Special Board of Aldermen 12-07-2021 Page 18
divided up into 13 lots of 13 acres. That's not our call and the concept of one acre lots for homes in Nashua is really
over based on the housing density we need to accommodate the growth of the city. | love my neighbor, Dan, and |
think he's a terrific neighbor and he's on the other side of this issue from me. The one thing | agree wholeheartedly
with Dan is that | think this Board of Aldermen has been very irresponsible with spending. | agree with him. A lot of
bad spending decisions have been made. However, he sees, you know, this issue of preserving the space as the
right thing to do. | don't think the spending decisions made by the city are going to change and as a hearing right after
this for $21 million to be spent that actually hasn't even been discussed by the board in two years. | don't think we're
going to stop spending. So we need to look at ways to have people who pay the bills and keep the lights on. That's
the way it has to be and we need this housing according to the study. So it's not just affordable housing.
Alderman O’Brien
30 seconds.
Laurie Ortolano
(inaudible). So let's take this where it belongs and bring it to the Planning Board and not approved this bond tonight
and let the Planning Board do its job and have faith that they're going to do their job and everyone get out there and
watch and participate. That's a fair process.
Johnathan Cathey
Thank you. | would just like to clarify. | believe it was a miscommunication. | never stated that this particular project
would be $21 million. | was referring to the debt that would be incurred by the bonds for the Riverwalk which will be
discussed later on this evening. Just to point out the amount of debt the city keeps spending. The number that |
quoted for this particular project was $15 million and that's over 20 years because that's how long the bond lasts. So
if we lose $600,000 in tax revenue every year for 20 years on top of the initial cost which would be $3.1 million with
interest, we're now looking at $15 million that we don't really have to spend.
Secondly, | would like to echo what Laura was saying about the affordable housing. Everyone needs to go read the
Imagine Nashua Plan and the housing sites if they have not. We need housing for every market number. Every level
of housing that you can get, we need. So this is not about affordable housing because we need condos at this price
range as well. This is more about the city spending money it doesn't have and going into more debt. That's the only
thing that this really hinges on and it's just not wise because it hasn't gone through the proper channels and the
proper committees yet. We need to see from the Aldermen and the Mayor a very transparent plan about how this
money is not going to incur more debt or cost taxpayers a rise in taxes, which we've been continuing to see year over
year. Thank you.
Alex Comeau
Thanks. (inaudible) I'll be brief. Just to touch on a couple of things. | agree with several of the points that Laurie just
made. Nashua does need affordable housing but that's all that we need. We need housing in many different levels
and the fact is there are affordable housing contracts ongoing: the Myrtle Street apartment project; | believe the
renovations going on Burke Street. There is affordable housing coming down the pipeline for lower income families,
but they're not the only people looking for housing. We talk all the time about attracting people to Nashua and having
the types of amenities and services that people want if they want to come live here and contribute to Nashua, which
they can't do if there's no other way. And, you know, the disruptions that people talk about often you see in the
neighborhood. Unless I'm mistaken, this was supposed to be an age qualified development. | don't hardly think that
retired people (inaudible) disrupting the tranquility of the park. That’s alll have to say. Thank you.
Chairman Dowd
Anyone else in opposition? Have you spoken before in opposition?
Unidentified Male Speaker
I might have. But affordable housing. Is there a percentage with this new development that we have to have in thee
- affordable housing? Laurie made a good point. She made an excellent point. Is there a percentage of this housing
that has to be affordable housing? Just curious. I'm done. Is there?
