Search

ifvetets601) Nashua \

Action: Collaborate

with regional transit
authorities to improve
regional public
transportation options
for City residents, visitors
and workers to reduce
reliance on automobiles.

Recommendation 1

https://imagine.nashuanh.gov

Recommendation 3

Timeframe: Ongoing
Expand transportation services

for seniors to encourage aging in
place.

Recommendation 2

Timeframe: Ongoing/Long-term

Improve frequency on key Nashua
Transit System routes.

Recommendation 4

Timeframe: Ongoing

Implement bus lanes, improved
transit shelters, and transit
signal timing in coordination with
Nashua Transit System and other
regional transit authorities to
improve bus operations.

Timeframe: Mid-term

Expand Nashua Transit System
route in the evenings, on
weekends, and on holidays so
transit is a reliable option for
everyone.

Recommendation 5
Timeframe: Ongoing

Advocate for new Nashua
Transit System and regional
transportation routes to cover
more of the places people live,
work, and visit in Nashua.

a . a aa
=

Pd

CePA Sra a of LS ae Nes es Uae RAE, ol Vee
, a =~ ele diy, VED ey Ae
‘ aaa 2

ait]

es) Fs =

Nashua Ride and [ie event =

= a >
—

ifvetets601) Nashua \

Top Goal 2:

Carbon-free
Transportation and
Building Design
Advance carbon-free
transportation and building
design to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions.

Action: Encourage the
accelerated adoption of
electric vehicles.

Recommendation 1

Timeframe: Near-term/Ongoing

Develop public awareness
campaigns to encourage
consumer purchase of electric
vehicles.

- Provide training for City staff
to understand the benefits
of electric vehicles and
infrastructure needed to
increase charging capacity for
the City.

* Provide workshop and event
days to educate the public on
the benefits of switching to
electric.

https://imagine.nashuanh.gov

Recommendation 2

Timeframe: Near-term/Ongoing

Increase availability of charging

stations throughout the city.

- Upgrade land use codes
to have underground
infrastructure for charging to be
run at the exterior of residential
parking lots.

- Add two Level 3 DCFC charging
stations to each downtown
parking garage (High Street and
Elm Street)

- After that, add one more Level
3 DCFC station each year until
there are ten stations in each
downtown parking garage.

» Eliminate any property
tax increase that could be
associated with adding a
charging station to a residence,
workplace, or shopping center.

- Facilitate the creation of
additional privately-owned but
publicly-accessible Level 2
charging stations.

- Increase the number of
City-owned Level 2 charging
stations.

- Develop requirement for
new construction to require
publicly-accessible charging
stations

* Continue to partner with the
state and region to implement
electric corridor study, to
continue locating more stations
citywide.

Recommendation 3

Timeframe: Near-term/Ongoing

Increase number of City-owned

electric vehicles.

* Require any new municipal
vehicle be evaluated if feasible
to be an electric vehicle and
transition towards zero-
emission municipal vehicles by
2040.

* Develop procurement
procedure to incentivize
and prioritize purchasing for
electric vehicles.

- Meet with city staff including
emergency management
(police, fire, emt) and
determine need, feasibility and
cost of phasing in new electric
vehicles

» Assess the feasibility of
electrifying the school bus
fleet.

Recommendation 4

Timeframe: Near-term

Ensure that new development is
EV-ready, and consider right-to-
charge ordinance for multifamily
housing (and private ownership

communities).

Electrical vehicle charging station at Pheasant Lane Mall

Comprehensive Master Plan

Mobility and Transit

109

ifvetets601) Nashua \

https://imagine.nashuanh.gov

Action: Leverage land use Action: Phase out primary

regulations and zoning fossil fuel systems for
policy to reduce the heating and appliances
climate impact of new and encourage the retrofit
development. of full electrification

of primary sources for

Recommendation 1 existing buildings.

Timeframe: Near-term Timeframe: Mid-term

Create design and performance-
based guidelines to address
environmental impacts of new
development following green
building standards.

Action: Achieve citywide
carbon neutral electricity
by 2050.

Recommendation 1

Timeframe: Near-term/Ongoing

Uphold citywide policy of not
taxing rooftop solar until 2050.

Recommendation 2

Timeframe: Near-term/Ongoing

Have 25% of buildings in Nashua
be solar-powered by 2050.

Recommendation 3

Timeframe: Near-term/Ongoing

Implement a community power
program with the goal of investing
in community held renewables
and bring the entire city electric
portfolio to 100% renewable by
2050.

Recommendation 4

Timeframe: Near-term/Ongoing

Add solar or buy green energy for
every city owned structure with
charging stations.

Action: Support any future
federal or state carbon tax
or cap and trade programs
that are implemented, at
the level of the Mayor or
Board of Aldermen.

Timeframe: Near-term

Comprehensive Master Plan

Mobility and Transit

111

Like many cities in the region, the demand for
housing of all types and price points continues to
rise in Nashua, driving up sales and rent prices
across the city. The effects of rising costs will be
most felt by the city’s vulnerable populations.

Imagine Nashua Is committed to providing a mix
of affordable and quality housing options that
accommodate varying needs of individuals and
families across all of Nashua’s neighborhoods.

Nashua Today:

Housing

The 2020 Housing Study outlined
five key considerations for housing
in Nashua including: planning for
how and where housing growth
should take place in the city,
expanding access to affordable
housing options across the city,
minimizing displacement of low
income households, employing
strategies to improve the quality
of the housing stock in the
Downtown area, and capitalizing
on strategic partnerships with
housing resources and agencies.

New apartment complex in Nashua

Findings from the study revealed
very limited vacancy in both owner
and rental markets in Nashua,

as demand for all housing types
continues to rise in the city. Rent
and sales prices continue to rise
(the average sale price fora home
in Nashua has grown 19% since
2010, while median rents are

up 19% since 2013). The rise in
housing costs will be most felt by
residents in the Downtown area,
where most renters, lower-income
households and older housing
stock in need of rehabilitation are
located.The study also highlights
that Nashua’s fastest growing

Comprehensive Master Plan

Housing

2020 Housing Study

In fall 2020, the City
completed a Housing Study
that looked at the state of the
local and regional housing
market, identified key housing
issues and challenges

facing Nashua, and provided
strategies for implementation.
The study outlined five key
considerations for housing in
Nashua including: planning
for how and where housing
growth should take place in
the city, addressing issues of
affordability and displacement
of low income households,
employing strategies to
improve the quality of the
housing stock in the Downtown
area, and capitalizing on
strategic partnerships with
housing resources.

113

Imagine TEENA

Housing Stats
(based on 2018 data)

Median Household Income:
$321,300

Median gross rent: $1,287
75% of Nashua’s owner-
occupied housing stock is

valued at or above $200,000

41% Cost Burdened Renter
Households

3.1% of Nashua’s housing
stock classified as vacant

age cohort are those residents 55
years and older, driving demand
for smaller units accommodating
single-and two-person
households.

Imagine Nashua’s housing goals
are informed by the findings from
the 2020 Housing Study and the
actions and recommendations

in this section build upon
recommendations directly

from the study. In addition to
providing strategies for improving
housing policy related to housing
distribution typologies, housing
affordability and stability, Imagine
Nashua also believes that planning
for future housing should not be
in isolation of other factors, but

Units in Structure

Nashua’s housing stock is predominantly single-family.
There is an opportunity in Nashua to expand its housing
stock to accommodate population and employment

growth.

20+ Unit

10-19 Unit
5-9 Unit
3-4 Unit

2-Unit

1-Unit

Source: NHGIS, ACS 2011, 2019

114

2013 2018

https://imagine.nashuanh.gov

with access to opportunities,
transit, and amenities in mind.

The scenario visions for the Daniel
Webster College site and the
Beazer Remediation site [see Land
Use section], developed through
discussion with the community,
showcase potential mixed-
income and multi-generational
neighborhood layouts (appropriate
to surrounding context) with varied
housing options, and access to
community amenities.

Key Findings from
the 2020 Housing
Study

Nashua is a growing city.
Nashua’s population has risen
rapidly since 1970, adding nearly
30,000 new residents. Growth is
projected to continue through the
year 2030 with the city adding
another 8,000 residents between
2018 and 2030. Nashua’s fastest
growing age cohort are those
residents 55 years and older, while
middle age residents 35 to 54 are
shrinking

Nashua’s population is
diversifying and with it comes
income disparity. The number of
Black, Asian, and Hispanic/Latino
residents increased between
2013 and 2018 but White and
Asian households continue to earn
2.5+ times the income as Black
and Hispanic/Latino households.

Comprehensive Master Plan

Housing

Planning for future housing should not be in isolation of other factors,
but with access to opportunities, transit, and amenities in mind.

This has impacts on affordability,
ability to pay for housing, and
concentrations of lower income
households in certain parts of the
city.

ONE- and TWO-person
households are driving growth.
Single-person and two-person
households increased 12% and
22%, respectively between 2013
and 2018. These two categories
brought in nearly 1,500 new
households to the city. Larger
households are not increasing

at nearly the same rate. This is
translating into demand for smaller
units, particularly smaller rental
units,

Nashua’s residents are more
educated and have higher
household incomes than in
decades past. Nashua saw its
number of households earning
over $200,000 a year increase

by over 60% from 2013 to 2018.
In fact, nearly every income
cohort grew except those earning
less than $50,000 per year. This
correlates with the rapid rise in
educational attainment. Residents
with Bachelor’s degrees or higher
increased 11%.

Household income for renters is
growing at the highest income
levels. The number of renter
households earning $75,000 or
more jumped significantly between
2013 and 2018. This is likely
fueling demand for newer, higher

Change in Households by Tenure and Size 2013-2018

40%
22%

20%
ne 10% 5
5 4% 3% 6%
0% = —= = =
A% a -A% A%
-20% “139

-40%

1-person 2-person 3-person 5-person 4-person
household household household household household

W Owner-Household Renter-Household

Since 2013, the percent of
renter occupied housing in
Nashua has increased. In
the City, one person renter
households have increased
ey A by 12% while two person
renter households have
increased by 22%. These
percentages will continue to
grow as more rental housing
is built and existing housing
is converted into rental units.

Owner-occupied

Source: NHGIS, ACS 2011, 2019

priced rental units across the city
and pushing prices upward as
these households can afford rents
at the top of Nashua’s market.

115