Graham, Donna
From: iiss
Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2022 12:55 PM
To: Board of Aldermen
Ce: Graham, Donna; Cummings, Tim
Subject: Concerns about parking restrictions on Main Street
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To whom it may concern - Below is the letter | previously submitted in December 2021
regarding parking restrictions on Main Street. In addition to the items | outlined below, |
would like to express my concern over the removal of parking kiosks and the
requirement to use a parking app in order to park on this part of Main Street. My
customers who do not want to add the parking app, or have no idea how to add an app, or
don't have a smart phone, have to cross the street and walk half a block to to get to a
kiosk. | have had people turn around and leave (1 know because they come in and ask
what to do and when | explain their options they turn around and leave), or run in quickly
instead of shopping because they don't want to get a ticket. It is particularly a problem for
older people and for the disabled. This is keeping people away from downtown. No one
parks in front of my gallery anymore. This is very concerning for my business.
Dear Board Members,
It has come to my attention that the city is discussing continuing to close roads and eliminate on-
street parking during certain months for a 3 year period ending Nov 2024.
| am the owner of the League of NH Craftsmen Nashua Fine Craft Gallery located at 98 Main
Street. We have been in this location for over 11 years. We sell fine craft created by 250 local artists
and draw shoppers and diners to downtown Nashua from across southern NH and northern MA.
When in-door dining was restricted in the summer of 2019 | was happy to see the accommodations
made by the city to expand the existing out door dining. | look out my front door to the outdoor dining
area for Casa Vieja and there were many people out there much of the time. The atmosphere was
festive and people were just happy to be out.
With indoor dining restrictions eliminated this year, that was NOT the case. !t was RARE that there
were more people dining out doors than could have been accommodated with the tables set up on
the sidewalk. Most of the tables were EMPTY. Rather then being festive, it was kind of gloomy. | do
not believe believe the downtown restaurants need this accommodation any longer. Outdoor dining
can still be available, but should be limited to the sidewalk area as it was prior to summer 2019.
Many shoppers have been avoiding downtown. | know this because they tell us that is the case when
they finally do come in. How many purchases did they make at the mall or online while they were
avoiding downtown? Some people will call us and have us ship to them, and they live in
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