Nashua Downtown Master Plan
At each focus group meeting, inter-
view and public meeting, participants
were asked the same three questions:
1 What are the strengths of Down-
town Nashua?
2 What are the weaknesses of Down-
town Nashua?
3 What is your vision for the future?
The Downtown assets considered
strongest and cited most frequently
related to its character character and its
sense of place created by the pedestrian-
friendly environment on Main Street
North.
The liabilities most often identified
included the confusing, local one-way
street system, the disconnect between the
Downtown neighborhoods and Main
Street, and the development along Main
Street, south of Hollis Street.
Visions included a “complete”
Downtown in which neighborhoods
were connected to and interwoven with
Downtown retail and institutions, the
development of an expanded, connective
riverfront park system, the addition of
cultural and entertainment facilities, and
an improved public transportation sys-
tem.
The strengths, weaknesses, and
visions are listed in more detail on this
page and the following two pages.
History
Heritage of Nashua as one of the
first planned industrial cities in the
Northeast
The preserved and rehabilitated
buildings along Main Street of his-
toric and/or local character
Main Street
The walkable, vibrant, and safe envi-
ronment between the Nashua River
and City Hall
New investments and restaurants
creating an active sidewalk and street
Variety of uses along this spine
Strong sense of place rooted in tradi-
tional streetscape standards
Locally owned and operated busi-
nesses — no national franchises
Main Street North is
depicted in green,
representing the
Downtown’ historic
core and its strength.
Shown in red, the
Downtowns main
weaknesses are its
underutilized
riverfront and the
vacuous feel and
uncoordinated planning
of Main Street South.
