Board of Aldermen — 9/12/17 Page 3
downtown building a stronger, healthier downtown economy adding vitality and strength to downtown. Off Pine
Hill Road will not do that at all.
Another myth is that there has not been a feasibility study and that we don’t know anything about what we’re
doing. That is false. We did a two-year feasibility study paid for initially in large part by the NH Charitable
Foundation because they saw the potential for this kind of project. Two years we engaged Duncan Webb a
leading or maybe the leading consultant on performing art centers in the nation. He does not build centers.
He does not operate them. He serves as a consultant to communities so he can give them straight advice. He
has advised other communities such as Peterborough not to proceed because they didn’t think they could be
financially viable. VVhat he told us was that we should not build something as we originally thought of 1,200,
1,500, 2,000 seats because that would not work. What he told us was that we can successfully operate given
the market, given all of the circumstances a performing arts center with flexible space in the 500 to 700 seat
range. He developed a business plan. The report says how much it will cost to operate this. How much he
thinks it will bring in and he recommended that we develop and raise a $4 million private endowment which
would be used to supplement the cost of the center. The proposal that you have before you is contingency
except for the purchase of the building but proceeding with the vast majority of the project is contingent on
raising $4 million in the private sector.
Finally there’s been this myth that there is no private involvement. There’s no private partnership. Well that is
not true. First of all we have the Currier who wants to join with us. They are certainly a private institution.
They're not the government and it is contingent upon raising $4 million from our own citizens and from
businesses in Nashua. So Mr. Chair | know I’ve gone on a little while but | want to advocate that the Board of
Aldermen pass this and give Nashua a chance to succeed just like all these other communities. We are better
than them and the idea that we can’t succeed when they can is | think totally, totally wrong. So we’ve seen the
energy, the enthusiasm really heat up in downtown Nashua over the last few years. | hope that we don’t throw
a big bucket of ice water on that enthusiasm now. Instead | think we should build on what’s already happened
and make downtown Nashua an even better success than it already is. Thank you Mr. President.
| did say though before | conclude that | would mention another item — I’m sorry — the downtown parking plan
overnight parking that we are going to be moving forward with presenting a plan we think on September 27".
Parenthetically that’s another thing that’s helping downtown. We think we can present a plan to the
Infrastructure Committee at that time. Thank you very much Mr. President.
President McCarthy
I’m going to ask as we go on that we keep applause to a minimum because it actually wreaks havoc with our
poor Legislative Assistant when she listens to the tapes. If you want to applaud, provide someone to do the
transcriptions.
Are there any responses to the remarks of the Mayor?
RESPONSE TO REMARKS OF THE MAYOR - None
RECOGNITION PERIOD
R-17-124
Endorsers: Mayor Jim Donchess
Board of Aldermen
EXTENDING CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NASHUA SILVER KNIGHTS BASEBALL TEAM
Given its first reading;
MOTION BY ALDERMAN COOKSON THAT THE RULES BE SO FAR SUSPENDED AS TO ALLOW
FOR THE SECOND READING OF R-17-124
MOTION CARRIED
