Council exploring bringing bandstand back to the Weirs

LACONIA — A bandstand could soon return to the boardwalk at the Weirs.

From the 1920s and until the 1950s, a bandstand connected to the boardwalk by a footbridge from Irwin’s Winnipesaukee Gardens hosted public music in the Weirs. From the 1950s until the late 1980s, a rooftop bandstand existed atop the train station. 

Members of the Weirs Beach Tax Increment Financing District want to bring it back. Their initial suggestion is to construct one along the boardwalk, but councilors opted Monday night to consider other options, too.

Representatives of Weirs TIF requested approval to solicit requests for proposal for the project. They were looking to have an engineering review done, which would gauge the feasibility of the project, to have a design of a bandstand and supporting structures drawn up, and proposals for the final construction of it all. 

“This came to me after a Weirs TIF District meeting," through Planning Director Rob Mora, City Manager Kirk Beattie said. “They were originally looking for money from TIF to put up a bandstand on the boardwalk. If you face the [M/S] Mount Washington ramp that goes down to the boat, it would be on the left-hand side just before you go down, which is on city property.”

The original request was for monies to fund the project, Beattie said, but without any engineering plans, he wasn’t comfortable with the idea. 

“So what I did present to you, for your discussion, is to put out an RFP so we can actually see what would be entailed in doing that, if you choose to do so, without having to put any money into the project to begin with,” Beattie said.

Councilors elected instead to refer the matter to the council’s subcommittee on land and buildings, after Ward 1 Councilor Bruce Cheney wondered if it would be possible to construct a bandstand atop the train station, as existed in the past. 

“Is there any chance we can, with the study, look at other things like the roof of the railroad station, which is where it used to be?” Cheney asked.

“I think there’s several options on the table, there’s some options out there,” Mora said. “It depends on the will of the board.”

One potential hangup is the city doesn’t own the railroad station. They’d have to engage in a lease agreement or partnership in order to make that happen.

A potential call for proposals likely wouldn’t be ready for a few months anyways, Beattie said. 

“What I just didn’t want to bring forward to you was the request for a dollar-figure without doing all the legwork, like we would do any other project that we bring forward,” Beattie said. 

“I’d like to know if there are options,” Cheney said. “I guess that’s where I’m at.” 

And councilors approved a request from the WOW Trail organization to manage an auction of bicycles in conjunction with the Laconia Police Department. 

Police have received found and unclaimed bicycles from around the city. They’re generally sent to White Farm in Concord and either sold or auctioned off, bringing a meager sum back to the city. But that hasn’t happened in several years. 

The proceeds from the WOW Trail auction will support the maintenance and upkeep of the trail. 

“PD collects a number of bikes over, I was going to say a year, but when I talked to [Chief Matt Canfield], I’m not sure they remember the last time they disposed of them,” Beattie said, noting the department has around 100 bicycles in their possession presently.

Ward 6 Councilor Tony Felch said they’ll likely clean the bikes up to make them look good before an auction takes place. 

“Having had experience with this, giving them these bikes is a great idea, rather than sending it to the state auction,” Cheney said. “I totally support this.”