Article published Oct 27, 2006

Urban Re-Renewal

Downtowns making a comeback as places to call home

 

The “in” thing in real estate used to be sprawling suburban homes with one-acre lots, picket fences and plenty of lawn to mow. But these days, many young professionals, empty-nesters and retirees across the country are either downsizing or looking for a more chic and affordable lifestyle. And they’re finding it downtown.

 

The number of downtown residents in the nation’s largest cities is expected to grow by 2010, according to a survey by The Brookings Institution Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy and The Fannie Mae Foundation. The movement also is being seen in New Hampshire. In Nashua alone, there are 10 projects ranging from high-end condos to elderly apartments either under way or in the planning stages.

 

Full story at:

http://www.nh.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061027/BUSINESSREVIEW04/61026003/-1/BUSINESSREVIEW

i wonder if they got the idea to do that article from a random clik on urbanohio?

Nashua is a suburb on the US 3 corridor of Boston/Lowell or Manchester depending on which side of town you live, not exactly a great "city" to use as an example of downtown growth, in my opinion. Hell if you can use Nashua, Hudson's downtown has seen tremendous growth too. ;)

Yeah, this is the first time I've ever heard of Nashua.

^^Nashua is located on the New Hampshire/Massachusetts state line. It has a freeway (US 3) that cuts through the west side of town. It has an "old town" just like almost every city/town in New England, with a bunch of fabric mill/warehouse type buildings nearby. But 85% of Nashua is strip malls, subdivisions, five-story motels. New Hampshire has some pretty funky places...but Nashua ain't one of 'em. :)

And Rand McNally keeps showing a proposed bypass of Nashua that has been off the books for 20-30 years now on their New Hampshire road maps.

^^They built one leg of the bypass, I believe to the Merrimack River. The residents east of Nashua who live in Hudson, don't want anything to with that bypass. Hudson is at least kind of quaint....although it's getting swallowed up by development as Nashua is getting maxed out. The bypass would make Hudson look like Nashua pretty fast. Smart move on their part.