PJS, I ride a Harley, am a professional business person and I value your point; mine was merely focused on the embarrassment that is the burned out, falling apart and accident waiting to happen WOS. I hope it can be torn down soon and a replacement of similar venue put up in its place. Honky-tonk is one thing, a structural pit is another. I don't think anyone on the forum ever said or suggested anything "Upscale", I'm with you, the offerings in Meredith are ridiculous.........that all said and I think you'd agree, the Wide Open Saloon is an eyesore and if anyone believes this burned out dump is attracting any people to the Weirs, then I too respectfully give up. I'd suggest to everyone/anyone that wants this type of eyesore in their backyard to forget fireworks at Funspot, The Weirs, Meredith, Winnisquam, Center Harbor or Alton; bring all your fireworks this July 4th to the front of the WOS, celebrate your love of filth, burned out buildings, no tresspassing signs and the hazard that this structure has become and light away with gusto.........welcome to Talledega Nights Weirs style. Ricky Bobby!!!!!!

Wide open Saloon
 

Long story short. Anything owned or managed by the Baldi family will certainly be less than par. Talk about a family that knows hows to work the system for every angle they can. I am sure that eyesore will be there for years to come for us all to look at. That group of losers can play the victim for all its worth better than anyone.

I highly doubt the city will let it sit there for "years" this I am sure of

The fire was in September 2010. It will be 2 years in 5 months.

"Miffed" neighbor boycott
 

As the manager of a local hotel, I will be advising my new and repeat customers to not spend a dime @ the Drive in or Waterslide this summer and as long as the building stands.

2 people per unit x 28 units x 14 weeks = 784 people a summer that I will not be sending there way.

Until they do whats right.

Totally in favor of your policy!!!

Where I am in Laconia for the moment, there are now several abandoned/condemned buildings that are home to various local wildlife, roaming teens and their drug dealers. One has been there for "years," the others met the same fate more recently. The only thing the city has done is to post a "condemned" notice on them.

Count your blessings in that even the squatters don't want anything to do with the building at the Weirs.

Oh boy, sounds like a dangerous area. I bet your glad they didn't let that methadone clinic to be allowed there.

The Weirs
 

Unforunately The city of Laconia has NO leadership when it comes to the Weirs. I love Weirs beach and the area but until the city has a master plan for the Weirs and the area it will languish and suffer. The Weirs needs a master plan sort of what happened with Meredith or Hampton beach, NH. Weirs needs to keep its honky Tonkin heritage!

Anyone know what's happening to the six acre parcel that fronts Route 3 that is just downhill and south of the Cumberland gas station. All the trees have been cut, the lot has been graded somewhat......and there's numerous wood stakes with orange marks all set into the untreed lot all over, so something seems like it has been planned out..........rumor was a storage rental business where you rent out garage style space.......from some old thread ......but that may or may not be the case.......what-o-what might be planned in there?

Also.......how long before something happens with the vacant, empty lot that used to be home to the Karl's Fine Food restaurant?

Most all of the storefronts in the nearby commercial mini mall that is home to the Weirs Post Office are vacant and show "For Lease" signs as well.......even a Dunkin Donuts that was in there closed up. So......Weirs Beach.......and just maybe the new Weirs roundabout will get things rolling along to some better year round businesses at the Weirs ......hopefully .....the roundabout center will get a real decorative garden that get's some regular garden care as opposed to the nearby Meredith roundabout which has a circle of low water perennials that look like so many ugly, dry, weed style plants as opposed to what can be done in a garden that gets watered.......and maintained......

Say-hey......is there any local garden volunteers out there that has a green thumb or two and some water for the new Weirs roundabout center spot that will be replacing the historic "malfunction junction" of Route 3 and 11A?

Dunkin Donuts
 

The Weirs area is difficult for property and business owners because you have to make a years income and expenses in 3 months.

I think a lot of people who vacation or spend summers in the area do not realize how deserted Weirs Beach becomes in the winter.

Did Dunkin Donuts close for good or just for the winter?

let me rephrase this....once the city takes ownership of the building/property, which they will, that building will be demolished within 2 months (due to the bid process etc). Believe it or not the city REALLY wants that building gone, but right now their hands are tied

Doesn't city, each year, need to issue permit to the Drive-in?
Or some sort of papers that say fine to open up. Place is hazardous to negotiate a car to view the screen, and/or use the facilities for movie goers!

Access right next to the burned structure, ready to collapse!

It closed for good.

dont sheet ware u eet
 

The fact that the "B" family will fight to the bloody end no matter what the impact is to the surrounding community speaks volumes about there charactor.

The area has been very good to them over the years.

on that note
 

I guess we will have to wait a few more years and see what the US Supreme Court has to say about the "literally" Wide Wide Open Saloon.

Get rid of Skee Ball and replace it with beer pong.

Are you being sarcastic? The clinic's at the hospital.

wow
 

kinda like living in Boston hu?:D:eek:

Belmont Resident
why are you pulling one of my posts from another thread, the one on the walkway form laconia center to meredith

That is a different subject. This is about the weirs boardwalk area, not residential land that the city wants to take to make a walkway/bike path.

twas a joke
 

It was just a joke. But from what I understand when the Southdown concept plan was put forth way back when, there was suppose to be a bike/walk path through the area but it was never built.
Personally I do not care either way; if it is built I would use it to ride or roller blade on.
If it doesn’t get built it won’t bother me either. Personally I would never use someone else’s property to relax on, but I do see your point.

No worries then, sometimes tough for me to read expressions over the computer

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

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!

Ya the trails a tough one
 

I've done quite a bit of work on Southdown and have met a lot of pro and con to the trail. Me I don't care either way weather it happens or not, if it is there I might use it. I'd prefer to MTN bike in the woods not the pavement.

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. :rolleye1:;):(

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.

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

R2B

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.

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

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.

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....

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!

Idiots
 

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.

FYI Yesterday's condition 5/5/12.
 

Another view. For those who have not driven around back on the drive-in's entry road. Taken by cell phone by friend and emailed to me.

It is funny since I do not know the owners I did a Google search and came across the same thing. What a joke that read was.

We Vote Number One!!
 

As we drive thru the Weirs and drive frequently around the lake...we have decided that this is the WORST eyesore in the region....BAR none!! What a shame this beautiful lake has to contend with this ugliness. We feel for the next door neighbors...we have no feelings for the owners...they have allowed this blight to continue for toooooo long! Bulldoze that place....:confused:

Ha Ha
 

And then bulldoze the owners....:D

Wide Open Saloon
 

I also find it odd that the city won't do anything to step in and tear it down themsleves. They are getting ready to write a check for $2.16 million for the Laconia Prison property. But, I guess I don't blame the city that much, I'm sure they know if the pay the expense to tear it down they will never get a dime out of the Baldi's. I think the city would have better odds at winning Power Ball than getting a dime out of the Baldi's.