Board of Aldermen 02-16-2021 Page 8
The Performing Arts Center, which you will see at the corner of Main and Pearl Streets next
year, will benefit everyone. This project will attract private investment. It will build our tax base
and increase the City’s tax revenues. It will bring tens of thousands of people downtown for
entertainment and to patronize our shops and restaurants. Even before it has opened, the
Performing Arts Center has already been successful in attracting private dollars.
We are working with housing developer Peter Flotz to build 150 units of housing on School
Street. This housing means more than $20 million in downtown private investment, and will
add $400,000 per year in tax revenue. This builder, who has worked successfully in
Manchester, became interested in Nashua because the City was investing in the Performing
Arts Center.
Nelson Mercado, the entrepreneur owner of the Made Men barber shop on West Pearl Street, is
opening a new business because of the Performing Arts Center — in a previously empty storefront
across the street from the barber shop, an empanada restaurant called Empanellie’s. As we see
additional private investment in the future — the Performing Arts Center will pay for itself.
Commuter Rail
Working together with Nashua’s legislative delegation, we are making progress on commuter
rail service for Nashua. The State of New Hampshire has hired engineering firm AECOM to
perform the required final planning phase of the Capitol Corridor Rail Project. This means that
there could be a plan for commuter rail put forward by 2023.
Improving the Nashua Riverfront
We also are working to take greater advantage of the Nashua River. When you think about it, we
are a River City. Our City was founded because of the waterpower provided by the River, and
the Nashua River is our City’s namesake. Our plan for the riverfront started with a riverfront
master plan and a Tax Increment Financing District used to capture the new value being
generated around the river, like from the new Lofts 34 housing.
Next is lighting on the Cotton Transfer Bridge coming this spring, with lighting along the riverwalk
coming soon thereafter. Elevated walkways — like the one around Peddler’s Daughter
— are being designed for the other three corners of the Main Street along with boat docking and
an expanded and improved Renaissance Park.
| Am Committed to a Culture of Innovation
Just like we are reimagining our riverfront, we are always looking for innovative ways to improve
City government and to better serve the residents of Nashua. | am personally committed to an
innovative culture in City Hall.
And you are already receiving the benefits. The Public Works Department is helping to offset
the increased costs of recycling by making an arrangement with Cassella, our recycling
contractor. The City is being paid $15/ton from Cassella to take crushed glass to use for cover
material at the landfill. This innovation generates $100,000 per year. In the winter Public
Works has also begun brining, or applying salt water to City streets, before storms. This does a
