fenway Park will come down before the Wide Open. So let's see what's still standing by end of day July 1st, 2012.

Well here we are it's July 2nd. The Wall did came down at Fenway Park last night but not after a plane crashed into it first. It took the work of the stage crew who spent the day building it to knock it down in less than one minute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAHyJ...eature=related

With that said, it's time for my next prediction regarding the fate of the Wide Open. We are going to get above average snowfall this winter. All that snow will be appreciated by the skiers, snowmobilers and nearby property owners as they watch the snow pile up and finally see the Wide Open walls come tumbling down from all that snow piling up in the Saloon.

[Belmont Resident]

Originally Posted by LongBay

Well here we are it's July 2nd. The Wall did came down at Fenway Park last night but not after a plane crashed into it first. It took the work of the stage crew who spent the day building it to knock it down in less than one minute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAHyJ...eature=related

With that said, it's time for my next prediction regarding the fate of the Wide Open. We are going to get above average snowfall this winter. All that snow will be appreciated by the skiers, snowmobilers and nearby property owners as they watch the snow pile up and finally see the Wide Open walls come tumbling down from all that snow piling up in the Saloon.

Like a bunch of old ladies constantly gossiping about the neighbor.
Yes it’s ugly but how dead can a dead horse get before you stop beating it to a pulp.
No amount of commenting on this forum is going to have an impact when those who own the property don’t care what others think about them or what they choose to do.

[Sunset View]

Originally Posted by LongBay

Well here we are it's July 2nd. The Wall did came down at Fenway Park last night but not after a plane crashed into it first. It took the work of the stage crew who spent the day building it to knock it down in less than one minute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAHyJ...eature=related

With that said, it's time for my next prediction regarding the fate of the Wide Open. We are going to get above average snowfall this winter. All that snow will be appreciated by the skiers, snowmobilers and nearby property owners as they watch the snow pile up and finally see the Wide Open walls come tumbling down from all that snow piling up in the Saloon.

LB, One can only pray you're right.......amazing, it's July 3rd and we are hoping for snow to mask the dump that is the WOS! I'm with you LB....here's wishing for the mother of all blizzards in Novemebr and/or December...finally we'll be able to look forward to the sumer of 2013 without the WOS! Come on SNOW!!! Perhaps we should get in touch with Gunstock and borrow a snow gun for a few days............hmmmm.........it might just work.

Have a great, safe and enjoyable 4th everyone; and on this day, please remember our brave troops with enormous pride as they risk their lives everyday to provide you and me with freedom. Go USA!

[AB_Monterey]

Originally Posted by LongBay

Well here we are it's July 2nd. The Wall did came down at Fenway Park last night but not after a plane crashed into it first. It took the work of the stage crew who spent the day building it to knock it down in less than one minute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAHyJ...eature=related

With that said, it's time for my next prediction regarding the fate of the Wide Open. We are going to get above average snowfall this winter. All that snow will be appreciated by the skiers, snowmobilers and nearby property owners as they watch the snow pile up and finally see the Wide Open walls come tumbling down from all that snow piling up in the Saloon.

LB, I'm guessing you were there too? Amazing show.

[LongBay]

Originally Posted by AB_Monterey

LB, I'm guessing you were there too? Amazing show.

Unfortunately I did not get to the show at Fenway but I did see it at Madison Square Garden.

[nhyitbos]

WOS was offered by a large contractor to tear it down sans the abatement. They turned it down. LB replied, "F the Weirs, F Laconia". Nice.

They will tear it down when THEY are ready. Its a reflection of them, hence the comments on this blog.

Lesson: When you are always trying to get even; you'll never get ahead!

Personally, I feel for their plight due to the Ponzi scheme...insurance fights, state not willing to release the report, slow court system. Then their personal home burns. Coach Holtz said that "Life is 10% what happens to you, 90% how you react." The whole situation is unfortunate.

[Resident 2B]

Originally Posted by nhyitbos

WOS was offered by a large contractor to tear it down sans the abatement. They turned it down. LB replied, "F the Weirs, F Laconia". Nice.

They will tear it down when THEY are ready. Its a reflection of them, hence the comments on this blog.

Lesson: When you are always trying to get even; you'll never get ahead!

Personally, I feel for their plight due to the Ponzi scheme...insurance fights, state not willing to release the report, slow court system. Then their personal home burns. Coach Holtz said that "Life is 10% what happens to you, 90% how you react." The whole situation is unfortunate.

Just so everyone knows, the LB quoted here is not LongBay.

R2B

[nhyitbos]

Originally Posted by Resident 2B

Just so everyone knows, the LB quoted here is not LongBay.

R2B

haha....right! correction LBdi...that works!

[Mr. V]

Originally Posted by nhyitbos

The whole situation is unfortunate.

Yeah, you reap what you sow.

[Janet]

The Citizen has a headline today that says the Wide Open Saloon will be torn down next week. Can't read the article as I don't have a subscription. Will check out the Laconia Daily Sun to see if they have the info.

[AC2717]

i hope so, wonder if this is the case, how long it will stay a pile of rubble, or vancant lot with a fence around it with weeds growing all over the place, but
my guess:
it will be torn down, and a leveled lot will show up to be only used for bike week vendors - if this is the case, yay

[no-engine]

I also see Citizen headline in the vending machines. Nothing in Sun.

Also, I commute that way often. The highway signs of construction are back up. Busby crews are out marking the pavements. No Busby equipment is behind Saloon, as before; they must have another site for their staging.
We shall see, as I may commute that way later today after 5:00.

Move on Baldi family members! Thurston's and other neighbors must be happy!

[Sunset View]

Originally Posted by no-engine

I also see Citizen headline in the vending machines. Nothing in Sun.

Also, I commute that way often. The highway signs of construction are back up. Busby crews are out marking the pavements. No Busby equipment is behind Saloon, as before; they must have another site for their staging.
We shall see, as I may commute that way later today after 5:00.

Move on Baldi family members! Thurston's and other neighbors must be happy!

No-Engine is right; good for Don and Jeff Thurston, the Lobster Pound and all the businesses that do care about civic responsibility at the Weirs......they and so many others didn't deserve this type of nonsense for so long. Good for the Weirs, our beautiful lake and the entrance to Winnipesuakee....I sincerely hope we can all take a step forward and beautify the jewel that is the Weirs. As for the Baldis, I hope they take their tired, disgraceful act to a place where people will embrace their ignorance. Here's hoping they land many miles away from NH.......Good riddance to all the Baldis!

[no-engine]

Originally Posted by Sunset View

As for the Baldis, I hope they take their tired, disgraceful act to a place where people will embrace their ignorance. Here's hoping they land many miles away from NH.......Good riddance to all the Baldis!

Great! We like that!
However, is it known that land ownership will change with demolition? I have not read so. Nor have we read that others in family have changed their interest (ownership) in the Weirs Water Slide or the Drive-In.
They also own the Colonial Theatre in downtown Laconia.
Let's not head beyond this first grand step of site clean-up, for which we all seem very appreciative.

Good sized back hoe has started tearing at the back side, observed as I went by between 5 & 6pm. No name on back hoe. Busby water tanker truck was parked on side of entry to drive in, outside the fencing.

[evergreenenvious]

Originally Posted by AC2717

i hope so, wonder if this is the case, how long it will stay a pile of rubble, or vancant lot with a fence around it with weeds growing all over the place, but
my guess:
it will be torn down, and a leveled lot will show up to be only used for bike week vendors - if this is the case, yay

Its being taken down. You can all stop with the complaining and attacking of the baldis. How long it will stay whatever..... shouldn't matter to you, it doesn't matter what they do or what they go through you all are still going to find some reason to talk about them, some fault in them.

[no-engine]

Chan 9 News: said "all parties have come to agreement" to tear it down!

[Winnisquamguy]

Originally Posted by no-engine

Chan 9 News: said "all parties have come to agreement" to tear it down!

The owners are also paying for it to be taken down and should be completed by the middle of next week.

[Winnisquamguy]

Wide Open Saloon can be rebuilt on same footprint within 1 year

LACONIA — Work to demolish the remains of the Wide Open Saloon at the Weirs, which was severely damaged by fire in the early morning hours of September 17, 2010, finally began yesterday. Anthony McConnachie Farm and Construction Company of Hampstead is undertaking the work for Brandi Baldi, the principal of 38 Endicott Street North, LLC, the owner of the property.
According to the demolition permit issued to Baldi, the work is scheduled to be completed Wednesday, September 12. City Manager Scott myers said that if the building is not razed on time, in keeping with an order issued by the 4th Circuit Court-Laconia Division last year the city could demolish the building and bill the owners for the cost of the work. However, he doubted it would be necessary to invoke the court order.
After the fire, the charred remains of the building stood for nearly two years, its demolition stalled by several strands of litigation. Baldi appealed a court order, sought by the city to demolish it, pursued a claim against Lloyds of London, her insurance carrier, and sued the New Hampshire State Fire Marshall for withholding information about the fire. At the same time, the firm that installed the alarm and sprinkler systems sued Baldi for failing to pay for the work.
As early as May of last year other business owners at the Weirs urged the City Council to take steps to hasten the demolition of the building, which they described as an eyesore casting a pall over the resort community that placed its hotels, cottages, restaurants and attractions at a disadvantage.
Myers said that the city settled with Baldi, noting that both parties agreed not to seek attorney's fees and court costs from the other. The New Hampshire Supreme Court rejected Baldi's claim against the fire marshal while the outcome of the remaining suits is unclear.
Planning Director Shanna Saunders said yesterday that once the demolition is complete, the owners of the property will have one year to make a good faith effort, which could amount to filing a site plan or pulling a building permit, to rebuild on the same footprint, without being bound by changes in the zoning ordinance enacted since the original building was constructed.
Baldi could not be reached to comment about future plans for the property.

http://www.laconiadailysun.com/index...4-saloon-razed
.

[no-engine]

Originally Posted by Sunset View

It's an utter embarrassment to the community, to the potential tourists and to city government who have allowed this debacle to continue! Hard to imagine Don Thurston and his brothers along with the Lobster Pound owners living with this pile of garbage much longer. If this is the standard the city lives with, it's onlly a matter of time before the entire area lowers its standards for cleanliness, presentation and quality of image!
Tear It Down NOW!

I would not want to be the local building code enforcement person! or city manager, or on city council, or any position within city. even police or fire departments or county sheriff. Total disgrace to drive by.

I wouldn't even desire to enter the drive-in movie regardless of the feature film. Can't imagine being on the receiving end of rental income for the area in back for contractor's staging, while at same time leaving the condition of the building! Such an embarrassment!

[Happy Gourmand]

There has to be a lot more to this story than what we think we know. I'm just guessing that the property owner is still paying a crazy amount of property tax for the building/location.
I would also think it reasonable to assume that he/she would love to resolve whatever the issue is with this so that it could again be turned into a revenue producing establishment of some sort.
This just makes me wonder what the real story is behind all the delays.

[AC2717]

Can't we get a petition going to have the building removed or torn down, That just happened in the town where I live

[Heaven]

Nothing can be done until the issue has been decided in court.

[RailroadJoe]

Where next? US Supreme Court. Already run out of local ones.

[Heaven]

Originally Posted by RailroadJoe

Where next? US Supreme Court. Already run out of local ones.

Oh? What was the last decision?

[RailroadJoe]

Last I read it was supposed to be torn down in seven days.

[Heaven]

Last I heard it was scheduled at New Hampshire Supreme Court, if it has been heard and a decision made please post a link to the info?

[no-engine]

News media has reported that New Hampshire State Fire Marshal is still in the "investigation" stage, apparently not releasing the property to owner (a member of the Baldi family, the drive-in & Colonial Theater owners) and thus the insurance carrier (Lloyd's) will not pay out.
Nothing but past readings from news print media.
We don't recall the reporting of courts, since a local judge did say tear down.

After recent rains or snows, it's easy to observe that upper parts continue to collapse! I drive by almost every day.

[Sunset View]

Originally Posted by no-engine

News media has reported that New Hampshire State Fire Marshal is still in the "investigation" stage, apparently not releasing the property to owner (a member of the Baldi family, the drive-in & Colonial Theater owners) and thus the insurance carrier (Lloyd's) will not pay out.
Nothing but past readings from news print media.
We don't recall the reporting of courts, since a local judge did say tear down.

After recent rains or snows, it's easy to observe that upper parts continue to collapse! I drive by almost every day.

Come on Spring showers!!

[corollaman]

I hope they tear it down before this coming Bike Week.

[no-engine]

Originally Posted by Sunset View

Come on Spring showers!!

Last night, I see that some contractor equipment is very close to what's left of building. If a wind/rain storm comes along, I'd think debris would fall over on equipment and the office trailer. Very hazardous site: OSHA!

I certainly would not want to be on site with storm playing out.
More we observe & think, it's such a hazard to the abutters and a soreness to the eyes, especially with visitors. I certainly will give no directions that have one driving through that area. [I hope owners' family read threads!]

On another note, on recent NECN the Boss, story was about the Cumberland Farms business: most sites are getting a make-over. Appears that the one up hill will be open soon, if not already re-opened.

[nicole]

Originally Posted by no-engine

Last night, I see that some contractor equipment is very close to what's left of building. If a wind/rain storm comes along, I'd think debris would fall over on equipment and the office trailer. Very hazardous site: OSHA!

I certainly would not want to be on site with storm playing out.
More we observe & think, it's such a hazard to the abutters and a soreness to the eyes, especially with visitors. I certainly will give no directions that have one driving through that area. [I hope owners' family read threads!]

On another note, on recent NECN the Boss, story was about the Cumberland Farms business: most sites are getting a make-over. Appears that the one up hill will be open soon, if not already re-opened.

Cumby is already open-has been for a few days. They now offer more "to-go" types food-pizza, breakfast sandwiches, etc. Have not tried them yet.

[no-engine]

Originally Posted by nicole

[/B]Cumby is already open-has been for a few days. They now offer more "to-go" types food-pizza, breakfast sandwiches, etc. Have not tried them yet.

I've been not so observant...
Thanks for the info. Wonder if the one in Meredith will get a make-over?

[AC2717]

WE should have FLL try their "to-go" food first!

[corollaman]

Originally Posted by RailroadJoe

Where next? US Supreme Court. Already run out of local ones.

Last I knew it was already going to the supreme court, whether the case has been heard yet or not, I don't know.