Compiled Place Game Results - May 8, 2003

• Click here (pdf) to view the findings.

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Site 1 - Bridge to Cottage Street

• Evaluation:

  Comfort & Image:
  • Overall rating = fair->poor
  • It’s not very well maintained
  • There’s no place to sit

  Access & Linkages:
  • Overall rating = fair
  • Some signs were blocking others

  Uses & Activities:
  • Overall rating = fair
  • The bridge is boring
  • There could be more variety in the stores, and more events

  Sociability:
  • Overall rating = fair

  Recommendations:
  

  Short Term:
  • Improve placement of historical signs at stop
  • Add a walking / biking trail along the RR tracks
  • Improve signal lights at crosswalk
  • Add crosswalks – it’s hard to cross
          o especially farther up the road, to slow traffic
          o and at the museum
  • Improve lighting along bridge

  Long Term:
  • Do something BIG with the bridge – it’s the entrance to town and should show it
          o Beautify the entrance to the bridge at the RR tracks
  • Improve the sidewalk at the museum
  • Add a museum sign facing the traffic

  Potential Partners:
  • H.S. students – perhaps working as a part of a community service project
  • The Feed / Supply store

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Site 2 - Opera House Corner

• Evaluation:
  
  Comfort & Image:
  • Overall rating = poor
  • Not attractive – it’s dingy

  Access & Linkages:
  • Overall rating = fair
  • It’s too busy with truck traffic
  • It feels separated from Main Street

  Uses & Activities:
  • Overall rating = fair
  • The stores seem faraway

  Sociability:
  • Overall rating = poor
  • It’s not sociable – it needs space, and greenery

  Liked Best:
  • Inside the Opera House

  Recommendations:
  

  Short Term:
  • Clean the Opera House
  • Put up a POW flag
  • Add flowers and make it greener
  • Add art
  • More activities and things to look at

  Long Term:
  • Add an “identity” landmark
  • Traffic changes – restrict trucks and improve signs
  • Make it easier for trucks to turn – widen the road
  • Widen sidewalks
  • Add lights and a walkway on the bridge
  • Clear out trees that block the view of the river

  Potential Partners:
  • Coseed

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Site 3 - Movie Theatre & Church

• Evaluation:
  
  Comfort & Image:
  • Overall rating = fair
  • Blank wall is unattractive
  • Church block is unattractive

  Access & Linkages:
  • Overall rating = fair->good

  Uses & Activities:
  • Overall rating = fair->good
  • Good mix of activities, but not many people

  Sociability:
  • Overall rating = fair

  Liked Best:
  • The movie theater
  • Different types of buildings
  • Safe, small town feeling
  • Polite, homelike feel
  • Careful drivers – it’s easy to cross the street

  Recommendations:
  

  Short Term:
  • Widen and fix up the sidewalks, especially by the church
  • Make the public parking signs more visible

  Long Term:
  • Add more places to sit
  • Plant more trees

  Potential Partners:
  • Jax Jr.
  • Ray’s Smoke Shop

What do you think?
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Site 4 - Berlin City Bank, Porfido's Market, Library

• Evaluation:
  
  Comfort & Image:
  • Overall rating = fair

  Access & Linkages:
  • Overall rating = good

  Uses & Activities:
  • Overall rating = good • > fair

  Sociability:
  • Overall rating = fair • > poor
  • Kids get in trouble sitting on the library wall, or walking in groups

  Liked Best:
  • Porfido’s Market

  Recommendations:
  

  Short Term:
  • Block off the street for special events
  • Add fountains, trees, flowers & statues
  • Brighten up the crosswalks
  • Have yearly concerts
  • Vending
  • Play music along sidewalks

  Long Term:
  • Extend sidewalks
  • Tree pits and bricks every 5 parking spaces, with crosswalks
  • One-way traffic to slow cars
          o Other way along river
          o Very wide sidewalks
  • Add more seating
  • Add a bike / rollerblade lane

  Potential Partners:
  • Oasis
  • Police
  • Porfidos
  • Library

What do you think?
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Site 5 - Community House, Post Office, Laconia Bank

• Evaluation:
  
  Comfort & Image:
  • Overall rating = fair
  • Not very attractive – the greenery isn’t well maintained
  • No place to sit at Sr. Center bus stop – needs benches
  • Post office is too bare – creates a white glare
  • Community center is stand-offish

  Access & Linkages:
  • Overall rating = fair
  • Information booth is not well-marked

  Uses & Activities:
  • Overall rating = fair

  Sociability:
  • Overall rating = fair->poor

  Liked Best:
  • Nice buildings, lots of green space
  • The lawn in front of the Community House

  Recommendations:
  

  Short Term:
  • Post Office:
          o Add benches & picnic tables in front
          o Add a garden in front
  • Community House:
          o Add benches to the lawn
          o Maintain the lawn better – it’s the best land on Main Street
          o Improve Information booth signage
  • Laconia Bank:
          o Put a vendor in the plaza
          o Sidewalk sales
  • Better align the crosswalks between businesses
  
  Long Term:
  • Community House:
          o Create a public space in the lawn
          o Move the Info booth so that it doesn’t block the Community House, perhaps to Laconia Bank plaza
          o Put a gazebo in front
          o A shady area would be nice
  • Improve visibility for park across the street from the Community House
  • Widen sidewalks
  • Keep it quiet – institute a noise restriction

  Potential Partners:
  • Garden Club
  • Chamber of Commerce
  • Tourist Board
  • Laconia Bank
  • Arts Community
  • Main Street Businesses

What do you think?
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