Colonial Theater Funding
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Although they do not admit it, this will probably be the end to the restoration project. Terrible news for the revitalization of downtown.
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.... a rainy day for Laconia
Sometimes you win big, and sometimes you looooooooose big!
And sometimes you get rained out. ... ;) ..... just like baseball! Thursday, May 23, 2019 (same day as today's LaDaSun report): https://www.cdfifund.gov/programs-tr...ment-step.aspx So, in 2009 the feds said yes to a one million dollar grant for two new clean diesel engines for the Mount Washington through the Cash for Clunkers, EPA program. And, in 2019 the feds said no to 4.8-million dollar federal tax credits for the Colonial Theatre-Main St renovation through the Treasury Dept. That's like 4.8 mil out of 3.5- billion or 35,000-mil, what they have to work with ..... or 5 out of 35,000 ..... with 34,995 more to offer ... but, it didn't happen. What a difference ten years can make. And, Belknap County is the most Republican county, counting state reps and state senators, of all the ten NH counties ..... so how come this got the big red light ...... no? As you probably know, the rebirth of the Colonial Theatre was planned to help renew and regrow the commercial downtown area for Laconia. |
Unless some free money floats down from cloud it appears this vacant, neglected property is doomed to survive.
It's a matter of time before it becomes a safety issue (if it isn't already) and it will be bulldozed and developed into some type of low income housing. |
Thank goodness.
$15 million to rehab a dumpy old theater is a huge waste of money - especially in a small, poor town like Laconia with so many other problems. Is shocking the city loaned money for the purchase... |
Sanity finally enforced on Laconia by serendipity. This was a farce from the get-go.
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I concur.
What happens to the loan now? How will the “lenders” be held accountable? |
From what I have read in newspapers, New Hampshire is one of just a small number, like maybe five states, that pay more to the federal gov than it gets back. So, receiving these 4.5 million dollars in tax credits would have been an extra gain coming from thye federal government.
Will go look for an appropriate link to Wikipedia or somewhere that explains the New Hampshire deficit balance with thye federal government. |
i would love to see the theater restored to its former glory. however, i believe it should be done by someone in the private sector, not by tax payers. we've got much bigger fish to fry.
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I love the ornate theaters of the past and think that every effort should be made to preserve and restore them. Once gone, they're gone for good. I witnessed the rescue and restoration of the Ohio Theatre in Columbus. Its demolition was scheduled when a local group formed and saved it. You can read about the efforts here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_T...Columbus,_Ohio)
However, one thing that must be considered in saving the Colonial is "what are you going to do with it"? Once restored, it will need to generate a steady and significant revenue stream to operate and maintain it. This is not something that is going to be a huge attractor of "summer money". To succeed, it must draw and hold local attention. So, what kind of attractions will, as they say, put Laconians' butts in the seats? Answer that and restoration money will surely follow. |
Where will the theatre patrons park?
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now they want to put MORE taxpayer money into the project... :eek2:
https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news...9c15c0e8e.html |
I am all for the revitalization of downtown Laconia but in my opinion to throw good money after bad will only serve to delay or terminate any effort to revitalize the area. Also, I do not see a plan has how the city and Belknap EDC for going to recover their loans and investment in this project.
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Invest in the Weirs
I would not spend an additional penny on downtown Laconia. Who is the theater going to attract? Section 8 types, rehab graduates? The fiscally responsible approach is to unload the Colonial theater to a private party, and apply any funds on improving roads, which need help.
I would invest in the Weirs, way before downtown Laconia. |
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I've stated this before, but I feel safer in Boston than I do walking around downtown Laconia. On Monday, on my way to work, I went to CVS on Union Ave/Church Street to purchase a Father's Day card for my dad. As if on cue, two dirt bags riding BMX bikes are hanging around at the entrance, waiting for who knows what. They were obviously living out of the backpacks. They were obviously drug users. I'm sick of it. Find ways to attract people the right people, and then we can have a discussion on the types of investments that should be made. |
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When I refer to right people, I mean people who are willing to work hard and pay taxes, and not look to the government for subsistence. I would prefer that people looking to live off of government (and taxpayer) money to live in cities and towns willing to pay for them. Unfortunately, Laconia is one of those cities. There is no meaning in my reference to right people beyond this concept. |
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Right on cue the Mayor gets out his shovel & promises to dig deeper....throwing millions more of taxpayer dollars at a run-down theater.
It's inconceivable that this farce keeps moving along. There is no way in the world Laconia has this much money to dump into this theatre without harming what's left of the city budget & the taxpayers' sanity. The Mayor has become Ahab & the theatre has become his white whale. I know the Mayor personally & like him. Good guy, but as I feared, a feckless civil servant. Six or eight years ago the "leaders' in Laconia made the conscious decision to turn the city into a major rehab center for drugs & a Section-Eight magnet. They succeeded. The city basically gave up on its self, and its future. And by doing this left the dwindling taxpayers' afloat, and on their own. My family blew out of Laconia years ago when we saw the writing was on the wall. Sold everything, the family home, the rental units & some land that was in the family forever. Sad, but necessary. |
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Although I do have questions as to the scope of his involvement especially his financial commitment and the total investment by the city which will now be about 8.1 million given Rusty's past successes I am willing to revise my opinion once all the information is presented including the time frame of the repayment of debt. |
The latest. Would prefer it be done privately, but hopefully it will be a catalyst. We'll see :confused:
https://tinyurl.com/Colonial-Theater |
Who wants a wicked witch?
This is what happens when you get the leaders of a non-profit pitching an elephant and promises everyone the elephant will not cost the taxpayers a dime. Then as time goes by, they change their story and convince town hall to hand over the cash so they can finish making the elephant and get the food to keep it alive. Meanwhile, the taxpayers never have a say because the decision was made without them. Why may you say taxpayers don't get to chime in...the non-profit leaders create a false sense of urgency to town hall leaders the elephant will die next week if they don't hand over the money NOW. We all know everyone doesn't want to see an elephant die. Now, if everyone was told the truth in the first place the elephant is actually a wicked witch and and a decision was made to land a house on top of it, everyone would be singing ding dong the witch is dead, the witch is dead...
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No mention of him in the article but as stated in previous articles my hope is Rusty McLeer’s involvement will make this project a successful venture. As someone who has a vested interest in the area I have no choice at this point to try to be optimistic. As this seems to be a done deal now.
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You summarized the issue perfectly. Our city leaders are under the illusion that if only we can put lipstick on a pig, the pig will become more beautiful for everyone to see. However, as I've stated in prior posts, the city leaders have already cemented their vision of what Laconia is to become. A downtown chock full of Section 8 housing and rehab centers. Instead of investing in other paths, the city leaders decided to take the quick money from this current path without any thought as to the future. Unfortunately, our city is not filled with nor attracting young families with bright futures, who would have enjoyed these city-funded attractions. |
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