Hi all,
When the day is done, economic revitalization of downtown relies upon the ability to economically upgrade the city in a broader sense. I grew up in Lowell, a blue collar mill town with similar problems.
- The value of the property needs to increase to push less desirable elements out and create a catalyst for investment. That requires an influx of higher paying jobs and broad economic revitalization.
This means bringing in business that creates a forklift to the broad economy. The Colonial Theater (if ever renovated) will not create a significant number of high paying jobs. The extension to the WOW trail will not create a significant number of high paying jobs.
Laconia does not have any significant tech economy or academic economy...both have created a catalyst for urban renewal in Boston, Lowell etc... A focus on university affiliations and outreach to the technical community would be good starting points. A startup ecosystem would be a great addition.
Laconia would be a wonderful place to live and work if the economic climate could be improved. Unfortunately, the current thinking is that "if you build it, they will come". Good in the movies...here, the issues are more deeply rooted.
Just my 2 cents.
Jetskier
