Former Victorian House restaurant prepped for demolition

GILFORD — The former Victorian House restaurant is looking a little more forlorn as windows and fixtures are removed in preparation for the building’s demolition.

David Whalley plans to tear down the existing buildings on the property at 2645 Lake Shore Road and replace them with three buildings containing 54 commercial storage units.

The Victorian House has been vacant for several years and had fallen into disrepair. It has served as a variety of inns and bed-and-breakfast establishments through the years.

The property was originally developed by Robert Carr, one of Gilford’s earliest settlers, who lived there and operated an inn for travelers on their way to or from Portsmouth. Later, it was home to Stoddard Lodge and then the Christmas Tree Inn, before changing its name again, to Victorian House, which served as a restaurant.

Whalley, a trustee of APS Solo 401K Trust, which owns the property, received permission from the Gilford Planning Board last October to remove the existing buildings and replace them with the three new storage buildings. The site plan calls for garage-like condomium units, with large garage doors. The units will have white vinyl siding with black asphalt shingles on the roof.

Although the units will be individually owned, the trust will maintain the retention pond and catch basins.

Members of the nearby Mineral Springs Condominium Association asked for a buffer between the properties, and Whalley said there will be a berm and a graded area to help screen the units. The storage units will have downcast lighting to prevent glare off-site, and there will be underground electric lines.

The access from Lake Shore Road will be closed, and access to the storage units will be along a driveway from Cumberland Road.

Planning and Land Use Director John Ayer said that, because of that change, the property will have a new address, 5 Cumberland Road.

Ayer noted that the only utility at the site will be electricity. No water or sewer is proposed, nor will there be a fence or gates.

The retention pond will have an outlet pipe that flows to the north end of the lot, with a level spreader.

During a site study meeting, Carole Hall, chairman of the Conservation Commission, said there will have to be a maintenance plan for the retention pond.