Lovering, Susan
From: Jamie Turbyne <jamie.turbyne@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 07, 2017 8:10 PM
To: Lovering, Susan
Ce: McCarthy, Brian; Lopez, Thomas; Schoneman, David; Mayor's Office Email
Subject: In support of a performing arts center
Good Evening,
I have lived in Ward 3, within walking distance of Nashua's downtown, since 2009. In that time, through the
decisions made by the city and the great work done by many individuals and organizations, Nashua has become
better and better each and every year. Though our downtown has many great businesses, many great restaurants
and bars, the one thing it does lack is a an up-to-date, modern, and decent sized event destination. Something
that will bring people in to the city for an evening of shopping, dinner, and a show. The performing arts center
proposed at the Alec's Shoe location would fill this void, | am very much in support of the city moving forward
with what was proposed.
Beyond just the attraction of a destination in our downtown that brings people to Nashua for an evening, a
consideration must be given to a broader set of impacts. Of these, one issue I have not heard come up in the
meetings or discussions I've been involved in, is that Nashua is in competition with the other cities in our region
to attract a young, vibrant, and upwardly mobile demographic. Nashua is also in competition to attract the
businesses that will drive future economic growth for the region. Nashua needs to have a competitive offering
of what it brings to the table for individuals and businesses looking to settle in the region.
Am I trying to say a performing arts center gets us 100% there?
No.
However, adding the venue proposed at the Alec's location to the mix of an already real and present arts
community offers an opportunity to both expand our local art scene as well as bring in national touring acts, be
it music, comedy, musicals, political, educational, etc. Configured as the multi-purpose space described in the
proposal opens up the potential uses dramatically.
From last week's meeting, the main issue with the proposal was centered on the cost of the debt service to pay
back the proposed bond issue. As a member of the currently ongoing Nashua Academy, I can understand that
concern. Not a single department within the city has said they are overflowing with cash, and plenty commented
that they are doing the best they can with a budget they consider too small to effectively handle their duties.
Over the long haul however, | feel very strongly that it is worth freeing up funds for this project, that over the
long term it will more than pay itself.
The final point I would like to mention is that there is, in a sense, a cost of doing nothing. From the standpoint
of being in a regional competition with other cities to attract good people, good jobs, and a healthy taxpayer
base, if Nashua is standing still, we are losing. Yes the schools need to be strong, the roads need to be paved,
but the city needs to be a competitive player in the region. Having a state-of-the-art space for the community's
use, to bring entertainment to the community, and visitors to Nashua for shopping, dinner, and a show is a huge
step in the right direction.
If you have any questions on what I've written, please do not hesitate to ask Gamie.turbyne@gmail.com),
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