NASHUA – City residents are voicing opposition to moving forward with the performing arts center during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

A number of Nashuans have voiced their opinions of the project via communications sent to the Board of Aldermen, which can be found attached to their May 26 meeting agenda on the city website.

In an email to the Board of Aldermen, Robert (Bob) Guzas states that every project that is not essential in terms of infrastructure or health should be cancelled until the city sees where it is at for budget purposes.

“Cancel everything that is not critical for the health and welfare and safety of the residents of Nashua,” Guzas states in his email to the board.

Laura Colquhoun also does not believe the project should go forward at this time, urging board members and Mayor Jim Donchess to put a hold on it now. In her email, she states that with COVID-19 hitting the country, that it appears all areas are going to see a financial downturn.

Jim Tullis said that he would like to have someone look at all of the outside renovations of the building that would house. He believes the building will take away from the character of downtown Nashua, claiming nothing on Main Street comes close to looking like the proposed building.

“I just think the costs are getting out of hand and the money the city is putting into this could be better served at this time for the extreme virus we are going through,” Tullis writes in his email.

During the Feb. 6 Budget Review Committee meeting the city’s Economic Development Director Tim Cummings referenced the project coming in at $23.8 million – although officials would aim to bring the cost down to something in the area of $21.8 to $22.3 million.

At that point in time, during the meeting he cited the overall financing plan which references the percentages that the project represents – approximately 70 percent is the general obligation bond of $15.5 million; the new market tax credits of $4.2 million, which represents about 20 percent; and the $2.5 million, or approximately 10 percent, from the

private fundraising capital campaign.

During the May 12 special Board of Aldermen meeting, Cummings emphasized that the project is still a priority despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Cummings said officials are working the project through the process and have been meeting on it.

“It has been a little bit slower due to obvious reasons, but nonetheless, we are working through the various issues to keep this project on track,” Cummings said.

Also at that meeting. an update was given on the building’s design, which detailed the lowering of the pitch of the balcony so that it is not quite as steep. This then pushes the wall from the second floor up about 4 feet, overhanging West Pearl Street.

This change also brings about 12 additional seats to the venue as well.

Chair of the Capital Campaign Committee Deborah Novotny participated in this meeting and said that the committee is still moving along, meeting every other week.

Novotny said they are absolutely committed to seeing this project through to fruition.

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Adam Urquhart may be contacted at 594-1206, or at aurquhart@nashuatelegraph.com.

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