Harris Family Furniture building set to be demolished

LACONIA — The historic Union Avenue location of Harris Family Furniture is set to be demolished, after the permit was approved by the city's Heritage Commission last week by unanimous vote.

“This breaks my heart. Taking down another building that is so beautiful,” said commission member Lois Kessin, who approved it reluctantly.

The commission approved the permit for the building at 460 Union, during a meeting at Laconia City Hall on Aug. 13. The demolition request came from leaders at Irwin Automotive Group, who operate a Hyundai dealership next door.

The permit approval is contingent on preservation of historical parts of the building, including tin ceilings, stained glass windows and a Victorian staircase. If preserved and stored, these pieces could potentially to be used in historical exhibitions. Irwin Automotive President Chris Irwin said he can provide temporary space for the items.

“We can make accommodations. They just need to fit through double doors,” Irwin said.

Irwin said the company’s intention is to pave the site of the current furniture store, to add an additional parking lot for the dealership. He expects to close on a agreement to purchase the property on Wednesday, Sept. 17. From there, the planning board would need to approve the demolition, which would begin this fall.

The commission learned that the building, constructed in the early 1900s, had more historical significance than previously thought. Walter Dunlap, a builder and former mayor of Laconia, lived in the home after the turn of the 20th century. Residents had mixed feelings on this issue during a public comment period. Charles Mihle, a retired history teacher, addressed Irwin, then members of the commission.

“I wish you had more historical love for the community,” he said to Irwin.

Tara Shore, president of the Laconia Historical and Museum Society, also spoke during public comment. She came to Irwin's defense.

“I'd like to make sure that everyone understands we've worked with Irwin Marine and Irwin Motors over the years. I've worked with them both through the historical society and other organizations,” Shore said. “Their community support and their historical significance to our community is huge.”

Irwin Automotive was founded in 1951, by Robert Irwin. Now run by Chris Irwin, in the family's third generation since its founding, the Bisson Avenue location now totals 72,000 square feet on more than 15 acres, according to their website. They also make financial contributions in the community, including $50,000 to the Laconia High School Capital Campaign, and a $25,000 donation to the Laconia Public Library construction project.

Shore also emphasized there are two types of preservation. There is pure preservation, which preserves something as is, or reuse preservation, which allows preservation through a different use. Examples of reuse preservation would be exhibiting historical items, or a dedication to the old building on the Irwin property, or alternatively renovating the historical building to use as office space.

Irwin said the building could not be repurposed as office space, due to strict agreements between dealers and car manufacturers, which require dealerships to have a specific look.

“I don't see how that is an option for that property, or for any property, because we have to build things a certain way,” Irwin said. “It's all the way down to the toilet paper holders that we install.”

Commission members asked Irwin to allow them to do another walkthrough of the building to point out which pieces are worth conserving.

Commission members also approved a demolition permit for 136 Old Prescott Hill Road. Based on a house histories program report from the Laconia Historical and Museum Society, the home dates back to 1792, and resident Bartholomew Gale. Due to significant water damage and mold, the current owner wants to remove the home and a barn as well. Ethan Wood, a lawyer with Normandin, Cheney and O’Neil, spoke on the owner's behalf at the meeting.

“The condition of the house, while there may be some historical value, it was not necessarily well maintained over the years, and certainly has some issues with regard to the barn,” Wood said.

Commission members approved the demolition, contingent on three conditions. The first is the heritage commission do a walkthrough to assess any items of historical value. The second, the demolition cannot occur prior to Saturday, Nov. 8, to allow the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance time to find a partner interested in keeping the barn. And third, to continue conversations about establishing a historical marker on the property. Wood agreed to the terms.

Shore believes these two requests point to a historical problem in Laconia. The heritage commission cannot stop a demolition, only delay one, as final say comes from the planning board. Shore explained the only way to establish proper historical preservation is to create a historic district, which establishes laws and regulations to keep buildings in that district preserved. The city has a small historical district downtown, which encompasses part of Church Street, the Busiel House, the former St. Joseph Catholic Church, the Laconia Public Library, Veterans Square, and the Laconia Passenger Station. Shore said it would be nice to have historical districts everywhere, but that reality is not feasible. Shore thanked the commission for their work.

“It would also be nice if the United States held their history as tightly as our European countries. We don't. That's unfortunate, but the reality here is, just like with Harris Family Furniture, we don't have any historic districts in the area,” Shore said. “We have this tiny one that we fought tooth-and-nail for next door to us here, and so your work is really tough, and from the historical society, we commend you for what you do here.”