Board of Aldermen — 9/12/17 Page 10
opportunity comes knocking, we should take it. There are several different conditions that are coming together
just like | remember years ago there was a movie called “the Perfect Storm” when all these different conditions
come together and one by one, they would have been not a big deal but everything together just made this
magnificent storm. | feel like we have that here, although on a positive note.
We have an analysis done by the Duncan Web group who said that said we could definitely support an arts
center. We have a building that is in the right spot. Yes we have to work on it but it’s there and that building
will not become available again. We also have a community partnership because we're saying that there’s a
contingency that the city and the private sector has to raise | think $4 million before anything can continue.
Now the Currier Gallery has stepped in and wants to also partner with this. So we have all these different
pieces that are coming together. We can’t not act on this. We must vote yes for the performing arts center.
Thank you very much.
Elaine Oulandsen, 21 Raymond Street
|, too, like Eileen | had not intended to speak this evening but this proposal is of the utmost importance. | live
on Raymond Street in Ward 3. I’ve lived in Nashua for 30 years. | am a committee member of the Nashua
International Sculpture Symposium. This opportunity is incredible for all of the aforementioned reasons.
Tonight is the night to take a giant step to further enhancing this incredible city that we live in-— Nashua. So |
strongly encourage your vote in support of the performing arts center. Thank you.
Jamie Turbine, 35 Chester Street
Good evening. My name is Jamie Turbine. |’m from Ward 3. | am in complete support of the performing arts
center. | agree with what’s been said so far with the benefits to the community, to the city, to the tax base.
The points that | would like to discuss is about risk. The process of getting us to tonight, there’s been studies
done to identify what the market could bear. What Nashua could bring to the table as far as size, location, sort
of the amenities of what a performing arts center in Nashua could be.
The Alec’s Shoe location ticks most of the boxes, what the study said we could bring, we could bear, and we
could run successfully is met by that location. From a funding perspective, $15.5 million that’s a scary number.
From a financial market perspective, bond rates are cheap. That can be issues and our balance sheets will
allow for that to be paid for from just the sort of mechanisms we already have in place.
In addition to the risk that’s there for doing this, there’s also the risk for not doing it. We've had speakers talk
about the demographic impact that the arts bring. We have a gentleman from the Currier he wants to come
and partner with us. If we don’t do this, that goes away. We become less appealing. We don’t have that
attraction to demographics. We don’t have the partnerships coming in. Nashua has to think of itself regionally
and in competition with the other mid-sized cities in the area. If we’re not keeping up with what they offer to
their residents and what they offer to bring people in, then we’re treading water. We're standing still. They will
attract the demographic. They will bring in the businesses, the people, the partners, the culture. When you
vote, please keep in mind that voting no is not necessarily a vote against the risk of making that choice. Thank
you.
Philip Scontsas, 14 Ashland Street
I’m a third generation business owner on Main Street. I’ve seen a lot come and go and very excited about this
proposal this evening. I’m hoping to see a positive outcome. | hope that you all think long and hard about
what everybody has been saying tonight, what we’ve all been reading, and really the bottom line is it’s not
rocket science. This stuff works. It’s what we’re peaked for. We're ready for it. | know it’s a challenge.
You're job isn’t easy and it’s hard to make these decisions but make the right decision tonight. Make the
decision for Nashua. Make it for all of us to go forward and | think you'll all be happy in the end.
| do want to read a short letter that was sent to us from the Silverstone Living which is the Hunt Community.
It’s just a show of support. It’s “I am writing to express Silverstone Living strong support for the proposed
