CAPTION: Beacon Street West condos officially open

Eric Chinburg cuts the ribbon at Beacon Street West in Laconia before a reception at the new condominium development yesterday afternoon. Holding the banner are Ernie Millette of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, who is marketing the project and Matt Cashman, who supervised the construction for Chinburg Builders. At left is Dianne Crawshaw of Coldwell Bankers Residential Brokerage and at right is Jenn Quinlan of Chinburg Builders. Chinburg Builders hosted what the company president called "a kind of celebration" to mark the grand opening of downtown's premier residential address and welcome its first residents, some of whom are pictured behind the Beacon Street West team. With 31 of the first 48 condominium units sold and 18 occupied, the first phase of the redevelopment of the site that once housed the Laconia Car Company and the Allen-Rogers Company is nearing completion. Chinburg said that work will begin shortly on the second phase of the project, the construction of 16 condominiums in the adjacent building to the west, which is scheduled to open in a year's time. The ribbon-cutting was followed by refreshments and music, offering residents an occasion to become acquainted with their neighbors and community leaders an opportunity to tour the project. "Renaissance is too strong a word," said Warren Clement of the Laconia Main Street program, "but this project is a catalyst that brings downtown to another level."