Quote:
Originally Posted by MAXUM
That's true but I'm sure the town doesn't mind cashing that property tax check. Had they taken ownership of it, they would get nothing.
It's always a tough sell having the most expensive house in the area, I mean we are talking Alton NH not Beverly Hills, CA.
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I totally disagree that had they developed a park "they would get nothing". Your answer was the one given when Alton passed on the opportunity in order to generate more property taxes. However, what has happened is the money found its way into the budget and was spent unwisely and the town is no better off. $250,000 annually is a drop in the bucket in the grand scheme of things.
The truth is Alton's economics are driven largely by tourism and having a beautiful park looking down the middle of Lake Winnipesaukee would have greatly enhanced its reputation as a tourism destination. Meredith is a wonderful example of the way things should be done. Laconia is 180 degrees in the other direction. Alton is somewhere in between. In the long-term the economics of any town are driven by how that town is viewed by the public. The Bahre estate did nothing to enhance Alton's reputation. Missing this once in a lifetime opportunity was a travesty.