Despite rumors to the contrary, I am not an old codger who lives in the past or wishes he were Marty McFly, the character from the “Back to the Future” films. I am not looking to jump into a DeLorean and return to a simpler time.
Earlier this week as I guested on WKXL’s “NH Now” program, I listened to myself as I chatted with Chris and Jeanne and realized that some listeners might perceive me as wanting nothing more than a rocking chair on the front porch and an eager listener or two as I tell my tales of a time long past.
As I made my almost daily pilgrimage into Downtown Concord, I was surprised at how many locals had heard me on the air and had comments to make about their concerns as to where Concord may be headed with the possibly major changes on the drawing board. The five who spoke to me were a cross section of business owners, shoppers, and observers, ranging in age from probably 35 or 40 up to about 75 or 80. Living in the community for more than half a century has made me a somewhat recognizable and accessible individual. Some might say “eccentric” or “interesting” while I am sure some of the other sobriquets would not be for publication.
First of all may I state for the record, Concord’s downtown is not dead!!! That is evidenced, certainly, by the throngs that pile into Gibson’s Bookstore on a regular basis and the crowds I see at some of the businesses I frequent including Things are Cooking, which noted, once, that their business at their Main Street location was an improvement over their business when they were located in the Mall, Lotions n’ Potions, The Barley House, Cheers and CVS. If you provide a service or goods that people want, they will venture downtown, despite the sometimes seemingly deliberate efforts to thwart shoppers.
An example I used on the radio program the other morning were the kiosks. I will quickly add that they are mostly irrelevant to me since I generally walk the 1-2 miles to Main Street to shop, so parking is rarely a problem. However, when I do drive, some of the things I whisper to myself about the kiosks would probably be rated at least PG-13.
For the young and/or the healthy, they may seem a modern convenience only occasionally annoying. If you are older, somewhat infirm or even around my age (latter 50’s to early 60’s) and played sports in your youth and are now suffering the after-effects (Arthritis, the need for knee or hip replacements, etc.) they can be enough of a nuisance to send you quickly to a mall.
In those quaint days of meters, you parked your vehicle and had coin in hand before exiting your car. You plunked the coinage into the meter and went on about your way. If you needed additional time you returned, inserted another coin and resumed your shopping. Neat, clean and efficient.
If you are unable to park near a kiosk, you must leave your vehicle, head to the kiosk where you may have to wait for others who are using it, sometimes in inclement weather. After inserting your coin and waiting for what sometimes seems an eternity for the receipt, you then return to your car and place the receipt on the dashboard. If you find you need additional time you need to repeat the process.
All of those extra steps, especially in less than perfect weather conditions, can place an individual at risk of slipping or falling. I personally have helped three people to their feet in the past year, one of whom vowed to never again to shop on Main Street.
Sure a garage is an alternative but that too means considerable walking to a destination and garages, for any number of reasons, have received a bad rap and some people are fearful of parking in one.
In last week’s blog I mentioned a visit to Concord Mayor Charles Davie’s office some fifty years ago as a garrulous grammar school student, proposing that Concord construct a subway system to help move its citizens from place to place.
My enthusiasm was clearly part of my youth and on “NH Now” I changed that idea, suggesting that Concord build a streetcar system instead. I really wasn’t kidding either.
Streetcars are becoming enormously popular again. Portland, Oregon has seen a renaissance since putting in their vast system which they continue to expand and dozens of other cities in America are following suit with planned systems. A streetcar is scheduled to begin operating in Washington, DC for the first time in fifty years, within a year, and Cincinnati, Ohio is building one and Providence, Rhode Island is looking at possibilities.
Concord bid adieu to its streetcar line about 80 years ago and little remains with the exception of the covered streetcar stop outside of White Park where Washington and Centre Streets join.
The planned downtown changes are supported by a TIGER Grant from the Federal Government. TIGER Grants totaling hundreds of millions have been given to numerous cities for the purpose of building streetcar lines. Concord could certainly show some imagination and become the first city in Northern New England to bring back the streetcar.
More and more it has been proven that the return of streetcars brings the possibility of millions of dollars in new development along the line. Because streetcars are of a more permanent nature and cannot be dug up easily for a route change, investors and developers as well as shop owners are more eager to locate along such lines. Portland, Oregon reports billions of dollars in new development along their lines.
Individuals who would balk at getting on a bus will jump onto a streetcar (not those Trolley Buses masquerading as streetcars that traverse many cities including Concord), but the real thing. It’s part nostalgia, part the feeling you’re on an amusement park ride but also the glamor still associated with streetcars. (“The Trolley Song” is one of the musical highpoints of “Meet Me in St. Louis)
Instead of destroying our downtown, officials might be wiser to investigate a TIGER Grant proposal for a streetcar line throughout the downtown. It would be a huge selling point for the city in marketing Concord as one of less than a handful of cities with a real streetcar in the Northeast. It could also be used to transport workers and shoppers into the downtown area, thereby eliminating some of the need for more parking.
The line could originate at an outlaying and very large parking area where free parking would be available for those taking the streetcar into downtown.
If we are really sincere in restoring our downtown community to something exciting, vibrant and viable, no option should fail to be explored. I’ll even volunteer to serve on an exploratory committee and help write the grant.
