Gilford to have meeting on Short Term Rentals Monday

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by birchhaven

I don't doubt your situation, however, it has been talked about on here at length about how the motels of the weirs going condo negatively impacted area businesses because of the lower utilization rates of condo owners vs motel renters. Now that Short term rentals are being discussed in a negative way, you are suggesting and twisting it in way that people sold their motels as condos so people could rerent them on VRBO. And that somehow the VRBO rental in a former motel is somehow worse since gunstock now makes snow. That is downright comical and just shows the internet never fails that someone can twist anything to serve their opinion.

I would state that some surmised that the motels going condo hurt local business more from the fact that the condos generally provide a means to prepare a meal without dining out. It really does not seem to be the situation. Some restaurants have struggled and closed, while others seem to thrive through the changes.

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

I would state that some surmised that the motels going condo hurt local business more from the fact that the condos generally provide a means to prepare a meal without dining out. It really does not seem to be the situation. Some restaurants have struggled and closed, while others seem to thrive through the changes.

Interesting point. Maybe the kitchens in the condos are balanced out by the people in the condos having more disposable income?

[Descant]

Yes, many of the small family businesses from post war are gone because those folks wanted to retire just like motel owners. But look what the condos are supporting at McIntire Circle: A super Wal Mart and two other huge supermarkets, Lowe's, and countless other businesses. I don't believe a population of less than 8,000 supports all that business. Yes, some come from Laconia where the STR issue is similar.

[John Mercier]

People that rent short term rather than long term do not eat more food.
That area had a Gerrity Lumber, Star Market and K Mart for decades.

I would doubt the people in the condos have more disposable income than the ones in the motels; but its always plausible. I think on a ''per head'' basis, the condo rental may be cheaper than the motel... or provide more amenities like the kitchen that can offset a higher cost. The market has so many variables, it is hard to determine.

[Descant]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

People that rent short term rather than long term do not eat more food.
That area had a Gerrity Lumber, Star Market and K Mart for decades.

I would doubt the people in the condos have more disposable income than the ones in the motels; but its always plausible. I think on a ''per head'' basis, the condo rental may be cheaper than the motel... or provide more amenities like the kitchen that can offset a higher cost. The market has so many variables, it is hard to determine.

I remember Grossman's, not Gerrity. Did one replace the other? My speculation is that condo owners and those who rent them, are more apt to rent/stay for a week whereas motels of the day were more apt to have folks stay for a weekend. When I worked at a local restaurant as a teenager, the weekend traffic was significantly greater than mid-week.

[tis]

Gerrity was where Middleton is now in Meredith. Grossman's was near where Lowe's is now.

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by tis

Gerrity was where Middleton is now in Meredith. Grossman's was near where Lowe's is now.

Sorry, that would be correct... Grossman's.
The lot is actually to the side and outback... last I knew Home Depot had purchased it... but that was over seven years ago.

My point that a much smaller resident population still supported these types of businesses. If I remember correctly Hannaford was Big Banana and the Globe next to it, and I still do not know what became of the old Mart, because I don't travel that way often.

[LoveLakeLife]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

Sorry, that would be correct... Grossman's.

The lot is actually to the side and outback... last I knew Home Depot had purchased it... but that was over seven years ago.

My point that a much smaller resident population still supported these types of businesses. If I remember correctly Hannaford was Big Banana and the Globe next to it, and I still do not know what became of the old Mart, because I don't travel that way often.

I think the Big Banana was where Shaws is now.


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[John Mercier]

That may be a Shaw's at the circle... like I said, I really don't travel down that way anymore than I have to.

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

Sorry, that would be correct... Grossman's.
The lot is actually to the side and outback... last I knew Home Depot had purchased it... but that was over seven years ago.

My point that a much smaller resident population still supported these types of businesses. If I remember correctly Hannaford was Big Banana and the Globe next to it, and I still do not know what became of the old Mart, because I don't travel that way often.

Grossman's was near Gilford Lowes, probably more correct to say behind the CVS right at "McIntyre Circle" traffic lights. Well after Grossman's closed, I thought Irwin's was using it for off-site boat storage. Dad loved Grossman's. He patronized them up here and down in MA.
The Big Banana I don't remember, but there was a restaurant called the Roadkill Cafe. Pretty good food and very colorful names for the food, as you can well imagine. It was located right where Shaw's is today.

Dave

[tis]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

Grossman's was near Gilford Lowes, probably more correct to say behind the CVS right at "McIntyre Circle" traffic lights. Well after Grossman's closed, I thought Irwin's was using it for off-site boat storage. Dad loved Grossman's. He patronized them up here and down in MA.
The Big Banana I don't remember, but there was a restaurant called the Roadkill Cafe. Pretty good food and very colorful names for the food, as you can well imagine. It was located right where Shaw's is today.

Dave

That's where the Big Banana was too up. Leigh Turner ran the Roadkill do you remember him from school?

[Weekend Pundit]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

The Big Banana I don't remember, but there was a restaurant called the Roadkill Cafe. Pretty good food and very colorful names for the food, as you can well imagine. It was located right where Shaw's is today.

Dave

Actually the Roadkill Cafe was located where the Gilford Mobil Mart is today. (I used to work at their Bartlett restaurant and knew the manager of the Gilford Roadkill as she had worked at the Bartlett Roadkill Cafe.)

[Weekend Pundit]

The Gilford Planning Board is still plugging away at a zoning ordinance for STRs. At the public hearing earlier this year the Planning Board got a lot of great input from the public and it realized it needed to do more work.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is that the proposed Gilford STR ordinance differentiates between owner-occupied STRs and 'commercial' STRs. The requirements are different.

One thing that has been mentioned is the town's inability to clamp down on existing 'distributed hotels'. The Working Stiffs v Portsmouth NH Supreme Court decision declared commercial STRs are hotels. That means Gilford could require all of the commercial STRs in residential zones would need to go before the Gilford ZBA for a variance since hotels are not allowed in residential zones under Gilford Zoning ordinances. However, town counsel has suggested using other means since using the ZBA could tie up the town in court for years.

At Town Meeting voting Gilford voters approved a change in the town's Noise Ordinance which removed some exemptions which makes it easier for the PD to quiet things down. There was an exemption for 'unamplified human voices'. But those 'unamplified human voices' can be really loud, particularly after midnight. I speak from experience, having had to deal with a 'party house' at my previous home in Gunstock Acres. The police could ask them to quiet down, but couldn't do anything if they didn't. Now they can. This will help the town address one of the biggest issues brought up by residents dealing with STRs: Noise.

The town is also working on updating parking ordinances to limit on-street parking as an adjunct to the STR zoning ordinance which also has some parking requirements, particularly involving overnight parking.

[Weekend Pundit]

The Gilford Planning Board is holding a work session on Monday May 2nd at 7pm in Gilford Town Hall Meeting Room A. The Planning Board will be continuing work on the proposed Short Term Rental ordinance.

The focus of the ordinance is on so-called commercial STR operators. While the ordinances focus mostly on those commercial STRs, some will have some small effect on owner-occupied STRs.

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by Descant

I remember Grossman's, not Gerrity. Did one replace the other? My speculation is that condo owners and those who rent them, are more apt to rent/stay for a week whereas motels of the day were more apt to have folks stay for a weekend. When I worked at a local restaurant as a teenager, the weekend traffic was significantly greater than mid-week.

I would surmise the same that both are STR, but a condo rental is... or at least was... longer - more like the two week time share options that existed.
But if the motel room turns over and has the same occupancy... it really should be the motel patrons that would have a greater amount of money to unload in a shorter period. If I am only a day or two in an area... the process of grocery shopping and preparing a meal is rather bothersome than just dining out for all three meals.