Demolition in Meredith...
 

It appears the old laundromat on Rt. 3, just north of the lights on the left, was demolished today, as, I may be a little early on this, but the old ugly building at the northeast corner at the lights...The site of Zacky's Pizza, Ace Hardware, Lakeside Diner (?) and A&P Market also, appears to be being demolished.

I have always wondered when that building with the previous Zacky's Pizza, etc. would get demolished. That's a prime time location...….

For the years they were there....
 

I think Zacky's sold one pizza to one of this Forum members...And probably no one else.

Always thought it was a money laundry.

Butt-Ugly Eyesore
 

Drove past there on Sunday with my wife and we, as usual, asked ourselves rhetorically when someone was going to take that butt-ugly building down. I did comment that it looked like someone was finally doing something there - getting ready for something. I guess the thought that someone was finally going to demo it was such a pipe dream to me that I never even thought to suggest it.

Someone on this forum has to have the scoop on what comes next. Even an empty lot would be a welcome respite from that building - though that would grow old quick too. Anyone know who controls the site?

North of that intersection the area is a dump, hopefully this is a sign of better things to come.

You're right and it's been like that for decades. It is like two different towns.

I bought one. Just one.

Rumor is...
 

Public parking at the site of the laundromat and an apartment building at Zacky's...Better than what's there now, but not exciting for a town that could have done something more exciting.

The new DPW building will be more exciting than this.

That one sale...
 

Kept them in business for many years.

As long as the new appartment building blends in with the rest of the area, has curb appeal with nice landscaping for both the apartments and the parking lot, it will greatly improve the immediate area north of that intersection. Maybe put up a white fence on both sides, to help incorporate it with the rest of the area.

The problem with Meredith...
 

Is Rt. 3 takes you away from the Main St., and that's where Meredith's souls is.

Interlakes Dairy Bar...
 

I think that was the name of the place where Zaccky's was.

Someone on this Forum was a "waitress" (waitor) then.

My father took me there for breakfast when he came up to work on the build.

Back in the 50s and early 60s I remember it being Interlakes Dairy Bar. (I know, I'm showing my age). Went there with family for their "Sissy Splits" and "Awful, Awful".

Interlakes Diary
 

Was owned by Jack Weeks, one of the Weeks brothers who owned Weeks diary in Laconia. Their ice cream was the best! It had a buttermilk base making it wicked smooth and creamy. All the ingredients were natural, not artificial.
I should know, my dad made the ice cream back in the late '50s. He even made ice cream for Jack Sawyer, the original owner of Sawyer's Diary. Until the sons took over he uses my dad's recipes.

Went to a street dance at the A&P when I was a teen and spent many hours at the laundromat, as our camp didn’t have a washer and dryer. The Meredith of today is SO different from the Meredith I knew!


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Can confirm the plan for the former site of the laundromat is a public parking lot.

Meredith is in need for a high-quality apartment building to cater to young professionals in the area. That intersection probably isn't the ideal spot for it, but the demand will certainly be there for units if that is in fact the plan.

Have they shelved any further changes... roundabout, etc?

HUGE demand, add in Gilford as well - there is zero available to rent in the higher end range because there is zero higher end rental housing at all.
The one 2 unit building they built next to Meredith Station is a great example of whats needed en masse.

“Cater to young professionals”. Why? Where are the jobs or services that attract them? Traffic is terrible enough and you want to add commuters to it. Can see year round retail and lodging space for the area. Many other lots in the town and surrounding towns that would support the housing you are looking for and a lot cheaper to build


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Bank, Restaurant, and Apartments
 

It has been sometime but I heard that a bank owns the property and plans to make a three-story building with the bottom floor being a bank, have a middle floor hosting a local chain restaurant, and the top floor being residential.

Once again it’s been some time since I heard that rumor.

How do u do a chain restaurant in a middle floor?

I'm not sure, but under the ADA requirements the building will require an elevator.

My wife and I are in our 30s and purchased a home in downtown Meredith about 10 years ago. We love it because of its "walk-ability" and abundant restaurant and shopping options. Which is the same reason why other young professionals would love to live downtown. Traffic is always going to be there in-season - it's a side-effect of living in such a beautiful downtown. We park the cars in the driveway on Friday evening and oftentimes don't move them again until our Monday morning commute. More retail and lodging space would also bring more traffic. Within 10 miles of downtown Meredith you've got the main offices of BankNH and MVSB, FSB and Northway branches, Cru-Con Cruise, dozens of insurance and lawyers offices, a handful of burgeoning, youthful real estate operations, LRGH and Speare, etc. There are plenty of young professionals willing to pay $2,000+/month to live in a modern apartment building across the street from Meredith Bay.

We need more young people moving into NH. I believe I read that NH had the oldest average residential age of all 50 states. You bring demands for change and the old crusty guard doesn't like change. I wish I had moved up here in my 30's but then I would be one of those crusty old residents now that resist change.

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Why must they be young people that move into the area? A beautiful over 55 community would work well. Won’t tax the town resources and bring in needed tax dollars and businesses revenue.


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This right here is exactly the problem with small town NH. Other peoples opinions on the looks of the new owners property. How about letting the new owner decide?

What is the curb appeal of a parking lot? And now some want that parking lot to have beautiful landscaping? Maybe the taxpayers should drop $100K specific for that purpose, I bet no one would care if that were the case.

Winnisquamz,

Why would a 55 and over senior community utilize less town resources than young professionals?

Ah, but haven't a lot of old guard Granite staters moaned and gnashed their teeth over the liberal trend in the state, coming in from points south?

I wouldn't choose to live in one but they do use less resourses.
Seniors don't have kids in school.
Most have retirement income and are not on welfare or needing other benefits
They do not commit many crimes so they aren't a draw on police,courts and prison systems.
They generate much less household garbage compared to younger families
with the possible exception of wine bottles.

Another Exception
 

Pampers. :laugh:

No children in the school system.

Operating a public school system represents a huge percentage of every towns budget. The current budget for the Inter-Lakes schools is over $27 million. The state budget allocates 22% for education.

Yes, they have.

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I remember my Mom and her systems did the laundry there before Center Harbor had a laundromat, and do their shopping at the A&P. Centuries ago [emoji79]


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Yes. And as a Belknap College student, I had to hitchhike into Meredith to do my laundry like all the other students did.

Good point on the schools. I was thinking more EMT calls for this over 55.

Do people under 55 not pay taxes or support local businesses? I guess I've been doing it wrong.

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Were you wearing bell bottoms?

Was that your phones number I saw on the wall when we renovated the Coe House ? ( Former Belknap College dorm)

Yes, I’m sure I was.

We had one payphone in Coe House. Lol. Talk about going back in time!

More progress
 

The old Aubuchon building in Meredith is coming down today.

Clap clap clapping


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Must have hit that thanks button by “fat finger”! no offense and nothing wrong with your post!

A town ordnance/zoning, can in fact require such landscaping with new developments and yup that includes parking lots. I don't live in Meredith, so I have no idea what there zoning or ordnances require for new developments. So all opinions aside, yes a new owner can be forced if they redevelop the property.

BTW, has anyone noticed the nice new paving on Route 25 from Meredith heading toward Holderness?

Rt25 does not go to Holderness. I suspect you meant Rt3?

Actually, Route 25 is concurrent with Route 3 from Meredith to Plymouth. Route 25 goes all the way across NH from Vermont to Maine, concurrent with other roads at some points.

OK, my bad. Thanks for the correction !

Much more better... :D

Couldn't open that......maybe it's just me

Blast from the past.
 

And a lot of the COE girls use to work at Hart's restaurant!
While at BC I had a car and worked at Star Market in Gilford.

What was it before...?
 

Reading all the info on demolition in Meredith I was wondering what was the market that was were Hannafords is now? A number of summers we vacationed on the North side on Wagon Wheel Trail. Went to the "old market" and the butcher always hand cut some great steaks for me. I remember he was a big pleasant man with a Scottish look about him. I would describe the thickness by using my knuckles and he would smile and say"you want a two scotcher". Dewars OTR and then flip, after 2nd Dewars was gone steak would be done!!
He always remembered me for the next 3 years we would be there. Love the Lake!

October Farms was the market and Lee Nash was the butcher. I believe he is now the butcher at Vista Foods in Laconia. Great guy. Talented butcher.

History
 

Wow, I did not know the history of that site. That's is very cool.

Likewise, I drive by it and look at it as a golden location for the right businesses.... The last thing I was thinking was a parking lot. I know the building was for sale for so long, but it clearly needed a lot of work and I guess nobody wanted to take it on...

Any updates on what's going in there or are there just rumors? :confused:

As I have said before

That's too prime a spot for just a parking lot. I hope it's retail and residential.

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Why so sour? I don’t see anything overly negative in this thread. I imagine you’re the guy with the rusted old school bus permanently parked in your front yard.

Brings up a good question, what is the direction Meredith is headed. Property value not on the water appears to be low, however taxes are high. Many empty storefronts in the downtown area. But, town spending on infrastructure over the past few years is there. Just can’t get a feel for it


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And don't forget the companies right off of Parade Road in Laconia - NH Ball Bearing (aerospace), Titelfex (aero again), Aavid/Boyd, Viant (med device) to name only a few - all in O'Shea Industrial Park on Lexington. And a 15 or so minute drive from downtown Meredith. There are also machine shops and assorted other smaller companies in the area nobody hears of. I can tell you that the larger companies I mentioned above relocate people from all over the country and employ engineers, machinists, operations at all levels, quality, supply chain and more. With the boomers retiring there is a definite need for younger workers to fill the vacancies. And the four larger companies I mentioned above are all essential so stayed open that last few months. And Laconia housing is tight, as well, so a need is certainly out there.

Since this subject first came up I have asked a few young professionals (5) and they all said the same thing. Would be nice, but if we wanted the “city living” Nashua, Manchester, Portsmouth would be the choice. One reason they chose the lakes area was to get away outside of work, not live in an apartment building.


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Got it...thanks

I worked at the Hi There Cafe and the Beef and Bay in Moultonborough. There were a lot of college girls that worked there as well. Anyone remember those two places?

can't believe there is no photos here yet
hint hint wink wink

beef and bay was about where the real estate office is now in moultonboro, just over the CH line

Hi There is Artie's

And they want to come home to a nice place. Not a cookie cutter apartment type building, but something nice. There is nothing nice right now. Put an 8 unit building in there with upscale units (like the 40x units they just got approval for in Laconia) and they'd be rented in a flash for 2-3k a month.

2 to 3k a month to live downtown Meredith. Dam, time to invest in local condos.


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My son is about to fly- there are no decent 2 BRs, not nice, decent for 1200/mo!!

I remember the Cafe'. I also remember visiting classmates that use to live in the cottages where Bobhouse is. I also remember attending a party in the Carriage House at Kona Farm. Joe Droukas was playing! Those were fun times!

More Pictures
 

I know some were posted earlier- but a few more for curious folk.

Taken a few days ago. Photo Credit to DonMac

So, one more time for this remedial reader, what will be the new use for this parcel?

The land was cleared to stimulate conversation on the Winnipesaukee forum about what it could be used for. :D

Here's what they are talking about doing in Meredith.

New Meredith construction

When you go to the article the initial picture shows the construction equipment clearing the corner. Go to the second picture to see what is planned.

I'd say that's a slight improvement no matter what they put in there.

The plan is for residential, some businesses and perhaps a restaurant...Like maybe a pizza place...Call it Zacky's.