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UR EAN DESIGN assocrates Nashua Downtown Master Plan

There are, however, similarities. Like 45
Riverfront West, Riverfront East is pro-
posed to become a single place on both
sides of the river with the river as the
focus. The current trails are discontinu-
ous, inaccessible, and perceived as dan-

gerous. Many of the buildings back onto

the river with parking lots, service alleys,

and backyards.

Initiatives

A Library and
Performing Arts Center
B New Temple Street
neighborbood housing
and Riverfront Park

C Riverfront East
Park

D Railroad Square

revitalization

URBAN DESIGN ASSOCIATES

Riverfront East Park

A new riverfront park is proposed along
both sides of the river. The park will be
narrow and linear. It will be active with
trails but not with recreation areas. The
dam and the railroad bridge should be
developed with pedestrian and bike
trails. The trail on the south side of the
Nashua River should be improved with
additional connections to an extended
Park Street and selective clearing of trees

and shrubbery.

Nashua Downtown Master Plan

The large parking lot between Canal 46
Street and the Nashua River should be
improved to be more appropriate for a
riverfront and park setting. A parking lot
will remain for BAE Systems and other
businesses along Canal Street and Rail-
road Square. A pedestrian bridge built
atop the existing dam would connect this
parking resource to the south side of the
River - particularly to the proposed Per-
forming Art Center at 14 Court Street.
The parking lot could be shared by park

users on weekends. A trail head for the

Ilustrative Plan of
Riverfront East Park
(top)

Existing section of
north bank of Nashua
River (middle}

Proposed section of
north bank of Nashua

NORTH EAST RMERREEAT SECTION

River (bottom)

NORTH BAST RMERREEAT SECTION | PRorGES

DESIGN ASSOCIATES

park system and regional trail system
should be developed at this location.

The rail right-of-way along the north
side of the Nashua River can be utilized
for a trail connection between the bridge
and Riverfront West park, but can also
be used as a connection between Rail-
road Square and a future commuter rail
station, proposed to be located in the
vicinity of East Hollis Street near the
Merrimack River. This rail line is cur-
rently active (with extremely light use)
providing rail access to towns west of
Nashua. redevelopment of the rail line
and areas around the rail line would have
to be consistent with continued use of
the rail line.

Nashua Public Library andThe Per-
forming Arts Center

The Nashua Public Library is a valuable
resource for the City. It is the most active
library in northern New England. As an
important cultural resource, however, it
suffers from inaccessibility and a lack of
defined parking. The Master Plan pro-
poses an extension of Park Street
between 14 Court Street and the Library
along the riverfront to Temple Street.
This new road will provide a common
front door and entry sequence for both
the Library and 14 Court Street, at the
terminus of the Spring Street Institu-
tional and Cultural Spine.

14 Court Street should be redevel-
oped as the proposed Performing Arts
Center. Whereas there are no high qual-
ity facilities for Performing Arts in

Nashua, the nearby cities of Portsmouth,

Nashua Downtown Master Plan

Keene, and Manchester have quality ven-
ues for audiences of approximately 850.

There is a market in Nashua for a
400 seat facility. However this size could
increase anywhere from 400 to 1000
seats if justified by the market, commu-
nity interest, funding, and the needs of
performance groups within the City.

The construction of a facility of this
size was analyzed in depth in a previous
Performing Arts Feasibility Study. The
issues surrounding this cultural develop-
ment are discussed in the Market Study
Appendix of this report. The 14 Court
Street location for the Performing Arts
Center is recommended by both the pre-
vious study and this Master Plan, how-
ever, is agreed upon between the
Feasibility Study and this Master Plan,
as an appropriately prominent site within
walking distance of Main Street.

Parking resources will need to be cre-

ated for a new Performing Arts Center.

Parking
Structu

47

Illustrative Plan of the
proposed street and
plaza between the
Performing Arts Center
and Nashua Public
Library

DESIGN ASSOCIATES

A new parking garage may have to be
built to support this facility. A site along
Spring Street, just south of Temple
Street, is recommended. The BAE Sys-
tems parking lot, located on the north
side of the river should be considered a
parking resource for the Performing Arts
Center. If the dam structure is modified
to contain a pedestrian walk, the BAE
Parking lot will be less than a five minute

walk from the Performing Art Center.

Nashua Downtown Master Plan

Temple Street Neighborhood

The Temple Street neighborhood should
be extended to include new housing along
an extended Park Street. The new housing
would overlook the Riverfront East trail
and park. As Park Street is extended along
the river to Temple Street, a site for a new
100-unit senior/elderly building is pro-
posed. Creating a new riverfront drive will
a great new address and will be an impor-

tant component to improving visibility and

visitability to the park.

48

Iilustrative plan of
Riverfront East
(tep}

Existing section of
south bank of Nashua
River

{middle}

Proposed section of
south bank of Nashua
River

(bottom)

UR EAN DESIGN assocrates Nashua Downtown Master Plan

Existing rail right of 49
way behind Cattleman’s

(top)

Proposed rail right of
way, redevelopment
and trail connection.
(bottom)

UR EAN DESIGN assocrates Nashua Downtown Master Plan

Iv Railroad Square

RAILROAD SQUARE 18 AN urban design landmark located at the 50
confluence of four regional arterials. With four high-volume
arterials converging into a small area bound on one side by

water, Railroad Square performs admirably, as it delicately bal-
ances the heavy impacts of regional through-traffic on all four
arterials with an environment that is surprisingly pedestrian-
friendly. The challenge of Railroad Square will be to establish

it as Main Street’s northernmost retail node, while maintaining

its status as an historic pedestrian-friendly place.

Railroad Square

DESIGN ASSOCIATES

Development Opportunities
Most of the buildings on Railroad
Square are worthy of preservation. While
several buildings may be renovated, one
site is identified for new construction. It
is important that new construction as
well as renovation adhere to strict archi-
tectural design guidelines, based on
Nashua’s historic architectural traditions.

The most important renovation proj-
ect will be the Laton Hotel. Specifically,
the striking double-level porch should be
restored

In order for Railroad Square to real-
ize its potential as Main Street’s north-
ernmost retail node, additional parking
resources will be required. The Master
Plan identifies four possible locations for
parking structures that could serve the
businesses at Railroad Square, as well as

other uses.

Nashua Downtown Master Plan

Veterans Park 51
Ifa new parking structure is built for

Railroad Square businesses, the parking

lot defining the north edge of Deschene’s

should be rebuilt as a through lane with

on-street parking. It should be built as

narrow as possible to discourage cut-

through traffic, yet define the park more

clearly and publicly.

Laton Hotel

The full front porch of
the Laton Hotel should
be restored to its

original elegance.

Riverfront West
and Railroad
Square Parking
Four potential sites for
a parking structure are
identified (as dotted
bowes}.. The structure
must serve both the
redevelopment of the
Nashua Corporation
buildings, as well as

Railroad Square.

UR EAN DESIGN assocrates Nashua Downtown Master Plan

v. Main Street North

MAIN STREET NORTH 18 healthy. Also referred to as “walking 52
Main Street”, there are almost no retail vacancies, sidewalks are
active, and there is a vibrant mix of retail, offices and restau-

rants. Behind Main Street on both sides, however, significant
attention is required. The seam between the neighborhoods

and Main Street North is ragged. Spring Street and Elm Street

are characterized by disinvestment, surface parking lots, and

unpaired and confusing one-way streets.

7 Main Street North

UREAN

DESIGN ASSOCIATES

Streetscaping

Maintenance and upgrades to the
streetscape of Main Street is critical.
Begun in the early 1980's, the streetscape
program has been a great success. The
comfortably wide sidewalks, warm red
bricks, and the canopy of street trees cre-
ate a pedestrian environment that has
been instrumental in Main Street’s resur-

gence over the past 15 years. However,

Nashua Downtown Master Plan

some sidewalk bricks have been dis-

lodged and many of the street furnish-
ings are either historically inappropriate,
poorly located, or in general disrepair.

Basic upkeep and selective improve-
ments to the streetscape on Main Street
North are as critical today as the intro-
duction of these standards 20 years ago.
If the public sector falls behind in its

responsibility, the private sector will not

Main Street North 53
A Main Street North
Streetscaping

B Relocation of Joanne’
Kitchen

C Spring Street
Institutional Spine

D Citizen's Bank site

E New Nashua
Commons

F SENHMC
expansion

G Redevelopment of
existing buildings

Main Street North

URBAN DESIGN ASSOCIATES

Benches

Several benches along
Main Street are poorly
located. Benches that
face traffic or are located
in the middle of
sidewalks are rarely
used, Where possible,
benches should either be
paired, facing each
other, or they should be
located with their backs
to storefronts.

Diagrams
Inappropriate bench
location (below left}

Appropriate bench
location (below right}

re-invest. The Master Plan therefore rec-
ommends pursuing a responsible mainte-
nance and upgrade program for

streetscaping on Main Street North as an
early action item for the City. At a mini-

mum, “responsible maintenance” should

include annual inspection of sidewalk

Nashua Downtown Master Plan

conditions following the spring thaw and 54
immediate replacement of damaged

pavers. In addition, the City should con-

sider utilizing a more delicate sidewalk

sweeper, one that does not damage the

pavers as it cleans them.

Pavers and grates on
Main Street in need of

replacement