Imagine Nashua provided the
platform to engage in an inclusive
citywide discussion on how to
manage and plan for equitable
and sustainable growth and
redevelopment in the city. Through
multiple outreach efforts, the
planning team heard the concerns
of Nashua residents around
density, redevelopment, home
prices, climate change, carbon
emissions, the commuter rail,
traffic, walkability, and many other
cross-cutting issues, which we
will focus on through the rest of
this plan. This plan is for all those
who live, work, and visit Nashua
today and tomorrow. We aspire
to make Nashua a vibrant and
livable community for not only
those who reside and look for
opportunities here today, but for
future generations to come.
Need for Growth
and Densification
Planning for and managing growth
is the central component of the
Imagine Nashua Plan, as the City
continues to expand its fiscal
health and provide opportunities,
resources, and amenities to its
residents. Nashuans love their city
for its small town feel and sense
of community, and the access
they have to a variety of open
Spaces and natural resources.
Nashua as a city, is also growing
in both its resident population and
employment base and in order
to accommodate this growth,
while continuing to protect and
maintain established and natural
areas, requires critical reshaping of
current land use code and zoning
regulations that potentially act
as a barrier to more sustainable
development.
Meeting Housing
Needs for
a Changing
Population
Nashua is experiencing a rapid
aging of its resident population.
Findings from the 2020 Housing
Study show that much of Nashua’s
housing growth and demand is
being fueled by residents aged
55 and older and are driving
demand for smaller units that
can comfortably housing single-
and two-person households. In
addition, Nashua’s proximity to
more expensive housing markets
in Massachusetts has also made
the city desirable for young
professionals, young families,
and retirees. Planning for more
affordable housing and a mix of
housing choices for these two
growing age cohorts—millennials
and empty nesters, is essential
to the Imagine Nashua housing
strategy and requires creating
more variety and density of
housing types to accommodate
future generations.
Comprehensive Master Plan
Why densification is
Tare
While these generational shifts
and trends are not unique to
Nashua or even New England,
the competitive advantages
the planning teams sees for
Nashua across all of the topic
areas remain valuable only if
Nashua continues to provide
for its population both now and
into the future. Densification
will enable Nashua to grow ina
more sustainable way by:
Connecting jobs and
opportunities with people
and homes
Concentrating
development efforts,
infrastructure investment,
and avoiding urban sprawl
Promoting walkability,
reducing traffic congestion
autombolile use, and GHG
emissions
Preserving open space and
natural resources
Housing Opportunity
If the City is looking to create
more housing opportunities
to accommodate future
population and employment
growth, multi-family and
mixed-use development
utilizes less land area per
unit than any other housing
typology.
