Townhomes next to Meredith McDonalds

[RockHopper]

Nice to see new housing.... but the cheapest ones starting at $729K to smell French fries all day is wild.

[John Mercier]

Might as well start high.

[WinnisquamZ]

Traffic and fries. Pass


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[8gv]

There are several projects underway that leave me wondering...

Will the music stop on the lakes region real estate boom and leave some unfinished residences and very unhappy developers?

Everything sells when everything is selling.

Even the most, um, "unconventional" locations such as Union Ave. in Laconia will sell in some market conditions but I believe these would be the first to stop selling.

Perhaps the project neighboring McD's will provide "workforce housing".

[fatlazyless]

That Meredith McDonald's has become whopping expensive. Used to be a hamburg and fries on their dollar menu with a free cup of water cost about $2.18.

Now, what does it cost? Have not been in there in about four years?

Plus, it is no longer a cafeteria. It has become essentially a walk-in vending machine, with the inside seating area purposely designed to make you want to get out, asap-pdq, with uncomfortable chairs, ugly wall decorations, and rude McDonald employees. It used to be totally super-duper but unfortunately has become totally ugly, inside and outside.

Thankfully, the Meredith Hannaford is undergoing a six month remodel to increase their ready-to-eat, prepared food area making it more similar to Market Basket so it should become a much better place to go than Meredith McDonald's.

You may recall that up till the 2020-Covid pandemic the Hannaford in Meredith had a 48" spot next to bakery goods devoted to one dollar, k-cup, cup-of-coffee with about 12 different flavors. Most unfortunately, that went missing in action, left the building, never returned, and is probably gonzo forever, and just a yummy hot coffee memory, now ....... boo-hoo!

Hey there Hannaford ...... will that self-serve, one dollar coffee ever return or is it gone forever?

You know Market Basket has one-dollar coffee in a high quality M.B. paper cup!

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by 8gv

There are several projects underway that leave me wondering...

Will the music stop on the lakes region real estate boom and leave some unfinished residences and very unhappy developers?

Everything sells when everything is selling.

Even the most, um, "unconventional" locations such as Union Ave. in Laconia will sell in some market conditions but I believe these would be the first to stop selling.

Perhaps the project neighboring McD's will provide "workforce housing".

Maybe.
They are playing the "futures".
If interest rates come down, buyers can afford a larger mortgage.
If tax rates come down, buyers can afford a higher valuation.

Some structures will be workforce housing, but probably financed by a business that needs the workforce and have that cost as part of their long term business planning.

Whenever you hear someone say that lower interest rates, tax rates, or more focus on tourism will fix "affordability"; they are either being sarcastic or really have no clue.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by 8gv

There are several projects underway that leave me wondering...

Will the music stop on the lakes region real estate boom and leave some unfinished residences and very unhappy developers?

Everything sells when everything is selling.

Even the most, um, "unconventional" locations such as Union Ave. in Laconia will sell in some market conditions but I believe these would be the first to stop selling.

Perhaps the project neighboring McD's will provide "workforce housing".

It reminds me of the 80's building boom. Everything eventually sells but some people will lose money.
All these units coming online when real estate is slowing down, is not a good sign, supply and demand will be tested.

[8gv]

In the late 80's if you had a hammer in your hand you were a carpenter.

My 1986 house in CT only lacked three things:

PLUMB

LEVEL

SQUARE

[codeman671]

What about the ones going in next to High Octane? I think I’ll choose the french fries…

[Biggd]

What's going on at the old Surf Coaster? First time in over 30 years I've seen some action there.

[John Mercier]

Maybe just cleaning it up...

The LDS would put out an article if permit requests for development got submitted.

The owners have other projects already in progress.

[ApS]

Wolfeboro got a nice location for a townhouse--right downtown.



That is, unless you're a shopper looking for a parking space...

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by Biggd

What's going on at the old Surf Coaster? First time in over 30 years I've seen some action there.

I understand that 70 plus (77?) residential condominium units with large garages in the rear are going into that property. Very preliminary information.

[tummyman]

IMHO, Weirs Beach is being destroyed with over development and ugly properties. Maybe these developers will hook up with the genius who designed the ugly condo's just up the hill on RT3 towards Meredith. That was a gorgeous lot with terrific views that now has gross ugly buildings that do not fit from an esthetics point of view. UGLY !!!! So many condo's going in and no water access. Looks to me like a bad investment for people who might buy. Overdevelopment everywhere...trying to make a big buck and then leave the mess behind. Along RT3 from Meredith to the Weirs, I bet there are 300-500 condo units being in various stages being developed. Again, just my opinion.........

[fatlazyless]

www.lookoutnh.com is surrounded by Lakeside Ave, Route 3, and the very steep Tower Street. That Laconia D.P.W. sidewalk snowplow does an excellent job clearing the snow from the very long sidewalks on Lakeside Ave and Rt 3, so three cheers for Laconia's yellow sidewalk snowplow!

Bombardier ..... www.govdeals.com/en/asset/532/7529 ...... Bombardiers never die, they just get resold, repainted bright yellow and used somewhere else!

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by tummyman

IMHO, Weirs Beach is being destroyed with over development and ugly properties. Maybe these developers will hook up with the genius who designed the ugly condo's just up the hill on RT3 towards Meredith. That was a gorgeous lot with terrific views that now has gross ugly buildings that do not fit from an esthetics point of view. UGLY !!!! So many condo's going in and no water access. Looks to me like a bad investment for people who might buy. Overdevelopment everywhere...trying to make a big buck and then leave the mess behind. Along RT3 from Meredith to the Weirs, I bet there are 300-500 condo units being in various stages being developed. Again, just my opinion.........

That is actually the result of planning board inputs and market realities.
The units at most of these places, and even the homes that I help build, seldom look or feel like the original plans.

They start of well, but fail to include planning for the project for items like snow removal/storage and actual cost of materials.

So you see bad roofs designs that are more a reaction than an original concept, the windows and siding get changed quickly to bring the costs down, etc.

[SAMIAM]

Haven’t seen evidence of any occupants in the new developments in Lakeport Square.There are some condos over the theater and several on the new Elm st building.They did a great job on the buildings but seems like the condos are not moving.Don’t know if it’s price or location.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Haven’t seen evidence of any occupants in the new developments in Lakeport Square.There are some condos over the theater and several on the new Elm st building.They did a great job on the buildings but seems like the condos are not moving.Don’t know if it’s price or location.

Sales are very slow right now, we'll see what happens in the spring.
Came up for the first time in almost a month because I sprained my ankle, very quiet this weekend.

[John Mercier]

I think the choice was to permit build them as condos because change of use from an apartment to a condo creates layers of regulations.

The condos can be leased, so in essence be either a condo or an apartment without any extra committee oversight.

Scott has plenty of money, so I am sure that he takes his time making those decisions.

But I think the initial decision is based on getting onto the public sewer before it reaches capacity and we see curbs and costs for future development.

[8gv]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Haven’t seen evidence of any occupants in the new developments in Lakeport Square.There are some condos over the theater and several on the new Elm st building.They did a great job on the buildings but seems like the condos are not moving.Don’t know if it’s price or location.

I think that the audience for living above a retail establishment is rather small.

Again... everything sells when everything is selling.

Not "Everything" is selling.

Living over retail is common in some cities but unusual here.

[Bigstan]

Originally Posted by codeman671

What about the ones going in next to High Octane? I think IÂ’ll choose the french friesÂ…

Those at least have/had a sign saying starting at 499k, so at least that's affordable to most. The fact you are at an intersection and next to a bar with live music leads to the lower cost I assume (not having seen the floor plans). Bonus points for being able to walk to Funspot or the Bin though.

The others next to Cumbies right down the road at ~ 800k are a bit crazier. The Surf Coaster units in the 700k range are a bit nuts, that new development across the street from them are just sandwiched in there (before the Go-Cart / bumper boar place), I don't care what they cost I would never live there.

The Vantage Point units across from Taco Bell only show two left for sale, yet there are rarely cars there. But they are sold...

Lakeside land is gone, those of us who bought condos or townhouses in the 80's for 150-200k got the last good deals as far as I can see.

It will have to stop eventually, look at the Laconia units across the street from Irwins on Union Ave. I don't care what those cost, who would live there? There comes a point where people with a million bucks to spend on a second home will wait for a nice second home...

[Bigstan]

Originally Posted by codeman671

What about the ones going in next to High Octane? I think IÂ’ll choose the french friesÂ…

Those at least have/had a sign saying starting at 499k, so at least that's affordable to most. The fact you are at an intersection and next to a bar with live music leads to the lower cost I assume (not having seen the floor plans). Bonus points for being able to walk to Funspot or the Bin though.

The others next to Cumbies right down the road at ~ 800k are a bit crazier. The Surf Coaster units in the 700k range are a bit nuts, that new development across the street from them are just sandwiched in there (before the Go-Card / bumber boar place), I don't care what they cost I would never live there.

The Vantage Point units across from Taco Bell only show two left for sale, yet there are rarely cars there. But they are sold...

Lakeside land is gone, those of us who bought condos or twonhouses in the 80's for 150-200k got the last good deals as far as I can see.

It will have to stop eventually, look at the Laconia units across the street from Irwins on Union Ave. I don't care what those cost, who would live there? There comes a point where people with a million bucks to spend on a second home will wait for a nice second home...

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

I understand that 70 plus (77?) residential condominium units with large garages in the rear are going into that property. Very preliminary information.

A big investment on White Oaks Road but better looking than the chicken coops up the street! The three partners who bought the 11 acres paid $3.3 million in September 2025.

[pondguy]

What's being built on that new road they put in across Rt.3 from the Weirs Times ?

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by pondguy

What's being built on that new road they put in across Rt.3 from the Weirs Times ?

I've been tempted to drive in there, looks like house lots.

[8gv]

So... with all this development, can the waste treatment system keep up?

[John Mercier]

Supposedly.
But it will reach the point that an upgrade is necessary.

So they may be just building to get in before that eventuality.

[TheProfessor]

Originally Posted by Bigstan

Those at least have/had a sign saying starting at 499k, so at least that's affordable to most.

Kind of sad. That the word affordable is associated with that price.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

Supposedly.
But it will reach the point that an upgrade is necessary.

So they may be just building to get in before that eventuality.

Ya, when people flush their toilets and the contents ends up on their floor instead of down the sewer. Or even worse, it ends up on someone else's floor down hill.

[LoveLakeLife]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

A big investment on White Oaks Road but better looking than the chicken coops up the street! The three partners who bought the 11 acres paid $3.3 million in September 2025.

Chicken coops! Most accurate description ever of those abominations.


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[map]

Originally Posted by Bigstan

Those at least have/had a sign saying starting at 499k, so at least that's affordable to most. The fact you are at an intersection and next to a bar with live music leads to the lower cost I assume (not having seen the floor plans). Bonus points for being able to walk to Funspot or the Bin though.

The others next to Cumbies right down the road at ~ 800k are a bit crazier. The Surf Coaster units in the 700k range are a bit nuts, that new development across the street from them are just sandwiched in there (before the Go-Cart / bumper boar place), I don't care what they cost I would never live there.

The Vantage Point units across from Taco Bell only show two left for sale, yet there are rarely cars there. But they are sold...

Lakeside land is gone, those of us who bought condos or townhouses in the 80's for 150-200k got the last good deals as far as I can see.

It will have to stop eventually, look at the Laconia units across the street from Irwins on Union Ave. I don't care what those cost, who would live there? There comes a point where people with a million bucks to spend on a second home will wait for a nice second home...

$500k doesn’t sound affordable to me. And at that location? Craziness.