Comments on: Post-Festival Analysis http://ward3brighton.ca/blog/2008/07/17/143 Councillor Rob Lantz - Charlottetown | Ward 3 (Brighton) Fri, 30 Mar 2012 21:54:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Derek http://ward3brighton.ca/blog/2008/07/17/143/comment-page-1#comment-100946 Derek Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:31:05 +0000 http://ward3brighton.ca/blog/2008/07/17/143#comment-100946 It goes with out saying that, with tourism continuing to plummet, the FOL is one of the few success stories we have. It continues to attract a young, fairly affluent, and vibrant (perhaps too vibrant!) group of people to the City's downtown business area, and provides a tremendous kickoff to the summer tourist season. Unfortunately, it wreaks havoc with those who choose to live in the downtown core, which is in conflict with the City's desire to increase the downtown habitation, particularly with new condos that have sprung up of late. In some ways, the situation has actually been made worse by rules forcing the entertainment to stop at 10 or 11 pm, leaving a primed-up crowd with nowhere to go. Facts: -PEI, and Charlottetown need this festival. Provides kick start to season, and introduces a younger generation to our Island (a big improvement over the days when the RCMP and park police used to seize liquor from youth en route to the May 24 weekend at the National Park, possibly turning off an entire generation of potential tourists). -Status quo does not work for downtown residents. The old Imperial tank farm may be the best solution, although I can foresee a huge traffic problem at the foot of the Hillsborough Bridge. At least it keeps them downtown, and away from the residents, although there is still the issue of what they will do and where they will go after the event. Residents (including those who live across the water in Stratford) will have to weigh the noise problem of keeping the concert goers onsite longer, against the possibility of more property damage if they are let out earlier. Increasing the police force for that weekend is necessary no matter what option is chosen. This would involve engaging the RCMP and private security firms, and would cost a bundle. Failing to do so, though, may result in valued taxpayers fleeing the downtown. Hopefully a solution will be found that will allow the event to continue, and the downtown residents to be able to endure the weekend without undue hardship. It goes with out saying that, with tourism continuing to plummet, the FOL is one of the few success stories we have. It continues to attract a young, fairly affluent, and vibrant (perhaps too vibrant!) group of people to the City’s downtown business area, and provides a tremendous kickoff to the summer tourist season. Unfortunately, it wreaks havoc with those who choose to live in the downtown core, which is in conflict with the City’s desire to increase the downtown habitation, particularly with new condos that have sprung up of late.
In some ways, the situation has actually been made worse by rules forcing the entertainment to stop at 10 or 11 pm, leaving a primed-up crowd with nowhere to go.
Facts:
-PEI, and Charlottetown need this festival. Provides kick start to season, and introduces a younger generation to our Island (a big improvement over the days when the RCMP and park police used to seize liquor from youth en route to the May 24 weekend at the National Park, possibly turning off an entire generation of potential tourists).
-Status quo does not work for downtown residents.

The old Imperial tank farm may be the best solution, although I can foresee a huge traffic problem at the foot of the Hillsborough Bridge. At least it keeps them downtown, and away from the residents, although there is still the issue of what they will do and where they will go after the event. Residents (including those who live across the water in Stratford) will have to weigh the noise problem of keeping the concert goers onsite longer, against the possibility of more property damage if they are let out earlier.

Increasing the police force for that weekend is necessary no matter what option is chosen. This would involve engaging the RCMP and private security firms, and would cost a bundle. Failing to do so, though, may result in valued taxpayers fleeing the downtown.

Hopefully a solution will be found that will allow the event to continue, and the downtown residents to be able to endure the weekend without undue hardship.

]]>