Quote:
Originally Posted by Major
Same to you trackeer! When I was a kid (13-15), I used to take my 14 foot Glastron with a giant (oversized) 40 horse Johnson motor to Pickerel Cove to waterski when Paugus Bay was too rough. The boat could barely fit through the culvert.
Obviously, most residents of Laconia are good, hardworking people. However, as you recognize, there is an element downtown that detracts from the City's ability to attract businesses. Presently, "there are 14 low income housing apartment complexes which contain 619 affordable apartments for rent in Laconia." (affordablehousingonline.com) My wife, who isn't timid, called me the other day from Church Street. She was picking up a prescription for her mother from Genesis, and was being followed by a tweaker with a backpack. She was genuinely scared, and called me just in case. Unfortunately, that is all too common an experience downtown.
And jetskier, I am glad you mentioned the WOW trail. I read in the Daily Sun about an incident (some sort of crime, robbery maybe) in which the perpetrator got away on the WOW trail. That is what our $400,000 paid for!
We need a comprehensive plan to eliminate section 8 housing from downtown in an effort to attract businesses. Unfortunately, I am afraid improvement is impossible until this happens.
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Hi Major,
That is exactly the problem...I spent some time discussing this with a Council member. You can't put high end businesses in with Section 8...it does not work and will never work.
My wife had a great idea...buy the church (ex: Holy Grail) and convert it to performing arts....it would be a fraction of the cost of the current Colonial Theater project and it is in a better location.
You look at the garage falling down, the potholes, taxes going up (via assessments) and you have to wonder about the priorities in the town. Personally, I could not believe that the mayor still wants to spend $10k to study removing the tracks for the WOW trail when the state has indicated that will never happen. That is another waste of money.
I don't mind paying taxes when it goes to good use, but....
Just my 2 cents.
Jetskier
