1. Cultivating Vitality Services Advisory Committee November 16, 2010 A Strategy to Create a Thriving Downtown Nashua

2. 2 Cultivating Vitality: Timeline 2008-2009 - GAD BID Committee studies BIDs July 2009 - Mayor and Board of Aldermen establish Services Advisory Committee (SAC) Fall 2009 - Downtown business owner & consumer surveys conducted December 2009 - SAC begins weekly meetings February 2010 - SAC researches other successful Downtowns, Downtowns with BIDs

3. 3 Cultivating Vitality: Timeline March 2010 - SAC hosts public session o Develops consensus of critical issues o Receives feedback from stakeholders about strategies best suited for Downtown Nashua May 2010 - SAC hosts 2 nd public session o Shares best practices from other Downtowns o Presents preliminary strategies, budget and funding approach o Gains feedback from stakeholders

4. 4 Cultivating Vitality: Timeline September 2010 - SAC releases draft report, Cultivating Vitality October 2010 - SAC holds 3 rd public information session o Obtain stakeholder input on strategies o Report to be modified, finalized November 2010 – Final Cultivating Vitality report submitted to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen

5. 5 Parking Improvement Initiative Customer Attraction Program Streetscape Enhancement Plan Small Business Initiative Downtown Funding Strategy Accountability Cultivating Vitality: The Strategy

6. 6 Goals Customer convenience Increase on-street parking turnover Guiding Principles Market-based pricing for on-street parking Downtown Nashua parking revenue should benefit Downtown Nashua Parking Improvement Initiative

7. 7 Surface parking lot upgrades Implement pay & display, multi-space meters Implement market-based pricing for meters Capture revenue increases within a Parking Benefit District (to be used for only Downtown investments) Estimated annual cost of $125,000

8. 8 Customer Attraction Program Goals Bring more customers to the doorsteps of Downtown merchants Create a welcoming environment so that visitors will linger

9. 9 Customer Attraction Program Maintenance and beautification o flowers and beautification, graffiti removal, enhanced sidewalk cleaning services, tree maintenance and lighting Marketing and promotion o Downtown-focused marketing/branding campaign, promotional banners, consistent business hours, sales promotions Year-round special events Discourage illegal and intolerable activity Estimated annual cost of $165,000

10. 10 Streetscape Enhancement Plan Goal Create a welcoming environment so that visitors will linger Improve pedestrian safety

11. 11 Streetscape Enhancement Plan Comprehensive renewal of the streets and public infrastructure o replace sidewalks (proper sub-grade, reconstruct and replace bricks) o pedestrian-scale lighting o new furnishings, bike racks, trash receptacles, landscaping o improved signage o traffic calming o elimination of one-way streets o grind and overlay Main street Estimated total cost of $4,700,000 Estimated annual cost of $380,000

12. 12 Main Street, Concord NH Today

13. 13 Main Street, Concord NH with Proposed Streetscape Improvements

14. 14 Main Street, Concord NH Today

15. 15 Main Street, Concord NH with Proposed Streetscape Improvements

16. 16 Business Assistance Initiative Goal Support locally-owned small businesses in Downtown Nashua so that they can better compete with other shopping venues

17. 17 Business Assistance Initiative Business assistance & workshop series Storefront/façade renovation program Downtown Nashua Revolving Loan Fund Estimated annual cost of $75,000

18. 18 Downtown Funding Strategy Parking Benefit District Business Improvement District (BID) Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) Private fundraising Advocate for State transportation funds

19. Guiding Principles Those who receive the benefits should pay for the cost of the initiatives o Downtown business owners o Downtown property owners o Downtown employees o Downtown customers Do not ask Nashua’s residential property taxpayers to fund these initiatives Downtown Funding Strategy

20. 20 Downtown Funding Strategy: o Three-tiered meter pricing system  Zone I : Increase to $1.50/hour (estimated 193 spaces)  Zone II: Increase to $1.00/hour (estimated 315 spaces)  Zone III: Decrease to $0.25/hour (estimated 363 spaces) (rates haven’t been increased since 2001) o Expand meter times  Zone I: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.  Zone II and Zone III: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. o 3-month trial period, then evaluate impacts Parking Benefit District

21. 21 Downtown Funding Strategy: o Expand meter times to Saturday o Expand meter footprint o Increase monthly parking lease rates  Increase price of surface lots to $60/month  Increase price of garaged spaces to $55/month o Increase expiring meter fines to $20/violation o Pay and Display, multi-space meter Anticipated annual revenue of $660,000 Parking Benefit District

22. 22

23. 23 Downtown Funding Strategy: BID Business Improvement District o Collecting additional property tax to be used to fund only Downtown investments o Proposed rate: $0.50 / $1,000 of assessed value o Excludes tax exempt and residential properties less than 5 units o Rate fixed for 3 year period o 3-year trial basis, then re-evaluate need for a BID Anticipated annual revenue of $55,000

24. 24

25. 25 Downtown Funding Strategy: More Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program o Increase funding for Downtown projects from 2% to 4% of City annual entitlement o Anticipated annual revenue of $30,000 Private fundraising o Adopt-a-brick or similar strategies to augment streetscape costs NH DOT funding for improvements for Main Street south of Kinsley Street

26. 26 Downtown Funding Strategy: Budget Uses of FundsSource of Funds Parking Improvement Customer Attraction Streetscape Enhance Business Assistance $125,000 $165,000 $380,000 $75,000 Parking Benefit District BID CDBG $660,000 $55,000 $30,000 Total Annual Cost$745,000Total Annual Revenue$745,000

27. 27 Accountability

28. Accountability: SAC Monitor progress of 3-month trial for meters Recommend contractors, organizations to implement project elements Monitor contracts, monitor progress Recommend annual budget to Mayor and BOA Prepare annual report on status of Downtown Initiatives In 3 years, re-evaluate Downtown strategy and need for a BID

29. Accountability: City of Nashua Prepare and consider new legislation Collect the new revenue Ensure that the new revenue is spent only for Downtown Nashua projects Approve annual budget

30. Accountability: Contractors, Agencies Parking Improvements  Transportation Department Business Assistance  Managed by Office of Economic Development Streetscape Enhancement Plan  Consultant develops plans  DPW to oversee implementation Customer Attraction  Maintenance & Beautification: RFP  Marketing & Promotion: RFP  Year-round Special Events: RFP

31. Accountability: Stakeholders Demand a thriving Downtown Nashua Stay involved and invested Keep public officials focused on the continued improvement of Downtown Nashua