The city of Nashua is blooming in the 21st century. First it was the Nashua Center for the Arts. Now, 172 new apartments have been completed nearby, which as Mayor Jim Donchess points out, it’s been over a century since any new apartment building was built in the city downtown. Roger Wood spoke to the Mayor about that project as well as other improvements and his vision for the future of the city.
In January 2016, Jim Donchess was sworn in as the 56th mayor of Nashua with a vision of a thriving, caring, and renewed community – a welcoming city where everyone belongs, a healthy city with opportunity for all.
Now in his second term, Jim has been focusing on the economic growth of the community, on strategies to ensure that all of Nashua’s children reach their full potential, on a stronger municipal infrastructure, on steady progress toward a net zero Nashua, and on the cultivation of a 21st century arts, cultural, and residential neighborhood in Nashua’s downtown.
Under his leadership, the city have been successful in adding over 500 new units of market-rate and affordable housing to Nashua’s downtown neighborhoods, in re-energizing Main Street life, in launching the Nashua Riverfront revitalization project, in founding the Arlington Street Community Center, in undertaking his Paving Plan of Action under which more than 60 miles of the city’s streets have already been paved and repaired, and in opening full-day public kindergarten for all Nashua’s 5-year-olds.
Roger Wood is an award winning radio, podcast, newspaper and television journalist, with over 50 years of experience in the media. Roger has spent his entire professional career in New Hampshire. Roger currently serves as associate publisher and podcast producer at InDepthNH.org. In 2021 and 2022, he was recognized by the New Hampshire Press Association for his work in news podcasts. He is the 2022 winner of the NHPA lifetime achievement award. Prior to that he was honored for his work in broadcast radio news and public affairs. He has produced news and special feature reports for InDepthNH, New Hampshire Public Radio, NPR, and other public and commercial radio stations. He also has produced spot news for CBS Radio. He has produced and narrated some 50 audiobooks and has written three novels. Roger has also moderated political forums for Seacoast Area Chambers of Commerce in Senate, gubernatorial and congressional races. He has also facilitated public policy discussions locally and statewide. He has three adult children and four grandchildren. Roger and his wife Elaine, reside in Portsmouth with their cat Maura.