Agenda

es Nashua Downtown Master Plan

Market Strategies

URBAN DESIGN ASSOCIATES

ui Urban Design Principles

Nashua Downtown Master Plan

THE UDA TEAM, in conjunction with city staff, developed sev- 25

eral urban design principles prior to the design charrette. These

principles acted as a compass for the direction of the Master

Plan development. Design exploration at the charrette was

pursued under the guidance of the following principles:

1
2

MO um Ff

9

Preserve and celebrate the history of Nashua.
Reconnect Downtown to the surrounding neighborhoods.

The Master Plan
establishes strategic
locations in Downtown
Nashua where design
efforts will lead to
Surther cultural and

economic development.

Nashua Downtown Master Plan

A central park or gathering place
A major riverfront park

Diversity of uses Downtown - edu-
cational, arts, performance and cul-

tural

Further diversify Main Street with

housing above retail buildings
A coordinated parking strategy

Continued support for local busi-

nesses versus national franchises

UREAN

Strength: The
Nashua Public
Library

Nashua’ Library is an
excellent resource;
however, it suffers from
poor visibility and

access.

DESIGN ASSOCIATES

Strengths (continued)

Amenities

* Riverfront park investments

+ Library is a well-organized resource
center for the City

* Multitude of churches and institu-
tions

+ Transit center

* Rail trail and other developing trail

connections

+ Low taxes
Weaknesses

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.

UR EAN DESIGN assocrates Nashua Downtown Master Plan

11 Summary of Interviews

and Focus Groups

THROUGHOUT THE FALL OF 2002, the UDA team conducted ar

interviews and focus group meetings. Focus groups included:

City Planning Staff
Nashua Historical Society
Nashua Police Department
Nashua Fire Rescue

Aldermanic Planning & Economic Development

Committee

Nashua Regional Planning Commission
Nashua Public Works Division

Nashua Downtown Master Plan

views, focus groups meetings, public
meetings and open houses, culminating

ina public design charrette.

UR EAN DESIGN assocrates Nashua Downtown Master Plan

I

Overview of the Process

Public Meetings
The Master Plan Team
met with the citizens of
Nashua to gather input
and learn of their goals

and vision for the

City’s future.

PROMPTED BY A RECOMMENDATION in the Nashua 2000 Mas- 19
ter Plan, the city of Nashua commissioned Urban Design
Associates (UDA) to prepare a Downtown Master Plan in the
summer of 2002. This Plan, is an update of Nashua 2000 and

es Nashua Downtown Master Plan

The Planning Process

UR EAN DESIGN assocrates Nashua Downtown Master Plan

Appreciation for local culture, as well
as a focus on the City’s new technologi-
cal development will be featured in the
proposed Center for Nashua Heritage
and Future Technology, located on Fac-

tory Street and overlooking a new river-

front park. This museum will display y
Nashua’s unique history as the founda-

tion on which the City can meet the

challenges of the future.

Changes since 1960
1 Bronstein
Apartments -