Winnipesaukee Forum - View Single Post

MomCat · 02-05-2007, 12:28 PM

I, too, miss October Farms and Ben Franklin in that shopping center--they were both handy and--most important--appropriately SCALED for the area. The Brooks Phamracy is also very convenient, and we patronize it, along with the video place, cinema, and Hallmark store in that area and other stores nearby (e.g., Aubuchon Hardware). These small businesses serve the community well. Please, let's not try to turn Meredith into Tilton North! And, yes, I do shop at Wal-Mart and Shaw's, but I do NOT believe that the small strip mall in an environmentally fragile area just across the street from Meredith Bay is a suitable or desirable location for a major, large-scale, chain business. A key part of the charm and appeal of Meredith is that it is NOT Tilton or Gilford. If shoppers need the big-store experience a 20 minute drive to the north or south can satisfy their needs. Besides, anyone who has ever driven into Meredith on a weekend afternoon can testify to the traffic situation that ALREADY exists on Rt 25 coming into town from Center Harbor. A large-volume business with a big parking lot would only exacerbate this situation and in general undermine the quality of life that attracts people to this village to begin with. And as for Rt 104, so many of our visitors have commented on the beauty of the drive toward Meredith on 104 from 93--noting that they feel as they are really escaping into a world of peace and beauty, away from the chaos of "civilization"--and that includes big-box retailers. Let's not destroy what we love most about the Lakes Region in the name of "progress." (No, I don't own a business or work in Meredith, so this isn't about "turf"--it's about preserving this special place we all love.)

02-05-2007, 12:28 PM	#25
MomCat Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 32 Thanks: 7 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I, too, miss October Farms and Ben Franklin in that shopping center--they were both handy and--most important--appropriately SCALED for the area. The Brooks Phamracy is also very convenient, and we patronize it, along with the video place, cinema, and Hallmark store in that area and other stores nearby (e.g., Aubuchon Hardware). These small businesses serve the community well. Please, let's not try to turn Meredith into Tilton North! And, yes, I do shop at Wal-Mart and Shaw's, but I do NOT believe that the small strip mall in an environmentally fragile area just across the street from Meredith Bay is a suitable or desirable location for a major, large-scale, chain business. A key part of the charm and appeal of Meredith is that it is NOT Tilton or Gilford. If shoppers need the big-store experience a 20 minute drive to the north or south can satisfy their needs. Besides, anyone who has ever driven into Meredith on a weekend afternoon can testify to the traffic situation that ALREADY exists on Rt 25 coming into town from Center Harbor. A large-volume business with a big parking lot would only exacerbate this situation and in general undermine the quality of life that attracts people to this village to begin with. And as for Rt 104, so many of our visitors have commented on the beauty of the drive toward Meredith on 104 from 93--noting that they feel as they are really escaping into a world of peace and beauty, away from the chaos of "civilization"--and that includes big-box retailers. Let's not destroy what we love most about the Lakes Region in the name of "progress." (No, I don't own a business or work in Meredith, so this isn't about "turf"--it's about preserving this special place we all love.)