What is the Sunapee Harbor Riverway? 

It is a for-profit corporation founded in 1991. The credit for its founding belongs to four local residents – Dick Webb, Jolyon Johnson, John Rauh and Paul Grevstad (now deceased).  The legend is that Dick and Jolyon were walking along the shore discussing:

What might happen to the harbor area in the future?

Why were they concerned?  In the late 1980s, the harbor was particularly hard hit by the general regional economic decline. The reduced tourist traffic did not support the economic needs of the local businesses. Several businesses closed and a bank had foreclosed on several properties. Some of these buildings had stood empty for several years.  As a result, many of the buildings were fell into disrepair. Finally, every time a business failed, there was one less reason for anyone to visit the harbor – a major downward, negative spiral. Sunapee residents and visitors to the lake were literally seeing a place of which they had so many wonderful warm memories just deteriorating – a real sense of loss!

How might the harbor be preserved from undesirable development?

The Call to Action and Recovery!  SHRC was founded with its mission being “to protect and enhance our lakeside village.” It was created to be a community based business venture to restore the vitality of the village to the level that residents remembered, in addition to being friendly to visitors to the area.  A secondary, but very important objective, was to be a catalyst for other businesses and property owners to improve, enhance and expand their respective operations.

Does the Riverway get special treatment from various town agencies? 

No, emphatically no! The Riverway has worked since its beginning with the town of Sunapee in accordance with both the “letter and spirit” of the law.  If anything, its proposals have been scrutinized with even more diligence by the general public and the various review agencies, than proposals from other taxpayers because of the importance of the Riverway’s property to Sunapee residents.  Some variances have been granted, but only where they would have been granted to any other applicant; others have been denied. By swapping a pre-existing food service permit from a building that is better suited for retail (Hopwood building) to a new, winterized building (Pete's Shed) and re-assigning the retail permit from the "Old Pete's Shed" to the Hopwood building, the SHRC, with the permission of the planning board, will enable there to be a year 'round restaurant in Sunapee Harbor. The SHRC will meet parking requirements by re-assigning (with approval) spaces among the businesses in the buildings it owns, and by creating new spaces. Keep in mind the founding mission statement of the Riverway –to protect and enhance our lakeside village. Sunapee Harbor holds a unique place in geography and in the heart. Stewardship of this unique gem is foremost in the minds of the Riverway board, which is comprised of local, lake area residents.

How are we doing?

Significant steps have been taken to “protect and enhance” the lakeside village. The work is not finished nor will it ever be. Since 1997, SHRC has invested over $480,000 to improve our properties in addition to the initial purchase investment.  By ensuring that a “critical mass” of commercial activity exists in the Harbor, SHRC and its tenants offer the services and environment that residents and visitors enjoy:  restaurants, leisure shopping, boat tours, open spaces, walking paths, traditional New England architecture, public music performances and well maintained grounds. Throughout the harbor area we continue to see significant investment to commercial and residential properties. The revival of a once abandoned area is successful.