LANCASTER, N.H. — Developers planning to restore a historic resort in the economically distressed North Country are projecting construction to start by late summer, with the goal of opening by the 2016-17 ski season.

The developers of The Balsams in Dixville Notch met with the Coos County Planning Board on Wednesday, a week after Gov. Maggie Hassan signed a bill for a special taxing district allowing the state to back $28 million in bonds toward redeveloping the resort, which closed in 2011. Developers want to file an application with the planning board in about a month.

“There needs to be some changes to the zoning,” Scott Tranchemontagne, project manager, told the Caledonian Record. “As it stands today, we can’t rebuild the hotel under the current zoning. We’re hoping to create a redevelopment district, and that needs to go through a review and approval by the county planning board.”

Construction for the first phase of redevelopment, which includes a new hotel and conference center and expansion of the Wilderness Ski Area with additional ski lifts and trails, is expected to take 12 to 18 months.

Tranchemontagne said more than 100 people have put deposits on new condominiums to be built. Residents seeking jobs can visit the resort’s website and message the development team.


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