From: revnewhall@aol.com [mailto:revnewhall@aol.com]
Sent: Monday, April 27, 2020 3:49 PM
To: Board of Aldermen
Subject: Public Comment on School Street Flats, Please attach to minutes
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Dear Nashua Board of Alderman,
| am writing in regard to the proposed School Street Flats.
| Know that we are living in a time of a shortage of needed housing in Nashua (and even
around the country). But I think we have an even greater crisis before us ~ of a lack of
affordable housing.
Right now 1/4 of our community cannot afford (using only 30% of their household
income) to live in Nashua.
My hope and dream is that we can work together to create a community in which every
person who already lives and works in Nashua is able to find a home to rent using only
30% of their household income. That should obviously include our starting teachers,
police officers, and fire fighters.
Granted that while we need more housing in general, it seems clear to me (and to a
group of clergy with whom | have been doing this research) that without strong action by
our city, there will never be enough affordable housing in Nashua.
A major issue in the development of new housing in Nashua is the lack of develop-able
land. | would hope fhat the city would NEVER sell any of its land for development
without making sure that at least a portion of the new units were guaranteed to be
rented at an affordable level.
How is it that we might sell a portion of our land to a developer for just $900,000 without
requiring that at least one fourth of the units be rented at $880 or less? *
Please consider carefully how you use and dispose of our city property. Please do not
build expensive buildings for out of state folk to move into rather than housing for our
own families and neighbors.
Sincerely,
Rev. Sarah (Sally) Newhall
33 Digital Dr. Unit 308
Nashua NH 03062
