URBAN DESIGN ASSOCIATES
A Vision for the
Next Five Years
Nashua Downtown Master Plan
Building upon existing
investments and
branching out from
Main Street, Nashua
will transform itself
from having a notable
Main Street to being a
great Downtown.
Introduction
Nashua’s history is its greatest amenity; it imbues the City
with authenticity, character, and strength. Nashua's history is
also its greatest teacher; its past teaches us powerful lessons
about the importance of urban design. The Nashua Master
Plan (the “Plan”) strives to recognize and leverage these
strengths while incorporating the needs and demands of a
globally competitive 21st century city. The execution of this
Plan will set Nashua apart from its regional competitors, assur-
ing its health, vitality, and sustainability for generations to
come.
Nashua New Hampshire is strategically located on the
Nashua River, where water could power the textile mills. The
1823 Plan for the City, drawn by Asher Benjamin,, established
a remarkably powerful yet simple design concept for the City.
The Olive Street Church and the Nashua Manufacturing
Company were set on axis with each other, within walking dis-
tance, on opposite ends of Pearl Street. Storefronts and services
for the town’s people were located between these two land-
marks. A longer avenue (the present Walnut Street) connected
