LACONIA – Its 30 dilapidated buildings, some with environmental hazard warnings signs and some surrounded in razor wire from its use as a medium security prison remain, but a new day may have dawned for the former Laconia State School property.
With its views to Lake Opechee, its open fields and forests, adjacent to a state park and snowmobile trails, the 217 acres of the former Laconia State School property are now under agreement for the second time, to be developed as a village with both residential and commercial uses envisioned, and city officials are expressing optimism.
On Wednesday, the state’s Executive Council voted 3-0 with two councilors recusing themselves from the vote to enter into a contract to sell the tract for $10.5 million to Pillsbury Reality Development LLC, whose principle, Michael L. Kettenbach is the developer of Londonderry’s Woodmont Commons, a residential retail complex located near Interstate 93 in the southern part of the state…