WOLFEBORO — Lehner Street is looking good these days, with a nearly complete overhaul of water lines under ground and a new road surface, granite curbing and new sidewalks.

Located off Center Street, Lehner Street runs parallel to busy North Main Street to Glendon Street, where the town is expanding and improving the town's public parking lot.

The street's makeover, however, is marred by two dilapidated boarded up houses that sit side by side on property in from of the town's Foss Field, at 74 and 80 Lehner St. The town's selectmen authorized Town Manager David Owen at its Aug. 15 meeting to get an appraisal of the two buildings and land, and split the cost of an expert agreeable to both the town and property owner Paul Dumont.

“We're a very long way from acquiring the property,” said Owen last week, adding that the board authorized him to explore the possibility and spend a few dollars for an appraisal. With the buildings adjacent to town-owned property — Foss Field to the back, and the Community Center and Glendon Street municipal parking lot nearby — it's worth exploring.

“It would eliminate an eyesore and something that is not consistent wit the image of the town that we want to promote to people. We've been investing a lot of money in the Lehner Street corridor, with new water and sewer lines and drainage; we've reconstructed the street and added new sidewalks.

“And, after doing all this work, we still have these two dilapidated houses,” he said.

The town looked into having the buildings condemned, but because they are properly boarded up, the structures are legal.

Owen said the Parks and Recreation department is interested in adding all or a portion of the lots to its current holdings near the park and Foss Field.

“(The use) hasn't been determined, but it could make sense. The buildings have been boardered up ever since I've been here.
Select Board Chair Linda Murray agreed the lots are worth an appraisal but noted her reservations about the property.

“I'm not as excited as Dave because of the type of land we'd be purchasing — the land are on a filled wetland,” she said. She questions the soil type and whether it can be built upon. An older town building on Foss Field used to flood frequently, she said

Another question is whether acquiring two additional old buildings and lots would be wise. The town also owns the vacant municipal electric building and the Community Center — both on Lehner Street. Murray said the center building is “not in great shape.”

“I'm willing to do an appraisal … it might be desirable, but its not urgent and not necessary. I do support Dave in bringing the questions forward,” Murray said.

lmulkern@newstote.com