http://www.cumberlink.com/articles/2006/06/14/news/news20.txt
Site Update: Jun 14, 2006 - 01:13:33 pm EDT
Local News
Carlisle to Car Shows: Oh no! Don’t leave!
By John Hilton, Sentinel Reporter, June 14, 2006
Business and political leaders in Carlisle are not ready to concede the loss of Carlisle Productions and its signature car shows just yet.
Still, most who spoke to The Sentinel Tuesday were not surprised by the company’s announcement that it has a buyer for the 82-acre Carlisle Fairgrounds and is prepared to pack up its lucrative car show business and start over somewhere else.
Carlisle Productions CEO John Detrick says the company cannot co-exist with a $6 million "Readiness Center" proposed by the Pennsylvania Army National Guard unit land is owns adjacent to the east side of the fairgrounds.
The company has taken the first step towards liquidating its assets — listing its Carlisle Expo Center at the intersection of North West and K streets with Landmark Realty for $3.5 million.
Tremendous loss
While borough observers differ on how serious the threat is, they all agree that Carlisle Productions would be a tremendous loss.
"The car shows have put Carlisle on the map," says Nick Mallios, who owns Sunnyside Restaurant with his wife Linda."We travel quite a bit and it’s amazing how many people know about Carlisle because of the car shows."
Located on North Hanover Street, Sunnyside is within walking distance of the fairgrounds and the Mallios’ have gotten to know many car show customers over the years.
"If you take the entire car show season, I would say the shows themselves contribute about 25 percent of our business for the year," Nick Mallios says. "It would have a real impact on us."
One hearing held
North Middleton Township Supervisors held one public hearing on the Pennsylvania Army National Guard unit’s conditional use application for a 38,749-square-foot readiness center to be built on the armory’s 45 acres.
The Army National Guard then asked for the hearing to be continued.
What has Carlisle Productions ready to pack up and leave is the unit’s transformation into a Stryker brigade.
The armored combat Stryker, the Army’s newest troop transport vehicle, moves quickly and quietly on wheels rather than tracks.
The vehicle features new cannons, digitized and automated equipment, a tactical intranet to communicate on the battlefield and artillery computers.
Pennsylvania is the only state whose National Guard has been commissioned to house a Stryker brigade, officials have said.
The five other Stryker brigades in the country are part of the active Army.
Since the transformation is still under way at Carlisle Armory, officials say the unit has not been deployed to fight yet — but its members are being prepared for that.
Carlisle Productions is worried that security will be tightened, which would cripple a big car show, as well as liability issues.
Relies on guard
The company relies on the Army National Guard site to provide much needed parking.
Detrick says Carlisle Productions wants to stay and Carlisle Mayor Kirk Wilson believes him.
"They have a true desire to stay where they’re located. They’re feeling some frustration and justifiably so," Wilson says. "I don’t think the issue is finalized yet and I’m not sure that it’s close to being finalized."
Chamber may take stand
Michelle Crowley, president of the Greater Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce, says she believes the company could bolt. The chamber board meets this week and may take a position on the issue.
"We don’t want to see them go," Crowley says. "I think the hoteliers are going to be most adamant about keeping them."
Dee Fegan, owner of Pheasant Field Bed and Breakfast in Middlesex Township, says her rooms are full "every car show weekend."
"Because they’ve been coming for so many years they’re doing other things now besides just the car shows," she adds.
"For example, my Corvette people took one day off from the car show last year to do a tour of the covered bridges in Perry County."
‘Mixed emotions’
Still, Crowley says there may be "mixed emotions" within the community about the car shows leaving Carlisle.
Residents often complain about the traffic associated with the shows.
In recent years, a compact car show aimed at the younger crowd resulted in petty crime incidents and several arrests by area police.
500,000 visitors annually
Carlisle Productions conducts 11 shows annually and brings 500,000 visitors per year. The events bring in $97 million annually to the local economy, company officials said last year.
"From both an economic development and tourism marketing perspective, we recognize the enormous value of their presence as well as the benefits of their investment in marketing the Carlisle area nationally and internationally," says Douglas Wendt, executive director of Cumberland County Economic Development and the Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau.
Site Update: Jun 14, 2006 - 01:13:33 pm EDT
Local News
Carlisle to Car Shows: Oh no! Don’t leave!
By John Hilton, Sentinel Reporter, June 14, 2006
Business and political leaders in Carlisle are not ready to concede the loss of Carlisle Productions and its signature car shows just yet.
Still, most who spoke to The Sentinel Tuesday were not surprised by the company’s announcement that it has a buyer for the 82-acre Carlisle Fairgrounds and is prepared to pack up its lucrative car show business and start over somewhere else.
Carlisle Productions CEO John Detrick says the company cannot co-exist with a $6 million "Readiness Center" proposed by the Pennsylvania Army National Guard unit land is owns adjacent to the east side of the fairgrounds.
The company has taken the first step towards liquidating its assets — listing its Carlisle Expo Center at the intersection of North West and K streets with Landmark Realty for $3.5 million.
Tremendous loss
While borough observers differ on how serious the threat is, they all agree that Carlisle Productions would be a tremendous loss.
"The car shows have put Carlisle on the map," says Nick Mallios, who owns Sunnyside Restaurant with his wife Linda."We travel quite a bit and it’s amazing how many people know about Carlisle because of the car shows."
Located on North Hanover Street, Sunnyside is within walking distance of the fairgrounds and the Mallios’ have gotten to know many car show customers over the years.
"If you take the entire car show season, I would say the shows themselves contribute about 25 percent of our business for the year," Nick Mallios says. "It would have a real impact on us."
One hearing held
North Middleton Township Supervisors held one public hearing on the Pennsylvania Army National Guard unit’s conditional use application for a 38,749-square-foot readiness center to be built on the armory’s 45 acres.
The Army National Guard then asked for the hearing to be continued.
What has Carlisle Productions ready to pack up and leave is the unit’s transformation into a Stryker brigade.
The armored combat Stryker, the Army’s newest troop transport vehicle, moves quickly and quietly on wheels rather than tracks.
The vehicle features new cannons, digitized and automated equipment, a tactical intranet to communicate on the battlefield and artillery computers.
Pennsylvania is the only state whose National Guard has been commissioned to house a Stryker brigade, officials have said.
The five other Stryker brigades in the country are part of the active Army.
Since the transformation is still under way at Carlisle Armory, officials say the unit has not been deployed to fight yet — but its members are being prepared for that.
Carlisle Productions is worried that security will be tightened, which would cripple a big car show, as well as liability issues.
Relies on guard
The company relies on the Army National Guard site to provide much needed parking.
Detrick says Carlisle Productions wants to stay and Carlisle Mayor Kirk Wilson believes him.
"They have a true desire to stay where they’re located. They’re feeling some frustration and justifiably so," Wilson says. "I don’t think the issue is finalized yet and I’m not sure that it’s close to being finalized."
Chamber may take stand
Michelle Crowley, president of the Greater Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce, says she believes the company could bolt. The chamber board meets this week and may take a position on the issue.
"We don’t want to see them go," Crowley says. "I think the hoteliers are going to be most adamant about keeping them."
Dee Fegan, owner of Pheasant Field Bed and Breakfast in Middlesex Township, says her rooms are full "every car show weekend."
"Because they’ve been coming for so many years they’re doing other things now besides just the car shows," she adds.
"For example, my Corvette people took one day off from the car show last year to do a tour of the covered bridges in Perry County."
‘Mixed emotions’
Still, Crowley says there may be "mixed emotions" within the community about the car shows leaving Carlisle.
Residents often complain about the traffic associated with the shows.
In recent years, a compact car show aimed at the younger crowd resulted in petty crime incidents and several arrests by area police.
500,000 visitors annually
Carlisle Productions conducts 11 shows annually and brings 500,000 visitors per year. The events bring in $97 million annually to the local economy, company officials said last year.
"From both an economic development and tourism marketing perspective, we recognize the enormous value of their presence as well as the benefits of their investment in marketing the Carlisle area nationally and internationally," says Douglas Wendt, executive director of Cumberland County Economic Development and the Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau.
