I see it completely differently.....
Laconia does not rely on Bike Week.... Downtown Laconia is doing pretty good. They have the Pumpkin Fest, the Colonial Theater is being restored and there are lots of shops, cafes & businesses that are doing very well. The only people who rely on Bike Week for an influx of $$ are resorts & businesses in the Weirs.
Some of the businesses in the Weirs take pride in their buildings, and take very good care of how their property looks. Other businesses not so much. The reality is, there needs to be a plan, sense of direction. The motels that are left will die off.... people NEED a reason to visit. The old kid friendly stuff is not working. A more adult oriented approach is needed. The Weirs has some awesome real estate... it just needs a vision and transformation...
1. Start with Bike Week... embrace it! Loosen the rules a little. Make it so the bikers want to come back and stay awhile! That demographic has grown older and has $$ to spend.
2. Get rid of the silly parking meters.... nobody wants to pay to park!
3. Reconfigure the boat docks to accommodate more boats... perhaps a P/T dockmaster so that 1 large cruiser cannot block off the whole dock.
4. Transform the arcades into something more adult.... cafes? shops? something that make people want to stay awhile.
5. Change the noise ordinance to allow live music until 12:00 - 12:30 on weekends.
6. Allow alcohol to be consumed outside in plastic containers...
7. Weekend boardwalk vendors (like the Hotdog guy in Wolfeboro)
Just a few ideas...
Woodsy
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The only way to eliminate ignorant behavior is through education. You can't fix stupid.
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