POLL: Convention Center in Havre de Grace?
Harford County is hoping to bring a convention center to the area.
A photo of the 1997 Paresi Design Study's proposed Water Street hotel and conference center.
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With Tuesday's news of Harford County exploring a convention center for the region, I ask: Why not in Havre de Grace?
The logical location of such a facility may be Aberdeen or Riverside—with the proximity to Aberdeen Proving Ground, the county's hotels and Interstate 95.
But what about somewhere close to I-95 in Havre de Grace? Or along the city's picturesque waterfront?
As featured in last month's Patch series, the 1997 Paresi Study recommended three sites for conference center/hotel projects on the Havre de Grace waterfront.
TELL US: Do you think Havre de Grace could sustain a conference center or convention center? Leave a comment and vote in our poll.
Brent
8:03 pm on Thursday, March 1, 2012
Why the hell not? We're about the only place in the county that offers more to do than just shopping national-chain retail. It would be a wonderful catalyst to boosting the business district.
Annie McLhinney Cochran
7:02 am on Friday, March 2, 2012
It would make more sense to put it along the water. Competition of Convention business is a tough nut to crack and you have to have an edge. The best edge is usually the views surrounding the facility. We could surely find a spot. Would be a great boost for businesses.
Tom Barnes
9:07 am on Friday, March 2, 2012
Do we really want yet another building on the water to obscure the view? Keep it up on the hill. Or better yet, isn't it time to shut down the quarry and give the rumbling an blasting a break. Put it there - it'll have waterviews.
Interest will still be drawn to downtown. You can place a good bet that Brigette Peters will see to that!
DGriffin
9:11 am on Friday, March 2, 2012
I just love the idea!!! It will bring business to this area and will help locals to have an opportunity to work close to home. Actually, this will also promote investors to look at HDG for future businesses, LOVE IT!!
sara
9:52 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
Why would you put a convention center in Havre de Grace? Havre de Grace isn't even mentioned in the recently released study.
Michael E. Forgey
11:35 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
Get rid of the private boat bone yards and allow only public enjoyable properties, e.g., have this convention center be on the water but allow, as with all waterfront acreage, people to walk the entire length and tie in to Joe K's trail. More or less open or a continuous walk/promenade with businesses backing the access.
Jessica
5:32 pm on Saturday, March 3, 2012
I think it would be horrible to put a convention center along the waterfront. I dont think we need anymore buildings right on the water taking up the view and causing more traffic downtown . . . just my opinion.
Brent
9:55 pm on Saturday, March 3, 2012
People critical of the idea keep mentioning the view..even though the view is already taken up in large by eyesores. Boatyards, marinas, empty buildings, bare lots. There is really not so much of a view for anyone more than a block or two inward regardless of what's at the water's edge anyway. But I'd rather see a architecturally sound hotel/convention center than probably 85% of what occupies the waterfront already.
People are always concerned about vacant storefronts and the health of the downtown district, why not make a strong anchor to draw visitors downtown? We literally have nothing to do so, not big attraction, no hotel, virtually nothing to get people downtown on a regular basis,.just a jumble of scattered events.