Akwa Soleil rumors

Bedford real estate developer Richard Mailloux, the man behind Akwa Soleil complex at The Weirs, has flatly denied suggestions that work at Akwa Vista, a 171 lot residential community which represents the first phase of "New England's premier gated community", has stalled for want of funds. Last weekend Norm Dutile, one of three members of the Water Commission, told at least two City Councilors that the project was bankrupt.

"The claims from Mr. Dutile that Akwa Soleil is in bankruptcy are unequivocally false," Mailloux said in a prepared statement.

This is not the first time the two men have crossed swords. In January 2005, when the City Council and Water Commission met in a non-pubic meeting to settle a dispute between Mailloux and the Laconia Water Works (LWW), Dutile reportedly remarked that there would be no problem if City Manager Eileen Cabanel were no so — in politically-correct terms — cozy with Mailloux. Alluding to that remark, Mailloux continued that "with Mr. Dutile's reputation for making continued false statements about Akwa Soleil and myself, I hope that in the future he will verify the facts prior to making public statements."

Asked why he believed Akwa Soleil was bankrupt, Dutile said during an interview yesterday only "that's the rumor," adding that he was "not at liberty to say" from whom he heard it". "I have no idea whether it's true or not," he remarked, but said he thought the councilors should be told.

Councilor Brenda Baer (Ward 4) was somewhat puzzled to receive Dutile's call. "He called and asked me 'have you heard?'" he said. "I said 'heard what?' He said 'Akwa Soleil. It's gone under.' I told him if it was true, it would be very upsetting," Baer recalled. She said that she immediately tried to reach City Manager Eileen Cabanel.

Councilor Bob Hamel (Ward 5) confirmed yesterday that he had received a similar call from Dutile.

Mailloux insisted that the project "continues to move forward." The Akwa Soleil website indicates that 18 lots have been sold. "We've put the foundation in for a new gate house and have broken ground on two $1-million plus homes," Mailloux said, adding that frost had slowed the pace of construction during the winter.

Mailloux recently retained Southworth Development, LLC of Newton, Massachusetts, a firm that develops and markets gated communities and golf courses, to manage public relations for Akwa Soleil. Akwa Soleil consists of Akwa Vista (on Brickyard Mountain) together with Akwa Marina, the development of which has been slowed by litigation, and Akwa Verdant, a residential community and 18-hole golf course on 231 acres on the south side of Route 3 opposite Akwa Vista.