URBAN DESIGN ASSOCIATES
Institutions and
Open Space
(top left)
The core of Downtown
Nashua has many
institutional buildings
(purple) but no central
park or public gathering
space. The beginnings of
a network of trails (red
dots) follow the natural
areas along the Nashua
River and the
abandoned rail line.
Parking
(bottom left}
URBAN DESIGN ASSOCIATES
Topography
(top left)
The Downtown gently
slopes to the Nashua
River from the south,
with the land dropping
more steeply to the river
on its north side. The
lowland stretching from
the Nashua River to
Salmon Brook
represents unstable soils
for development and
bas therefore historically
been an industrial area.
Commercial
(middle left)
URBAN DESIGN ASSOCIATES
Regional Locator
Map
(top left)
Located just north of
the Massachusetts state
border, Nashua is the
outermost major city in
the Boston “tommuter-
shed.”
Regional Natural
Features
(bottom left}
Located at the
confluence of the
Merrimack and
Nashua rivers, the City
is connected to
watersheds and natural
systems that reach out to
the region in every
direction.
Nashua Downtown Master Plan
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Nashua Downtown Master Plan
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Site Analysis
Nashua Downtown Master Plan
to two-way streets
* establish an alternative for the Broad
Street Parkway that provides access
to development parcels, connects the
trail system, and improves congestion
at Railroad Square
* create guidelines for architectural
character consistent with the tradi-
tion of the City and the objectives of
the Plan.
URBAN DESIGN ASSOCIATES
to create a series of initiatives around
which different activities and develop-
ments are organized. Private efforts,
along with public improvements and
public/private partnerships have been
formulated into five initiatives for the
City:
1 Riverfront West
2 Riverfront East
3 Railroad Square
4 Main Street North
5 Main Street South
Frameworks
In order to support these five initiatives,
the Plan recommends improving upon
Nashua Downtown Master Plan
URBAN DESIGN ASSOCIATES
and distinguishing it from other cities in
the region.
Initiatives
Nashua has been successful in building
on its strengths and finding ways to
bring private, locally-based efforts
together to create a whole that is greater
than any single part. Main Street North
between City Hall and the River is an
example.
A vibrant Main Street has been created
by
- public investments in streetscaping that
improve the pedestrian experience
- private building renovations that build
UR EAN DESIGN assocrares Nashua Downtown Master Plan
dents, stakeholders, investors, and leaders
of the City. The public involvement
process included twenty focus groups,
three public meetings, and a four day
public, open design charette. In sum,
over 200 individuals took part in the
process.
UR EAN DESIGN assocrares Nashua Downtown Master Plan
3 Representing a consensus vision Concept Plan
for Nashua’s future. The ideas and Main Street will
spirit of this document are a direct Become a vibrant spine
a : of miced use activities
outgrowth of the intensity and pas- ‘ % .
‘ = connecting the natural
sion Nashua’s citizens have for their ae
; resources of Salmon
Downtown. me Creek and the Nashua
i River,
The Master Plan
The foundation of the Plan is public
