Centennial House Demolished

At 176 Main Street, the Centennial House, once a boarding house for miners and skiers, remains vacant and condemned since 2007. PJ Builders, headed by Pete Olson, has obtained approval from the Historic Preservation Board to demolish the structure entirely and reconstruct it on the original footprint. The plan calls for exact dimension replication, new plumbing and electric, and six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, plus a one‑car garage. The materials promised include oxidized copper roofing panels and locally sourced sandstone cladding, choices that will echo the historical silhouette while meeting modern code. Meanwhile, Upper Main Street traffic will suffer as lanes are partially occupied by the demolition‑construction operations. ROI hinges on the resurgence of tourism dollars on a street that once thrummed; however, the high material costs and potential permit delays could erode profits. In the end, the asset appears more a vanity project than a profitable venture. Verdict: Sell.