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Graham, Donna

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From: katerina zacharopoulos QR

Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2022 9:23 AM

To: Board of Aldermen

Subject: Barriers

CAUTION: This email came from outside of the organization. Do not click links/open attachments if source is unknown.

Good morning,
| have been a lifelong resident here in beautiful, Nashua, New Hampshire. | am here to express my concerns regarding
the barriers. The fact that there’s a possibility of them returning (for three more years at that) is just unnecessary.

| understand that during covid it was needed for the restaurants to survive when indoor dining wasn’t allowed. But why
push it when things are almost back to normal now? Indoor dining is allowed and there is still plenty of space for
restaurants on Main Street to have outdoor dining. Why close a whole lane for this? Put peoples live at risk who are in
need of emergency services? What about the other businesses that didn’t have that option? They are doing what they
can to get back on their feet and are for the most part, regaining business back.

| just don’t think it’s necessary moving forward to do this. Nashua isn’t a St. Catherine’s Ave in Montreal, a Faneuil Hall in
Boston or a Riga Fereou in Patras, Greece. It is a city where cars are heavily used in downtown. | personally have avoided
Nashua at all costs during the barriers. Not to mention eating next to a lane of traffic and fumes. The noise doesn’t
bother me because there’s where cars belong in the first place. So don’t get me started on the people that complain
about that. Businesses did find before the barriers. Did they help? I’m sure it did. But Nashua deserves to operate and
look better like it once did.

These barriers look absolutely horrendous. | have to give respect to the local artists who did great and all with their
beautiful artistic skills, which | can’t discredit. However, the majority of the barriers art weren’t even completed. No
matter how beautiful art can be it’s still on a barrier that makes downtown look like a third world country (I’ve traveled

the whole world and seen this first hand).

In closing, it’s time we get back to normal again. Covid is almost behind us, why keep a reminder of it? Not to mention
the unnecessary traffic, safety concerns and unappealing looks these barriers cause. They served their purpose when
they needed to. We are past that now. | hope to see Nashua the way it looked a few years ago. It’ll make myself and
everyone | know want to actually go back and visit all the businesses.

Kind regards,
Katerina Sousa
3 Ritter Street, Nashua NH 03060

Graham, Donna
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From: Ee
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2022 9:44 AM

To: Board of Aldermen

Subject: Re: Jersey barriers on Main Street

importance: High

CAUTION: This email came from outside of the organization. Do not click links/open attachments if source is
unknown.

Attn: Board of Aldermen,

| would like to express my concerns regarding the Jersey Barriers that are being considering to be put back into place so
that restaurants can once again extend their business into the parking spaces and traffic lanes of Main Street.

The barriers were supposed to be a temporary means for restaurants to conduct business when indoor dining was either
prohibited or limited. | see no justifiable reason why the restaurants can’t go back to the sidewalk dining that they
enjoyed prior to the pandemic. The restaurants have been allowed 100% capacity indoors for quite some time

now. They thrived before the pandemic with the sidewalk seating and it was enjoyable and welcoming. Parking was in
demand but not impossible with availability of the metered parking on either side of Main Street.

The most concerning of all to oppose the use of the barriers (and that should be enough) is safety.

The barriers present a safety issue, which has also been expressed by first responders. Their response time has
been increased due to the inability to travel Main Street safely and quickly when needed. It may not seem like a
lot of time to you, but to someone who is trapped in a fire or having a medical emergency, those few minutes
may mean the difference between life and death.

When the barriers are in place, people are force into the street because the barriers block passage onthe
sidewalks. The traffic lanes are already crowded and the added foot traffic combined with vehicular traffic could
spell disaster to those left vulnerable in the space not meant for pedestrians. How can it be denied that this isn’t
safe?

There is also the inability of the handicapped to access Main Street businesses and share in the enjoyment of
our town’s Main Street; restaurants and non-restaurants alike. By removing the parking on Main Street and
surrounding areas, you are effectively blocking the disable from patronizing these businesses. | seriously doubt
that the taxpayers of Nashua meant to give exclusive use of Main Street to the able-bodied to enjoy. | would be
very surprised if there weren’t regulations and laws (ADA) that would indicate that the barriers were in

violation.

There is elderly housing on East Pearl that already struggle to find a space to park near their homes. There is
ONE HP parking space and they, and/or their guests (home assistants, family members, medical aid) have to
compete with the businesses to utilize the metered parking. Even if they are lucky enough to get a parking space
nearby, the metered spaces only allow 90 minutes to 2 hours maximum, or you run the risk of being

ticketed. Have you ever escorted someone who uses a walker? The time it takes for them to go to and from
parking spaces leaves little time to do what they were there to do.

1

When the barriers are in place, the entire left section of East Pearl Street is void of parking AND the left lane is
also gone. When the left lane is blocked, as it has been when the barriers were in place, traffic must squish into
the one remaining lane. It takes three cycles of lights just to cross Main Street.

There are many taxpayers that travel Main Street or the surrounding streets to get to their place of employment or
other places, that have to endure a clogged Main Street AND the surrounding streets, in order to bypass Main

Street. Why should people trying to earn a living have to sacrifice their time to accommodate people who are only
thinking only of themselves and their outdoor dining experience. Restaurants do not pay for the additional space they
have enjoyed. Taxpayers do!

The parkway was built to relieve Main Street traffic. Taxpayers footed the bill for that too. Now we are considering
intentionally clogging Main Street to vehicular traffic so that restaurants can enhance their business and the patrons
can dine outdcears on the good days, leaving the blockage to remain when not in use. Why should restaurants be given
special privileges at the expense of the taxpayers and to the detriment of non-restaurant business that don’t enjoy the
same accommodations?

Please vote in opposition of returning the Jersey Barriers on Main Street and surrounding areas.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Valli Stewart

19 Harvard Street
Nashua, NH 03060

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Graham, Donna

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From: mrlaus

Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2022 10:41 AM

To: Board of Aldermen

Subject: Barriers

CAUTION: This email came from outside of the organization. Do not click links/open attachments if source is
unknown.

Dear Committee,

I don't think downtown should put the barriers back. If you remember, they were put up so the restraunts could
have more space. They don't need it now !! I know a few owners of restraunts on Main St....and I still feel like
our City needs to get back to normal as soon as possible.

Those cement barriers, no matter what you try to do to them....they still look horrific lining our beautiful Main
Street !!

What does our City get from this, other than TRAFFIC JAMS and A VERY UGLY MAIN STREET !! The
only winners are the restraunt owners because they get all this extra Real Estate for FREE....OF COURSE

THEY WANT YOU TO PASS IT !!!

PLEASE DON'T EXPLOIT OUR BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN !!
Thank You,

Sincerely,

JoAnne Gaudreau

165 Pine St.

Nashua,NH
03060

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Graham, Donna

From: Lori Breen

Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2022 11:31 AM
To: Board of Aldermen

Ce: Lopez, Thomas; Wilshire, Lori

Subject: Downtown Barriers

CAUTION: This email came from outside of the organization. Do not click links/open attachments if source is
unknown.

Dear Board of Alderman,

| am writing in opposition of the proposal to install concrete barriers for expanded outdoor dining for
the next three years. I've been a citizen of Nashua for most of my life and | take pride in my
community. This decision, at minimum, should not be rushed into without taking the time to ensure a
true compromise is reached for everyone; restaurant owners, retail establishments, and members of
the public. Even if outdoor dining has the support of the city, this version of the proposal has not
been adequately discussed. The City should want all downtown businesses to succeed - this feels
like only a select, hand-picked few have been chosen and that simply is not right.

The first year the concrete barriers where installed, | understood that it was extraordinary times that
required extraordinary measures and | wrongly assumed it was a one-time occurrence. When the
barriers were installed last year, | honestly wasn't pleased, nor did | support them being there for a
number of reasons.

1) The City spent a lot of money (tax payer's money) improving Nashua's downtown and the barriers
ruin those improvements - they make downtown look awful.

2) The congestion created by the installation of these barriers is significant. Main Street has two
lanes for traffic in each direction for a reason; the barriers create significant bottlenecks - try getting to
the hospital from the other end of Main St. Don't expect that short distance to quick trip - not for the
citizens of Nashua, the general public, or emergency vehicles. It shouldn't take as long as it does in
Boston, especially since we don't live in Boston.

3) The exhaust fumes that linger while you are waiting in traffic during the hot summer are significant
and uncomfortable, as well as unhealthy.

4) When barriers are in place, there is truly next to no available parking.

5) Navigating downtown becomes unmanageable and often unsafe for pedestrians and bicyclist.
To reiterate my position, | am opposed to installing concrete barriers, particularly for the next three
years and | strongly request you vote against the proposal. If you are not prepared to vote against it
today, | am asking you NOT to rush this decision through without first taking the time to reach a real

compromise for all businesses and every citizen of Nashua.

Thank you for serving our City and doing what is in the best interest of all of us, not just a select few.

Sincerely,

Lori Breen

Citizen, Ward Four
15 Intervale Street
Nashua, NH 03064

Graham, Donna

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From: Lisa Lewis
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2022 11:23 AM
To: Board of Aldermen
Ce: Graham, Donna
Subject: Downtown Dining Barricades

CAUTION: This email came from outside of the organization. Do not click links/open attachments if source is
unknown.

Aldermen of Nashua,

I am an employee of a downtown business and want to inform you that I am AGAINST the new
ordinance being voted upon by the alderman this month of March. I am AGAINST the
continuation of the barricades which reduce parking spaces. I am AGAINST reducing the
four traffic lanes going north and south through downtown to two. It creates a
bottleneck for my commute in the morning and in the evening. It is frustrating for both
employees and our loyal customers to have all this congestion with only two lanes of
continuous traffic. Downtown roads have commercial trucks; freight companies like UPS,
FedEx, Amazon, USPS, etc; plus customer and employee traffic.

I continue to enjoy the outdoor dining of the restaurants on the sidewalk, I am for
having the tables and chairs in front of the boundaries of the restaurant. I am AGAINST
the extended outdoor dining which places tables and chairs in the parking areas. It
crowds out our customers who are patronizing the many downtown businesses.

We want an active and vibrant downtown. We want all local businesses to succeed.
Restaurants are not the only businesses downtown. The rest of the us deserve a chance
too.

Sincerely,
Lisa Ginsburg Lewis

21 Colonial Dr
Londonderry, NH 03053

Graham, Donna

From: Kenneth Demont Sse apron ead
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2022 12:
To: Board of Aldermen

Subject: Opposed to Barriers on Main St

CAUTION: This email came from outside of the organization. Do not click links/open attachments if source is unknown.

Nashua BOA,

| am opposed to having the barriers remain on Main Street now, and certainly do not support having them for three
more years.

if we are going to have them, rent should be imposed on participating businesses for the extra space.

Kenneth Demont
94 Cannongate Ill
Nashua, NH 03063

Graham, Donna

Le aD
From: Bzebuhr

Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2022 12:08 PM

To: Board of Aldermen

Subject: Lane Closures in Nashua

CAUTION: This email came from outside of the organization. Do not click links/open attachments if source is
unknown.

Dear Aldermen,

This is to let you know that | am opposed to lane closures in Nashua, including concrete barriers on Main Street, and the
lane restrictions allowed on East Dunstable Road at the sledding hill.

These lane blockages are a safety hazard and downtown an eye sore that degrades the City.
Bill Zebuhr

6 Southgate Drive
Nashua

Graham, Donna

From: Bil

Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2022 1:15 PM
To: Board of Aldermen

Subject: Proposed barriers in downtown Nashua

CAUTION: This email came from outside of the organization. Do not click links/open attachments if source is unknown.

Dear BoA,

As patrons who frequent downtown restaurants and other businesses we wish to object to additional barriers for
expanded outdoor dining. Parking is severely limited as is. Sidewalk dining is fine and indoor dining is now possible.
Additional congestion makes getting downtown to enjoy the city a real chore and also creates safety issues for
emergency vehicle access. This is true in other parts of the city as well. Roby Park sledding hill is a good example.

Fratello’s cited parking, and servicing expanded outdoor dining as a big reason they could not justify continuing
operations in the Nashua location, as did Villa Banco before them (even without the addition parking constraints}.

Please use some good old common sense and keep the city center and all its businesses accessible and safe for for
everyone.

Sincerely,
William and Sharon Lockwood
398 East Dunstable Rd

Nashua, N.H.

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