Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Downtown Events topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Downtown business owner says LH Jams street closures cut off storefronts; urges greater consultation
Summary
Alex Costanza, a downtown business owner, told council the LH Jams street layout and vendor placement effectively blocked foot traffic past his storefront and called for more business consultation in future event planning.
Alex Costanza, who identified himself during public comment as a downtown business owner, told the council he was "incredibly disappointed" with the street-closure plan for the LH Jams event because the stage and vendor layout prevented normal foot traffic from reaching his storefront. He said multiple downtown businesses were bypassed by vendor placement on one side of the stage and urged the city to involve affected businesses — either through Downtown Lock Haven or direct outreach — in event planning.
Costanza said he generally supports street closures as a community amenity but that the way this event was staged had a negative retail impact on some businesses, particularly those that rely on daily sales. He suggested the city and event organizers adopt a more comprehensive process for consulting or notifying downtown merchants about vendor placement before approving closures.
Council members acknowledged the concern and suggested staff follow up with the event organizer (arts/cultural groups were mentioned) and Downtown Lock Haven management to pursue better coordination on future closures. No formal action was taken during the meeting beyond the request for follow-up.
