Wide Open saloon Weirs beach

Woodsy · 04-11-2012, 01:36 PM

To start, with all due respect to the Baldi family and their right to due process… be a good neighbor and tear down that ugly eyesore! To the Laconia City manager and mayor… WTH! If that building was located in downtown Laconia we would not have this issue! The building would have been razed a year ago!

The intrinsic dynamic of the Weirs has changed radically in the last 10-12 years. There used to be a lot of small mom & pop motels that people spent their vacation week in. This provided a large turnover of people on weekly basis for the Weirs attractions and kept them busy. In the last real estate boom those mom & pop motels all but disappeared… turned into condos. This process virtually eliminated 60% - 70% of the revenue stream to the Weirs attractions. Condominium owners are more likely to patronize the attractions 2-3 times a season vs. a new bunch of people staying at the local motels every week. It has always been difficult for any business to make a year’s salary in the short 3-4 month summer season here in the Weirs. Couple that with a down economy and you can really understand the struggle business owners have. Unfortunately I don’t think this can be corrected. The damage is done. The City of Laconia and local business owners need to adapt to this unfortunate outcome and think of NEW ways to attract visitors to the Weirs.

Of the 3 biggest towns on the lake, Wolfeboro has always been quiet and rather upscale, Meredith was transformed to upscale, and unfortunately the Weirs has remained somewhat stagnant. This needs to be reversed. What the Weirs needs is better planning and leadership… The Weirs needs a makeover that sticks to its honky-tonk roots! The Weirs has always been the honky-tonk spot on the lake! This should be embraced not discouraged!

Bike Week should be EMBRACED! Years of heavy handed police presence coupled with economic discouragement by Laconia City Hall have diminished the attendance of Bike Week. Other communities throughout the state such as Meredith, Rochester & North Conway have jumped on the Bike Week bandwagon looking to cash in on what the City of Laconia doesn’t seem to want. This all has an effect on attendance.

I think in order to make the Weirs a destination again there needs to be some radical shift in thinking. I would recommend the Weirs become a designated resort area… loosen the rules a little! Look at Key West for inspiration!! Awesome restaurants… Cool bars with great entertainment, funky shops. Clean the area up. Tear down that stupid eyesore. Let people enjoy themselves a little. Maintain a police presence but discreetly (think undercover cops). No need for 3 cruisers and 2 bicycle cops hanging out waiting for something, anything to happen! Let people drink along the boardwalk and enjoy the lake (plastic containers). Allow outside music in the summer up until 12:00. Encourage people to visit. Adjust the rules so that people WANT to VISIT! Adjust the rules so that people WANT to open NEW businesses!

Make the Weirs friendly and people will visit…

Woodsy

Wetbiker · 04-11-2012, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodsy

To start, with all due respect to the Baldi family and their right to due process… be a good neighbor and tear down that ugly eyesore! To the Laconia City manager and mayor… WTH! If that building was located in downtown Laconia we would not have this issue! The building would have been razed a year ago!

The intrinsic dynamic of the Weirs has changed radically in the last 10-12 years. There used to be a lot of small mom & pop motels that people spent their vacation week in. This provided a large turnover of people on weekly basis for the Weirs attractions and kept them busy. In the last real estate boom those mom & pop motels all but disappeared… turned into condos. This process virtually eliminated 60% - 70% of the revenue stream to the Weirs attractions. Condominium owners are more likely to patronize the attractions 2-3 times a season vs. a new bunch of people staying at the local motels every week. It has always been difficult for any business to make a year’s salary in the short 3-4 month summer season here in the Weirs. Couple that with a down economy and you can really understand the struggle business owners have. Unfortunately I don’t think this can be corrected. The damage is done. The City of Laconia and local business owners need to adapt to this unfortunate outcome and think of NEW ways to attract visitors to the Weirs.

Of the 3 biggest towns on the lake, Wolfeboro has always been quiet and rather upscale, Meredith was transformed to upscale, and unfortunately the Weirs has remained somewhat stagnant. This needs to be reversed. What the Weirs needs is better planning and leadership… The Weirs needs a makeover that sticks to its honky-tonk roots! The Weirs has always been the honky-tonk spot on the lake! This should be embraced not discouraged!

Bike Week should be EMBRACED! Years of heavy handed police presence coupled with economic discouragement by Laconia City Hall have diminished the attendance of Bike Week. Other communities throughout the state such as Meredith, Rochester & North Conway have jumped on the Bike Week bandwagon looking to cash in on what the City of Laconia doesn’t seem to want. This all has an effect on attendance.

I think in order to make the Weirs a destination again there needs to be some radical shift in thinking. I would recommend the Weirs become a designated resort area… loosen the rules a little! Look at Key West for inspiration!! Awesome restaurants… Cool bars with great entertainment, funky shops. Clean the area up. Tear down that stupid eyesore. Let people enjoy themselves a little. Maintain a police presence but discreetly (think undercover cops). No need for 3 cruisers and 2 bicycle cops hanging out waiting for something, anything to happen! Let people drink along the boardwalk and enjoy the lake (plastic containers). Allow outside music in the summer up until 12:00. Encourage people to visit. Adjust the rules so that people WANT to VISIT! Adjust the rules so that people WANT to open NEW businesses!

Make the Weirs friendly and people will visit…

Woodsy

I couldnt have put it better myself Woodsy. I've lived in eye sight of the weirs my whole life, if they could do what you said it would turn around the weirs and make it boom again. A couple cool groovy new bars would be cool, You want to attract the college kids, these are the ones that are going to be growing up and wanting to buy places on the lake

garysanfran · 04-11-2012, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wetbiker

I couldnt have put it better myself Woodsy. I've lived in eye sight of the weirs my whole life, if they could do what you said it would turn around the weirs and make it boom again. A couple cool groovy new bars would be cool, You want to attract the college kids, these are the ones that are going to be growing up and wanting to buy places on the lake

Bring back Teen Haven and Winnipesaukee Gardens! These were destination sights that brought hundreds from all over every Friday and Saturday nights. The "Gardens" changed with the ever changing demographics. My parents listened and danced to Duke Ellington. I did the same to Vanilla Fudge and The Turtles. The places were always jammed. I was a teenager and don't think there was alcohol at Teen Haven. I don't know about The Gardens. I think if you were over 21, you'd BYOB!

My parents had friends on Bear Is. that had a steel-hulled tugboat named 'Lil Toot. They'd pick-up my parents and other friends and have a bond fire burning on the steel bow (it was a BIG boat). After a night at The Gardens you could hear the "revelry" from a great distance as 'Lil Toot made the rounds returning everyone home. This wouldn't happen today! The Lake had a lot less people then, but The Weirs had a lot more!

Greene's Basin Girl · 04-12-2012, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garysanfran

Bring back Teen Haven and Winnipesaukee Gardens! These were destination sights that brought hundreds from all over every Friday and Saturday nights. The "Gardens" changed with the ever changing demographics. My parents listened and danced to Duke Ellington. I did the same to Vanilla Fudge and The Turtles. The places were always jammed. I was a teenager and don't think there was alcohol at Teen Haven. I don't know about The Gardens. I think if you were over 21, you'd BYOB!

My parents had friends on Bear Is. that had a steel-hulled tugboat named 'Lil Toot. They'd pick-up my parents and other friends and have a bond fire burning on the steel bow (it was a BIG boat). After a night at The Gardens you could hear the "revelry" from a great distance as 'Lil Toot made the rounds returning everyone home. This wouldn't happen today! The Lake had a lot less people then, but The Weirs had a lot more!

What memories ! I had such a good time at Teen Haven and the Winnipesaukee Gardens. There were so many great bands. It was such fun and the Weirs was booming back then.

Resident 2B · 04-11-2012, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodsy

To start, with all due respect to the Baldi family and their right to due process… be a good neighbor and tear down that ugly eyesore! To the Laconia City manager and mayor… WTH! If that building was located in downtown Laconia we would not have this issue! The building would have been razed a year ago!

The intrinsic dynamic of the Weirs has changed radically in the last 10-12 years. There used to be a lot of small mom & pop motels that people spent their vacation week in. This provided a large turnover of people on weekly basis for the Weirs attractions and kept them busy. In the last real estate boom those mom & pop motels all but disappeared… turned into condos. This process virtually eliminated 60% - 70% of the revenue stream to the Weirs attractions. Condominium owners are more likely to patronize the attractions 2-3 times a season vs. a new bunch of people staying at the local motels every week. It has always been difficult for any business to make a year’s salary in the short 3-4 month summer season here in the Weirs. Couple that with a down economy and you can really understand the struggle business owners have. Unfortunately I don’t think this can be corrected. The damage is done. The City of Laconia and local business owners need to adapt to this unfortunate outcome and think of NEW ways to attract visitors to the Weirs.

Of the 3 biggest towns on the lake, Wolfeboro has always been quiet and rather upscale, Meredith was transformed to upscale, and unfortunately the Weirs has remained somewhat stagnant. This needs to be reversed. What the Weirs needs is better planning and leadership… The Weirs needs a makeover that sticks to its honky-tonk roots! The Weirs has always been the honky-tonk spot on the lake! This should be embraced not discouraged!

Bike Week should be EMBRACED! Years of heavy handed police presence coupled with economic discouragement by Laconia City Hall have diminished the attendance of Bike Week. Other communities throughout the state such as Meredith, Rochester & North Conway have jumped on the Bike Week bandwagon looking to cash in on what the City of Laconia doesn’t seem to want. This all has an effect on attendance.

I think in order to make the Weirs a destination again there needs to be some radical shift in thinking. I would recommend the Weirs become a designated resort area… loosen the rules a little! Look at Key West for inspiration!! Awesome restaurants… Cool bars with great entertainment, funky shops. Clean the area up. Tear down that stupid eyesore. Let people enjoy themselves a little. Maintain a police presence but discreetly (think undercover cops). No need for 3 cruisers and 2 bicycle cops hanging out waiting for something, anything to happen! Let people drink along the boardwalk and enjoy the lake (plastic containers). Allow outside music in the summer up until 12:00. Encourage people to visit. Adjust the rules so that people WANT to VISIT! Adjust the rules so that people WANT to open NEW businesses!

Make the Weirs friendly and people will visit…

Woodsy

You get my vote for "Best Post of the Year"!

Well done! Let's get behind any effort to get the Weirs 'right' again.

R2B

Bear247 · 04-11-2012, 04:24 PM

I like your thinking man...

birchhaven · 04-11-2012, 04:48 PM

I agree with the condos changing the biz model, and I agree a new line of thinking is required and it needs to be radical, but it is easy to say and another thing to get an investor to do, with the current dynamic.
Another example is where the rotary is being built, (I am going to pick on this property for a second but it applies to all) there is the vacant parking lot that has been sitting there forever, the owner has no urgency to invest or sell the property since he makes money from bike week. No bike week... he would have sold to someone who is willing to invest in the property in some fashion that makes money year round or at least all summer, this creates local jobs, increases the population, and in-turn further drives jobs creation. All while creating a valuable tax base for laconia rather than a vacant lot, this added tax base they could use to fix the current laconia school problem, again helping draw in full time residence, etc, etc. I disagree with anything that promotes land owners to not invest in their property (leave it a parking lot) so they can make money.
So it is great to say all these things about changing the rules etc, but if the current land owners have no reason to change they won't.

Sorry if make no sense I am much more articulate in person.

Belmont Resident · 04-11-2012, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by birchhaven

I agree with the condos changing the biz model, and I agree a new line of thinking is required and it needs to be radical, but it is easy to say and another thing to get an investor to do, with the current dynamic.
Another example is where the rotary is being built, (I am going to pick on this property for a second but it applies to all) there is the vacant parking lot that has been sitting there forever, the owner has no urgency to invest or sell the property since he makes money from bike week. No bike week... he would have sold to someone who is willing to invest in the property in some fashion that makes money year round or at least all summer, this creates local jobs, increases the population, and in-turn further drives jobs creation. All while creating a valuable tax base for laconia rather than a vacant lot, this added tax base they could use to fix the current laconia school problem, again helping draw in full time residence, etc, etc. I disagree with anything that promotes land owners to not invest in their property (leave it a parking lot) so they can make money.
So it is great to say all these things about changing the rules etc, but if the current land owners have no reason to change they won't.

Sorry if make no sense I am much more articulate in person.

Unfortunately until NH figures out how to attract businesses nothing will change.
You can tear down the ugly rebuild the ugly and attract all the tourism you want.
But all tourism creates is seasonal jobs, not the type of atmosphere to attract or support families.

Woodsy · 04-11-2012, 06:42 PM

Birchhaven...

That property you mentioned was originally a restaurant that went out of business (Karl's) and later burned. The property owner did the right thing and tore down the building. The owner of the property has since used it for Bike Week parking. I seriously doubt that 9 days of Bike Week parking covered the taxes on the property.

Meanwhile, they found a buyer for the property (rumoured to be Irving Oil) who was going to transform the property into some sort of gas station/drive thru, contingent on approval from the city. The city was onboard but wanted the property developer to pay the COST of the now being built rotary. That KILLED the project dead.

Just another example of how the City of Laconia thinks....

I suspect with the rotary being built and paid for by the city & state this vacant property will be more "buildable" now. No doubt we will see something there fairly soon.

Belmont Resident...

I agree that NH as a whole needs to create jobs and attract families. The Weirs IS a tourist/resort area, no different than Gunstock or Cannon or Sunapee. I think its in the best interest of the area and the state to attract tourists in any manner possible. Unfortunately, the Weirs is primarily a summer destination. There are some fall/winter activities but it is VERY weather dependent. This year there was no snow so there was no snowmobile business at all and the ski tourist business was off as well.

Woodsy

no-engine · 04-11-2012, 08:22 PM

Thanks for the Karl's site story, which I had forgotten.
Let me add about the Lobster Pound site, especially up hill portion.
It goes unused and ugly all year, till a week before bike week when tent set up starts. When all set ups are done, I am so discouraged, since it's impossible to see that a restaurant exists!!! The Lobster Pound sign is totally obstructed! I tried to communicate that observation to the business via their website, to no avail two years ago.

The entire area looks like it could pass for a municipal transfer station (formerly referred to as the dump): this trash goes here and that used item goes over there, all waiting for recycling by third party businesses. The site is deplorable from the street! It's not inviting at all.

In Meredith, the Hart's and Harley dealer property still maintain their identity.

I think it will be difficult to design a business on the roundabout edge; I can't imagine planners approving new accesses directly to the roundabout, BUT I like the thinking in some recent posts. We can wait and see, if some group will reveal creativity in design, of which I am not.

I hope the open site downhill from Cumberland's will not become another tent/vendor city, or a mobile home/RV park, or a storage unit rental site. Maybe we'll see something attractive and useful year round.

One personal 2¢.

TiltonBB · 04-11-2012, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodsy

Birchhaven...

Meanwhile, they found a buyer for the property (rumoured to be Irving Oil) who was going to transform the property into some sort of gas station/drive thru, contingent on approval from the city. The city was onboard but wanted the property developer to pay the COST of the now being built rotary. That KILLED the project dead.

Just another example of how the City of Laconia thinks....
Woodsy

I disagree with your information. I went to the meetings about the development of that property, spoke with the lawyers, and attended several hearings at Laconia City Hall. The city was never "onboard" with the plans for that lot.

The demise of that plan was because the developers wanted to combine a gas station, convenience store, and Dunkin Donuts with a drive through, on a very small lot. The concerns about more underground gas tanks close to Laconia's water supply, overdevelopment of that lot, impact on neighboring properties, and the impact on traffic caused the city to reject the plan.

At all of the meetings I attended there was no mention of the property owner paying for any expenses related to the traffic circle. This happened 3 or 4 years ago and I do not recall the subject of the traffic circle ever being mentioned.

Woodsy · 04-11-2012, 09:54 PM

TiltonBB

The city would have allowed the construction of the gas station. They would have demanded the same triple redundancy as Cumby's up the hill. I believe the drive thru and the roundabout construction was the sticking point for developer.

Woodsy

Sunset View · 04-25-2012, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodsy

Birchhaven...

That property you mentioned was originally a restaurant that went out of business (Karl's) and later burned. The property owner did the right thing and tore down the building. The owner of the property has since used it for Bike Week parking. I seriously doubt that 9 days of Bike Week parking covered the taxes on the property.

Meanwhile, they found a buyer for the property (rumoured to be Irving Oil) who was going to transform the property into some sort of gas station/drive thru, contingent on approval from the city. The city was onboard but wanted the property developer to pay the COST of the now being built rotary. That KILLED the project dead.

Just another example of how the City of Laconia thinks....

I suspect with the rotary being built and paid for by the city & state this vacant property will be more "buildable" now. No doubt we will see something there fairly soon.

Belmont Resident...

I agree that NH as a whole needs to create jobs and attract families. The Weirs IS a tourist/resort area, no different than Gunstock or Cannon or Sunapee. I think its in the best interest of the area and the state to attract tourists in any manner possible. Unfortunately, the Weirs is primarily a summer destination. There are some fall/winter activities but it is VERY weather dependent. This year there was no snow so there was no snowmobile business at all and the ski tourist business was off as well.

Woodsy

Or as my wife always reminds me; beauty fades, dumb is forever!

no-engine · 04-25-2012, 05:11 PM

The condition is absolutely ludicrous.

Saw today, the Meredith Dover Street 2.5 story building that had serious fire over the weekend, what looked like inspectors with Fire Department protective gear, seriously looking at the second floor back deck! Speculate looking for cause of fire.

Also, People NOT dressed like that removing personal items from first floor. Two large trash containers filling with bags of stuff.

What is wrong with owners at Weirs building? Fours days in Meredith and work is being done! Come on Baldi family, move on!!!!

WE JUST CAN NOT UNDERSTAND. We hope owners of adjacent properties get together and force city of Laconia to proceed with demolition and a property lien!

upthesaukee · 04-27-2012, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by no-engine

What is wrong with owners at Weirs building? Fours days in Meredith and work is being done! Come on Baldi family, move on!!!!

Two issues remain here...One is can it be rebuilt or not...If not, it has to be demolished. Issue #2 deals with the insurance...the carrier is denying coverage...If I was the property owner, I would want to exhaust all avenues before the demolition came out of my wallet. Until that is resolved, the building will stand, I'm afraid. Unfortunately, the world of litigation is indeed a painfully slow one. As a former underwriter and manager with a top 25 insurance company, I saw litigation take not just months, not just years, but literally decades to be resolved. Hopefully this will not fall into the latter time frame.

All of this does not change the fact that it is an eyesore, and yes, we all would like to see it either repaired or razed, but I for one still would like the owners to be afforded their just due in the legal system.

Winnisquamguy · 05-01-2012, 12:51 PM

Looks like things are finally starting to come together. It has been a long road with not much support from the community. My love goes out to all you supports who have been there for me and my family, and understand the depths of how complicated this has all been. I know I still have a while before I reach the top of giant hill, and for all you local nasty's......well I belive in karma. I have not lost my fight or my strength, so I will continue on and remain hopeful.

Resident 2B · 05-01-2012, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winnisquamguy

Looks like things are finally starting to come together. It has been a long road with not much support from the community. My love goes out to all you supports who have been there for me and my family, and understand the depths of how complicated this has all been. I know I still have a while before I reach the top of giant hill, and for all you local nasty's......well I belive in karma. I have not lost my fight or my strength, so I will continue on and remain hopeful.

Classy (not) or what? Tear this eyesore down. It is killing property values and property sales in the area.

R2B

SIKSUKR · 05-01-2012, 01:22 PM

Wow! Poor me, not much support from the local nastys. What? I'm not a local but I do agree with one of the statements. Karma. Hope it bites the right hand.

Winnisquamguy · 05-01-2012, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resident 2B

Classy (not) or what? Tear this eyesore down. It is killing property values and property sales in the area.

R2B

Hey don't shoot the messenger, I just copy and pasted what she wrote on her Facebook page!!

Resident 2B · 05-01-2012, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winnisquamguy

Hey don't shoot the messenger, I just copy and pasted what she wrote on her Facebook page!!

No ill intent to you at all. I am happy that you posted the FaceBook message. It shows what strange thinking goes in the minds of some people.

How someone can be responsible for the longevity of that eyesore and call other people "local natsy's" [sic] really is hard to understand.

I am within 1,500 feet of that place. I have been trying to sell on and off for two years and the feedback from my broker is potential buyers are concerned about the rundown look of that burnt out building near the bridge and its negative impact on the general area.

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

R2B

no-engine · 05-04-2012, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resident 2B

No ill intent to you at all. I am happy that you posted the FaceBook message. It shows what strange thinking goes in the minds of some people.

How someone can be responsible for the longevity of that eyesore and call other people "local natsy's" [sic] really is hard to understand.

I am within 1,500 feet of that place. I have been trying to sell on and off for two years and the feedback from my broker is potential buyers are concerned about the rundown look of that burnt out building near the bridge and its negative impact on the general area.

If I were as close as 1500 feet, I get together with neighbors and abutters, and sit in on City Council meetings, AND then during every "citizen input" time on the agenda bring the subject up for discussion in minutes of the meeting. It is beyond my understanding that an insurance provider and the State Fire Inspectors and the Courts can drag their feet so long.

Have a look at the fire damage in Meredith on Dover Street: No more than four days after the fire they are in their performing the inspection & clean-up process.

no-engine · 05-05-2012, 10:44 AM

Laconia Daily Sun http://www.laconiadailysun.com/

Headline: petition being signed! Bravo, Bravo, Bravo, Bravo!!!!!!

I'd gladly sign, but I vote in an abutting Town, not Laconia.
Seriously, if Lakes Region voters and/or interested parties can be included, I will seek out one of the petitions.

In any case, I wish a successful conclusion to the leaders of the petition.

Contractor for roundabout has equipment on this site; let them tear it down as they wind down for summer season's traffic, the time I read they plan to put their work on hold!

Cell phone picture from a friend in January....

Sunset View · 05-05-2012, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by no-engine

Laconia Daily Sun http://www.laconiadailysun.com/

Headline: petition being signed! Bravo, Bravo, Bravo, Bravo!!!!!!

I'd gladly sign, but I vote in an abutting Town, not Laconia.
Seriously, if Lakes Region voters and/or interested parties can be included, I will seek out one of the petitions.

In any case, I wish a successful conclusion to the leaders of the petition.

Contractor for roundabout has equipment on this site; let them tear it down as they wind down for summer season's traffic, the time I read they plan to put their work on hold!

Cell phone picture from a friend in January....

Thank you John Ganong and Don Thurston!!!!! I remember Don Thurston often saying " I'm just trying to make a living" what a challenge that must be with that eyesore so close in proximity to the business Don's father built so long ago.............times have changed for sure!

After reading the Laconia Daily Sun article I can't help but feel the Baldi family could care less about the Weirs, its neighbors, the season, or the many thousands of tourists that call the Lakes Region one of the most beautiful places on earth. The poor image they have created while ignoring the well being of their fellow buisness people says enough for me. Time to not only sign the petition but also to send a loud message to the Baldis by never frequenting their other businesses.

Finally, the article that purports the council members are intimidated says enough for me. Vote them all out next election!!! Let's all get behind the tear down of this eyesore and return the entry to the Lakes Region to its beauty. Again, many thanks to John Ganong and Don Thurston for having the courage and the spine to not only speak out but to challenge the status-quo!

jtb9212 · 05-06-2012, 06:05 AM

You should read this. It’s a transcript of the Baldi's bankruptcy. It just goes to show you their mentality. These people only care about themselves and will skirt the rules any way they can to satisfy their own selfish needs.

They don't care about the area or anyone else but themselves.

ChocolateGypsy · 04-12-2012, 03:41 AM

Bike week was never a "family" event. And like I said, it's only one week that people who find it annoying have to put up with it. (Not like the traffic in Meredith *all* summer long!) I had always thought of it as sort of "Spring Break for Antichrists." Until I went a few times recently and found myself thinking: "Man, this is lame... the only thing to do is walk around and shop. Where's the party?? I'm not gettin' any younger y'know?"

Unfortunately, like what's happened to Spring Break in Fort Lauderdale, I believe trying to tame the event has driven the crowds elsewhere. It used to be a week where wild, crazy, sh*t happened -- folks went home and told their friends about it: "We were THERE! We SURVIVED!" And everyone wants to go next year!!!

Come to think of it, if the bike gangs want to beat the cr*p out of each other it would be good publicity (we got a lot of mileage off the 60s riots!

) Maybe they could tear down that building for us...? We could set up a beer tent... blast ZZ Top from the Drive-In... and the building would be gone by morning!!

(you know I'm joking, right?)

onthebay · 04-13-2012, 01:04 PM

Unfortunately I don't see a change in the Weir's until some outside money comes in and changes things on a grand scale similar to the transformation of Merideth. Looking at what those old mills have been turned into (and not overnight) is pretty fascinating.
We opened up our store on the Pier in 2008 with great promise and high hopes trying to create a fun retail experience that seemed to be missing. The first year we did great numbers even though everyone else was crying they were down 30% from the previous year and had their worst year in 30 years. Figured if business was that good when everyone else was down then things could only get better the next year. Well the next year everyone said they were down 30% and this time we were too. Had to figure the next would be better but the same story. Finally called it quits after this season. I believe Kevins on the Pier did the same.
Each and every year less and less people came. Not just to our store but to the Weirs. We had bad weather, high gas prices, the storm that knocked out the train tracks and the dockage, Ecoli that shut down the beaches, everyone had a theory. This was at the same time that everyone down the Cape was talking about how great things were. Staycations and short trips were in. It looked like they were going everywhere but the Weir's.

04-11-2012, 01:36 PM	#1
Woodsy Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Weirs Beach Posts: 1,966 Thanks: 80 Thanked 980 Times in 440 Posts	To start, with all due respect to the Baldi family and their right to due process… be a good neighbor and tear down that ugly eyesore! To the Laconia City manager and mayor… WTH! If that building was located in downtown Laconia we would not have this issue! The building would have been razed a year ago! The intrinsic dynamic of the Weirs has changed radically in the last 10-12 years. There used to be a lot of small mom & pop motels that people spent their vacation week in. This provided a large turnover of people on weekly basis for the Weirs attractions and kept them busy. In the last real estate boom those mom & pop motels all but disappeared… turned into condos. This process virtually eliminated 60% - 70% of the revenue stream to the Weirs attractions. Condominium owners are more likely to patronize the attractions 2-3 times a season vs. a new bunch of people staying at the local motels every week. It has always been difficult for any business to make a year’s salary in the short 3-4 month summer season here in the Weirs. Couple that with a down economy and you can really understand the struggle business owners have. Unfortunately I don’t think this can be corrected. The damage is done. The City of Laconia and local business owners need to adapt to this unfortunate outcome and think of NEW ways to attract visitors to the Weirs. Of the 3 biggest towns on the lake, Wolfeboro has always been quiet and rather upscale, Meredith was transformed to upscale, and unfortunately the Weirs has remained somewhat stagnant. This needs to be reversed. What the Weirs needs is better planning and leadership… The Weirs needs a makeover that sticks to its honky-tonk roots! The Weirs has always been the honky-tonk spot on the lake! This should be embraced not discouraged! Bike Week should be EMBRACED! Years of heavy handed police presence coupled with economic discouragement by Laconia City Hall have diminished the attendance of Bike Week. Other communities throughout the state such as Meredith, Rochester & North Conway have jumped on the Bike Week bandwagon looking to cash in on what the City of Laconia doesn’t seem to want. This all has an effect on attendance. I think in order to make the Weirs a destination again there needs to be some radical shift in thinking. I would recommend the Weirs become a designated resort area… loosen the rules a little! Look at Key West for inspiration!! Awesome restaurants… Cool bars with great entertainment, funky shops. Clean the area up. Tear down that stupid eyesore. Let people enjoy themselves a little. Maintain a police presence but discreetly (think undercover cops). No need for 3 cruisers and 2 bicycle cops hanging out waiting for something, anything to happen! Let people drink along the boardwalk and enjoy the lake (plastic containers). Allow outside music in the summer up until 12:00. Encourage people to visit. Adjust the rules so that people WANT to VISIT! Adjust the rules so that people WANT to open NEW businesses! Make the Weirs friendly and people will visit… Woodsy __________________ The only way to eliminate ignorant behavior is through education. You can't fix stupid.

04-11-2012, 06:42 PM	#9
Woodsy Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Weirs Beach Posts: 1,966 Thanks: 80 Thanked 980 Times in 440 Posts	Birchhaven... That property you mentioned was originally a restaurant that went out of business (Karl's) and later burned. The property owner did the right thing and tore down the building. The owner of the property has since used it for Bike Week parking. I seriously doubt that 9 days of Bike Week parking covered the taxes on the property. Meanwhile, they found a buyer for the property (rumoured to be Irving Oil) who was going to transform the property into some sort of gas station/drive thru, contingent on approval from the city. The city was onboard but wanted the property developer to pay the COST of the now being built rotary. That KILLED the project dead. Just another example of how the City of Laconia thinks.... I suspect with the rotary being built and paid for by the city & state this vacant property will be more "buildable" now. No doubt we will see something there fairly soon. Belmont Resident... I agree that NH as a whole needs to create jobs and attract families. The Weirs IS a tourist/resort area, no different than Gunstock or Cannon or Sunapee. I think its in the best interest of the area and the state to attract tourists in any manner possible. Unfortunately, the Weirs is primarily a summer destination. There are some fall/winter activities but it is VERY weather dependent. This year there was no snow so there was no snowmobile business at all and the ski tourist business was off as well. Woodsy __________________ The only way to eliminate ignorant behavior is through education. You can't fix stupid.

04-11-2012, 09:54 PM	#12
Woodsy Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Weirs Beach Posts: 1,966 Thanks: 80 Thanked 980 Times in 440 Posts	TiltonBB The city would have allowed the construction of the gas station. They would have demanded the same triple redundancy as Cumby's up the hill. I believe the drive thru and the roundabout construction was the sticking point for developer. Woodsy __________________ The only way to eliminate ignorant behavior is through education. You can't fix stupid.

04-25-2012, 05:11 PM	#14
no-engine Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: West side Winnipesaukee, Lakes Region Posts: 516 Thanks: 20 Thanked 52 Times in 40 Posts	Wide Open Saloon The condition is absolutely ludicrous. Saw today, the Meredith Dover Street 2.5 story building that had serious fire over the weekend, what looked like inspectors with Fire Department protective gear, seriously looking at the second floor back deck! Speculate looking for cause of fire. Also, People NOT dressed like that removing personal items from first floor. Two large trash containers filling with bags of stuff. What is wrong with owners at Weirs building? Fours days in Meredith and work is being done! Come on Baldi family, move on!!!! WE JUST CAN NOT UNDERSTAND. We hope owners of adjacent properties get together and force city of Laconia to proceed with demolition and a property lien!

05-01-2012, 12:51 PM	#16
Winnisquamguy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Winnisquam, NH Posts: 613 Thanks: 419 Thanked 163 Times in 115 Posts	From Their Facebook Page Looks like things are finally starting to come together. It has been a long road with not much support from the community. My love goes out to all you supports who have been there for me and my family, and understand the depths of how complicated this has all been. I know I still have a while before I reach the top of giant hill, and for all you local nasty's......well I belive in karma. I have not lost my fight or my strength, so I will continue on and remain hopeful. __________________ "I'd rather be ridin than rolling"

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04-11-2012, 04:24 PM	#6
Bear247 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Natick Ma. Posts: 110 Thanks: 149 Thanked 20 Times in 15 Posts	I like your thinking man...

04-11-2012, 04:48 PM	#7
birchhaven Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 132 Thanks: 14 Thanked 54 Times in 30 Posts	I agree with the condos changing the biz model, and I agree a new line of thinking is required and it needs to be radical, but it is easy to say and another thing to get an investor to do, with the current dynamic. Another example is where the rotary is being built, (I am going to pick on this property for a second but it applies to all) there is the vacant parking lot that has been sitting there forever, the owner has no urgency to invest or sell the property since he makes money from bike week. No bike week... he would have sold to someone who is willing to invest in the property in some fashion that makes money year round or at least all summer, this creates local jobs, increases the population, and in-turn further drives jobs creation. All while creating a valuable tax base for laconia rather than a vacant lot, this added tax base they could use to fix the current laconia school problem, again helping draw in full time residence, etc, etc. I disagree with anything that promotes land owners to not invest in their property (leave it a parking lot) so they can make money. So it is great to say all these things about changing the rules etc, but if the current land owners have no reason to change they won't. Sorry if make no sense I am much more articulate in person.

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04-11-2012, 08:22 PM	#10
no-engine Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: West side Winnipesaukee, Lakes Region Posts: 516 Thanks: 20 Thanked 52 Times in 40 Posts	Thanks for the Karl's site story, which I had forgotten. Let me add about the Lobster Pound site, especially up hill portion. It goes unused and ugly all year, till a week before bike week when tent set up starts. When all set ups are done, I am so discouraged, since it's impossible to see that a restaurant exists!!! The Lobster Pound sign is totally obstructed! I tried to communicate that observation to the business via their website, to no avail two years ago. The entire area looks like it could pass for a municipal transfer station (formerly referred to as the dump): this trash goes here and that used item goes over there, all waiting for recycling by third party businesses. The site is deplorable from the street! It's not inviting at all. In Meredith, the Hart's and Harley dealer property still maintain their identity. I think it will be difficult to design a business on the roundabout edge; I can't imagine planners approving new accesses directly to the roundabout, BUT I like the thinking in some recent posts. We can wait and see, if some group will reveal creativity in design, of which I am not. I hope the open site downhill from Cumberland's will not become another tent/vendor city, or a mobile home/RV park, or a storage unit rental site. Maybe we'll see something attractive and useful year round. One personal 2¢.

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05-01-2012, 01:22 PM	#18
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	Wow! Poor me, not much support from the local nastys. What? I'm not a local but I do agree with one of the statements. Karma. Hope it bites the right hand. __________________ SIKSUKR

05-05-2012, 10:44 AM	#22
no-engine Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: West side Winnipesaukee, Lakes Region Posts: 516 Thanks: 20 Thanked 52 Times in 40 Posts	Saturday 5th May Laconia Daily Sun http://www.laconiadailysun.com/ Headline: petition being signed! Bravo, Bravo, Bravo, Bravo!!!!!! I'd gladly sign, but I vote in an abutting Town, not Laconia. Seriously, if Lakes Region voters and/or interested parties can be included, I will seek out one of the petitions. In any case, I wish a successful conclusion to the leaders of the petition. Contractor for roundabout has equipment on this site; let them tear it down as they wind down for summer season's traffic, the time I read they plan to put their work on hold! Cell phone picture from a friend in January.... Attached Images Last edited by no-engine; 05-05-2012 at 11:43 AM.

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04-12-2012, 03:41 AM	#25
ChocolateGypsy Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: on the road again...! Posts: 74 Thanks: 32 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Bike week was never a "family" event. And like I said, it's only one week that people who find it annoying have to put up with it. (Not like the traffic in Meredith all summer long!) I had always thought of it as sort of "Spring Break for Antichrists." Until I went a few times recently and found myself thinking: "Man, this is lame... the only thing to do is walk around and shop. Where's the party?? I'm not gettin' any younger y'know?" Unfortunately, like what's happened to Spring Break in Fort Lauderdale, I believe trying to tame the event has driven the crowds elsewhere. It used to be a week where wild, crazy, sht happened -- folks went home and told their friends about it: "We were THERE! We SURVIVED!" And everyone wants to go next year!!! Come to think of it, if the bike gangs want to beat the crp out of each other it would be good publicity (we got a lot of mileage off the 60s riots! ) Maybe they could tear down that building for us...? We could set up a beer tent... blast ZZ Top from the Drive-In... and the building would be gone by morning!! (you know I'm joking, right?) __________________ ************************* Just droppin' in for a bite.

04-13-2012, 01:04 PM	#26
onthebay Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 114 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Where is Everybody Unfortunately I don't see a change in the Weir's until some outside money comes in and changes things on a grand scale similar to the transformation of Merideth. Looking at what those old mills have been turned into (and not overnight) is pretty fascinating. We opened up our store on the Pier in 2008 with great promise and high hopes trying to create a fun retail experience that seemed to be missing. The first year we did great numbers even though everyone else was crying they were down 30% from the previous year and had their worst year in 30 years. Figured if business was that good when everyone else was down then things could only get better the next year. Well the next year everyone said they were down 30% and this time we were too. Had to figure the next would be better but the same story. Finally called it quits after this season. I believe Kevins on the Pier did the same. Each and every year less and less people came. Not just to our store but to the Weirs. We had bad weather, high gas prices, the storm that knocked out the train tracks and the dockage, Ecoli that shut down the beaches, everyone had a theory. This was at the same time that everyone down the Cape was talking about how great things were. Staycations and short trips were in. It looked like they were going everywhere but the Weir's.