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Nashua's Mohawk Tannery Transforms into 300-Unit Mixed-Use Hub

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  //house-home.news-articles.net/content/2025/11/2 .. nery-transforms-into-300-unit-mixed-use-hub.html
  Published in House and Home on Friday, November 21st 2025 at 17:39 GMT by WMUR

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Mohawk Tannery Housing Development: Nashua’s New Urban‑Revitalization Initiative

The former Mohawk Tannery site in the western part of Nashua is set to become the city’s most ambitious mixed‑use development project in decades. As of late November 2025, the City of Nashua’s planning and zoning board has approved a comprehensive redevelopment plan that will convert the 10‑acre, 19‑story industrial complex into a vibrant community hub featuring more than 300 residential units, retail space, community amenities, and green infrastructure. The article on WMUR, “Housing Development at Mohawk Tannery, Nashua,” lays out the project’s history, its financial architecture, the environmental challenges that must be addressed, and the community’s mixed reactions to the plan.

A Site with a Long, Complex Past

The Mohawk Tannery was built in 1908 as a leather‑processing plant and operated under various names until 2015. Its 3‑million‑square‑foot facility, once a major employer, was shuttered amid the decline of the U.S. tanning industry. Over the ensuing decade, the property fell into neglect, its industrial waste generating chronic pollution concerns in the surrounding neighborhoods. City and state environmental agencies listed the site as a priority for remediation under the New Hampshire Clean Water Act, noting the presence of heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and other contaminants that could pose risks to future residents.

The WMUR article traces how the city’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) partnered with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DHES) to conduct a Phase‑I Environmental Site Assessment in 2019. The assessment confirmed that the soil and groundwater contamination exceeded safe limits for residential use, and recommended a comprehensive cleanup under the Hazardous Substances Management Act. Since then, a remediation plan has been drafted, but the project’s cost—estimated at $35–$40 million—has become a key point of debate among city officials and residents alike.

The Development Proposal

Developer and Financing

The proposal is spearheaded by Greenstone Communities, a nonprofit‑for‑profit partnership that includes the local real‑estate firm Horizon Housing Group and the state‑funded Affordable Housing Fund (AHF). Greenstone’s executive director, Dr. Maya Patel, appears in the article and emphasizes the project’s goal to “create a self‑sustaining, inclusive community that honors Nashua’s industrial heritage while ensuring modern, safe living conditions.”

The financing structure blends several streams:

1. State and Federal Grants – The project is slated to receive a $10 million grant from the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority (NHHFA), which funds affordable housing developments that exceed the state’s 25‑percent affordable unit threshold.
2. City Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) – A TIRZ district will be established to capture a portion of the increase in property tax revenue generated by the development’s higher‑value mixed‑use units. The city plans to reinvest that revenue in local infrastructure and public services.
3. Private Investment – Horizon Housing Group will contribute $20 million in equity, while a local family office is expected to provide an additional $5 million in mezzanine debt.
4. Affordable Housing Subsidies – AHF will subsidize 40 percent of the project’s total units, guaranteeing that the development remains below 120% of the area’s median income.

Project Phases and Units

The project is broken into two phases:

Both phases will be built on a “green” foundation, incorporating permeable pavements, rain gardens, and a rooftop solar array projected to supply 20% of the development’s electricity needs. The developer plans to obtain LEED Gold certification for the entire project.

Community Response

The WMUR piece provides a balanced view of the community’s reaction. Some residents welcome the project’s promise to infuse new jobs and diversify housing options, particularly in a city that has historically leaned toward single‑family suburban development. “Nashua needs more affordable units. This is a great opportunity,” says longtime resident, Maria Lopez, who lives a few blocks away.

However, environmental watchdogs and local activists raise legitimate concerns about the depth of the contamination and the adequacy of the cleanup plan. “We’re still not 100 percent sure the site is safe,” says James R. Collins, a spokesperson for the Northeast Environmental Coalition. He references the article’s linked DHES webpage that notes an ongoing monitoring program will track soil and groundwater quality for at least 10 years post‑construction.

The city’s Planning and Zoning Board’s meeting, held in late October, was marked by vigorous debate. While the board ultimately approved the plan, they imposed a series of conditions: an independent third‑party environmental audit before construction can begin; a requirement that all affordable units be rented for a minimum of 15 years; and a community benefit agreement that guarantees a portion of the development’s parking will be converted into a bike‑and‑walk corridor.

Timeline and Next Steps

The WMUR article outlines the following milestones:

• December 2025 – Final approval of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and receipt of the NHHFA grant.
• March 2026 – Groundbreaking ceremony for Phase 1 after the EPA confirms completion of Phase‑II remediation.
• June 2027 – Phase 1 occupancy begins with a 90‑day rent‑control window for all affordable units.
• January 2028 – Phase 2 begins construction following the approval of a 30‑year zoning amendment to allow higher density.
• Fall 2030 – Project completion, with all 300 units available and the retail and community spaces fully operational.

City officials stress that the project’s success hinges on careful project management, stringent compliance with environmental standards, and ongoing community engagement. The city has set up a dedicated webpage, linked in the article, where residents can track the development’s progress, submit feedback, and view the environmental monitoring data in real time.

Conclusion

The Mohawk Tannery housing development represents a bold step toward revitalizing a key Nashua landmark while addressing long‑standing social and environmental challenges. By blending public and private funding, ensuring a high proportion of affordable housing, and implementing robust environmental safeguards, the project seeks to set a new standard for urban redevelopment in New Hampshire. Whether the project can navigate the complexities of contamination cleanup, zoning amendments, and community concerns remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the Nashua community is watching closely—eager for new opportunities but equally vigilant about safeguarding the health and well‑being of future residents.