Finance Committee - 9/5/2018 Page 8
Alderman Laws
Well | just wanted to go on record as saying that this is one of those things that really excites me. I’ve said it
before the fact that Nashua downtown is so successful in spite of the fact that it has no hotel is baffling to me
and | think this is a sound investment for the City even if it turns out that it is not a financially viable option, just
to know and then we can move on with further project So thanks for that.
Alderman Harriott-Gathright
Is Park Street Parking lot, that’s the only place that you’ve looked at?
Mr. Cummings
So that is one of the sites. The contract actually scopes out the idea of three differing sites all within the
downtown area. The one site that is articulated is the School Street Parking lot.
Mayor Donchess
But if someone were interested in another site, we would try to make that possible as well. But that is one that
we have identified as a possibility that is City owned as opposed to privately owned.
Alderman O’Brien
Thank you, | just want to say | totally support this particularly where it is a feasibility study and everything
because | look at it, in order to get a great downtown if we are going to look at Nashua, it is going to be the
postcard of Main Street basically and that is our selling point. And as we look at different things that are going
to enhance our downtown, you just don’t do it all at once, it is all an integral puzzle that you piece together all
the different pieces. And this is one of the pieces that will be pieced together that in the future | really do see
that if we are custodians of our duty here as Aldermen to enhance the City to make it thrive, this is one of the
pieces of the puzzle that needs to go in that will enhance the City and make the downtown a very much strong
focal point for all our citizens and our guests as well. Thank you.
Alderwoman Kelly
Thank you. | also want to say that | support this. | think it would be a great move for downtown. | do have a
question about what he will be looking at from a feasibility standpoint. Is he looking at specifically is that site
feasible or is it overall, can the City of Nashua support a hotel downtown.
Mr. Cummings
So she is going to study specifically the market itself and whether the market is feasible and then in particular
look at, based on her experience and expertise in relationships with and in particular it is a certain type of hotel
to be exact. It is what is called a limited select flagged hotel, what is that? That is brands like a Hilton, I’m
sorry, a Marriot Courtyard, a Hilton product of like the Hilton Garden Inn or Embassy Suites. There are specific
types of brands within either the Hilton, the Marriott, the Hyatt chain. So that is a specific category or product
and then knowing that, what type of sites would actually be of interest to those types of brands. For instance,
frontage on Main Street or can it be off of Main Street and how big does it need to be to accommodate the
certain type of room count that is necessary. So those will all be part of the market study that occurs.
Alderwoman Kelly
Thank you.
