Originally Posted by Reilly (Post 303956)

Offices & elevator, actually will b nice when done

Originally Posted by JPC (Post 304027)

OK, so it has the Fire House doors and a Tower. But what is the finished product going to be? :confused:

Originally Posted by AC2717 (Post 304036)

so why hasn't anyone posted photos, I have been dying to see it, but been gone since labor day haven't had a chance

Originally Posted by jetskier (Post 304047)

Right now the structure does not blend well and sticks out relative to the surroundings. I am guessing that it will fit in much better when finished...clearly look a lot more aesthetic. Anything that improves business and the physical infrastructure in the area is a good thing. We need more investment of this type.

Jetskier:cool:

Originally Posted by LongBay (Post 304078)

The original building plan looks entirely different than the final product. A typical move by a business owner who knows their actual plan will never get approved if they present it to town officials and neighbors when they are trying to get the green light on a project. What a shame the town planners approved the modified plan, they should have made Lakeport stick to the original rendition presented to the community.

Originally Posted by joey2665 (Post 304081)

That is not true at all. It looks exactly like the rendering. If the building was not being constructed according to the plans submitted the city would issue a stop work order. If you have built in the city of Laconia like I have you would agree with me.


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Originally Posted by LongBay (Post 304083)

I have also built in the city and they too matched the plans. As you can see from the picture shown above, the showroom ceiling is one story and there are only two floors not four. So someone decided to change the plans along the way and then someone decided to approve the modified plans and then someone decided not to submit the modified plans to someone who would let the community know there is a change in plan. Odd that there was no story run in any of the newspapers showing the modified plans hence why there are a lot of folks saying WTF.

Originally Posted by LongBay (Post 304083)

I have also built in the city and they too matched the plans. As you can see from the picture shown above, the showroom ceiling is one story and there are only two floors not four. So someone decided to change the plans along the way and then someone decided to approve the modified plans and then someone decided not to submit the modified plans to someone who would let the community know there is a change in plan. Odd that there was no story run in any of the newspapers showing the modified plans hence why there are a lot of folks saying WTF.

Originally Posted by LongBay (Post 304078)

The original building plan looks entirely different than the final product. A typical move by a business owner who knows their actual plan will never get approved if they present it to town officials and neighbors when they are trying to get the green light on a project. What a shame the town planners approved the modified plan, they should have made Lakeport stick to the original rendition presented to the community.

Originally Posted by fatlazyless (Post 304299)

New marina building blocks traditional Lakeport views

To the Daily Sun,

Numerous people have come to us to express their shock and dismay at the structure being constructed at Lakeport Landing around the old Lakeport fire station. They complain that it destroys the character of the area, blocks the view of the Lakeport Baptist Church as one travels north on Union Avenue and the view of Opechee as one travels south.

As members of the Heritage Commission, we have no authority to effect policy or oppose planning decisions. It is our mission to advise, to preserve the fabric and character of neighborhoods and structures that the people of Laconia cherish.

The minutes of the Planning Board and the City Council document the chronology of events and decisions that led to this point. In October of 2017 a preliminary design, printed in the Laconia Daily Sun and described as a "one - story structure," was approved by the Planning Board but dependent on the resolution of certain contentious issues between Ms Erica Blizzard, owner of Lakeport Landing and the city of Laconia. In October 2018 a second design, described by the Sun as a "two-story structure," was approved by the City Council. At neither meeting did any member of the public express disapproval or opposition. So why are we surprised by the result?

Rick Green, reporter for the Daily Sun said he believed that what is being built was the design submitted, but he also admitted that it was difficult to read the scale in the drawing. This is the crux of the problem. One has to look closely to see any reference to scale - there are no human figures or cars in the scene - but if one studies the details, one can see that each story is actually two stories high, resulting in a four - story building. The white rear upper part is pierced by windows that echo those of the Opera House across the street - a deliberate architectual quotation. This is a charming evocation of the history of Lakeport, but it is optically deceptive. It enhances the impression that this is a two-story building the size of a house.

What can we learn from this? That we who care about the character and history of this city need to be more vigilant - and intelligently, informed so - to preserve the heritage we value.

Laconia Heritage Commission

Jane Whitehead, Mary Ellen Boudman, Dorothy Duffy, Mary Jane Hoey, Catherine Tokarz, Michael Sweet
................

Originally Posted by fatlazyless (Post 304299)

New marina building blocks traditional Lakeport views

To the Daily Sun,

Numerous people have come to us to express their shock and dismay at the structure being constructed at Lakeport Landing around the old Lakeport fire station. They complain that it destroys the character of the area, blocks the view of the Lakeport Baptist Church as one travels north on Union Avenue and the view of Opechee as one travels south.

As members of the Heritage Commission, we have no authority to effect policy or oppose planning decisions. It is our mission to advise, to preserve the fabric and character of neighborhoods and structures that the people of Laconia cherish.

The minutes of the Planning Board and the City Council document the chronology of events and decisions that led to this point. In October of 2017 a preliminary design, printed in the Laconia Daily Sun and described as a "one - story structure," was approved by the Planning Board but dependent on the resolution of certain contentious issues between Ms Erica Blizzard, owner of Lakeport Landing and the city of Laconia. In October 2018 a second design, described by the Sun as a "two-story structure," was approved by the City Council. At neither meeting did any member of the public express disapproval or opposition. So why are we surprised by the result?

Rick Green, reporter for the Daily Sun said he believed that what is being built was the design submitted, but he also admitted that it was difficult to read the scale in the drawing. This is the crux of the problem. One has to look closely to see any reference to scale - there are no human figures or cars in the scene - but if one studies the details, one can see that each story is actually two stories high, resulting in a four - story building. The white rear upper part is pierced by windows that echo those of the Opera House across the street - a deliberate architectual quotation. This is a charming evocation of the history of Lakeport, but it is optically deceptive. It enhances the impression that this is a two-story building the size of a house.

What can we learn from this? That we who care about the character and history of this city need to be more vigilant - and intelligently, informed so - to preserve the heritage we value.

Laconia Heritage Commission

Jane Whitehead, Mary Ellen Boudman, Dorothy Duffy, Mary Jane Hoey, Catherine Tokarz, Michael Sweet
................

Originally Posted by WinnisquamZ (Post 304326)

The commission has no issue with the section 8 housing and abandoned storefronts on the right or the multifamily crack houses on the left, just the local businesses owner who is investing close to two million dollars

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Originally Posted by Patofnaud (Post 304328)

Honestly, in a 2 block radius of that building the only decent businesses are 'The O/Inn at O", Fratello's, The marinas and Avery's. Everything is dead/dying/cashforgold/pawn or closed versions of the aforementioned pawn/cashforgold...

Yet folks get up in arms at the only place doing development that is not just another 'You store your crap in cheap steel building' business. *boggle* And we wonder why no one wants to develop in the area.

Originally Posted by TiltonBB (Post 305744)

The construction on the new Lakeport Landing building is moving along and it looks good. A great addition to the neighborhood.

Originally Posted by Descant (Post 305760)

Irwin made a fair bid to buy the other building; Lakeport Landing's bid was way low. That's not a squeeze. When LL needed to stay in the old building while construction continued there was some agreement made and they stayed. I don't recall all the details, but that doesn't sound like squeezing to me.

Originally Posted by TiltonBB (Post 305767)

I would have been happy to see the old fire station bulldozed. Saving that old building inside the new building accomplishes nothing and just complicates and adds expense to the process of constructing the new building. For what?

Originally Posted by TiltonBB (Post 305767)

I would have been happy to see the old fire station bulldozed. Saving that old building inside the new building accomplishes nothing and just complicates and adds expense to the process of constructing the new building. For what?

Originally Posted by joey2665 (Post 305773)

Disagree. It does not necessarily increase costs to keep the old structure. I am sure the way it has been incorporated into the new structure they ended up saving money along the way

Originally Posted by TiltonBB (Post 305775)

By the time you get through working around the existing building the old building offered several challenges that a clean slate (empty lot) would not have.

The architect had to make plans that would incorporate the old building and change everything from the structural support to every segment of the entire layout because of that building. It is different from what a regular new construction design would have required. That additional design time costs money.

Hazardous materials would have to be removed from the old building. That would include any asbestos and any oil that may have leaked from old vehicles in the building. None of the old wiring could be used because it was out of code. The old building had to be completely rewired. The old brick had to be re-pointed and stabilized so that it did not present a hazard in the new building. Any old wood in the building had to be treated for termites and other issues and that will be an ongoing expense.

HVAC plumbing required numerous re-channeling efforts to get around the blockage cause by the old building. That eliminated the opportunity for straight runs typical of most new construction. It also required that additional utility outlets for lighting, heating, and air conditioning be installed so that it would cover and circulate throughout the structure. The old building could only be improved so much and will continue to be an additional expense for years to come.

I will take a clean slate any day. It will cost less and you can design what you want without restriction.

Originally Posted by Top-Water (Post 305925)

Not that it matters that much a little history from some old news paper articles from December 1955. (New Hampshire Sunday News)

:cool: Bet you didn't know about the "Marble Floors" I didn't .... Good luck .... Lake Port Landing nice to see the area getting a make over.