Surf Coaster USA property could be next in wave of development on White Oaks

WEIRS BEACH — The property that was, for many years, home to Surf Coaster USA may soon be transformed into a large, planned community complete with a mix of housing types, access to outdoor recreation and a bit of commerce, too.

In September, Edgewater Development Group — comprising partners Mike Dion, Peter Grenier and Anthony Dionne — told The Laconia Daily Sun they’d purchased the former Surf Coaster property, located at the corner of White Oaks Road and Endicott Street East, in a $3.3 million-deal brokered by Keller Williams Realty.

At the time, they didn’t have a specific vision for the property’s development, but during a conceptual presentation before the city’s planning board on Tuesday night, the group certainly did.

And it's a big one.

Edgewater Development is looking at building 150 residential units across four different types on the roughly 14 acres on two parcels, which provides sweeping, panoramic views of Lake Winnipesaukee, and is located about 10 minutes from the downtowns of both Meredith and Laconia. 

Designed in large part by City Collective, a firm also working on the anticipated Laconia State School construction on behalf of Pillsbury Realty Development along Parade Road, this project is another master-planned neighborhood which would be a walkable, lake-oriented site serving the Weirs Beach area.

Dubbed Lakeview at White Oaks, it’s meant to be a year-round neighborhood emphasizing walkability, views of the lake, and shared public space. Including a mix of apartments, single-family homes and townhouses, the developers hope to provide space for a few smaller-scale commercial or retail establishments, too — a representative floated the notion of a neighborhood coffee shop or ice cream parlor, for example.

Dion said Wednesday there’s not a set timeline on the development, but they’d “love to get permitted as soon as possible.” It’s similarly too early in the process to discuss price points for the four housing options, as they haven’t yet settled on figures.   

Justin Kearnan, managing partner at City Collective, told members of Laconia’s planning board during the conceptual presentation they’d take a phased approach to development, similar to the arrangement Pillsbury will take at the State School property. Dion said Wednesday the process would likely take several years to complete.

“You have, really, three opportunities here in terms of incredible views across the bay and the lake, in terms of that rising elevation, you have that direct access, walking distance, to Weirs Beach and to the Weirs Community Park right across the street,” Kearnan said. “Really incredible amenities for the neighborhood and for the region.”

“We love the idea of, kind of like, a village feel,” Dion said of City Collective’s designs. “It's a nice mix, and that really caught our eyes.” 

Surf Coaster USA found its conception in 2001 when Rick Hassler purchased a successful amusement park in the Weirs for $1 million. He invested another $1 million into the venture over time, and described it in an earlier interview with The Laconia Daily Sun as entertainment for his own children and for numerous youngsters who worked at the park.

Hassler closed the park in 2007, following an audit by the state Department of Labor that resulted in fines for various violations.

“I went to Surf Coaster as a kid, I brought my kids to Surf Coaster,” Dion said. “The views from that land are just incredible.”

Dion noted he, Grenier and Dionne all live in the Lakes Region.

“We’ll take our time, work with the city as much as possible to make sure it’s something that’s good for everyone,” he said.