Hudson Faces Major Development Debate

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CLIP [This is the Merrimack River – we used to have a rope swing over there]

David Friel, and his two brothers, grew up around the Green Meadows golf course.

Built in 1960 by their pro-golfer father, Phil Friel, Green Meadows was passed down to the three sons six years ago when their father died.

David Friel says that the public course used to be successful.

But things have changed.

CLIP [Now there is probably 100 new courses inside 495 over the last 10 years. I’m not complaining, but the business isn’t what it used to be. It’s not growing anymore. My father was a business man and this is kind of a business decision.]

Friel is talking about the brothers’ decision to enter into a contract with W/S Development Associates of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.

Friel says that over the last ten years they’ve been approached by many potential buyers.

They went with W/S because unlike the others, the company wanted to develop the entire 375 acres.

“The only bad thing so far is that a few people have come up to me and said ‘your father must be rolling over in his grave’ and I think what a terrible thing to say. You didn’t know him.”)

The preliminary proposal is for what is known as a lifestyle center, something very different from your average shopping mall.

Bob Frazier is a Vice President for W/S Development.

He says what his company is designing is a relatively new concept, the first of its kind in New Hampshire.

CLIP [We are proposing a mixed use development comprising what we refer to as a lifestyle retail center, hotel, convention, office, and residential that we’ll be master planning. So it will have access to the river, another feature, a village like concept.]

The conceptual plan includes boat docks on the Merrimack River, green space, fountains, upscale shopping, and even an amphitheatre.

The developers hope to attract Massachusetts shoppers into sales-tax-free New Hampshire.

And since the land is accessible to highway 3, the developers have proposed a privately funded road to bring shoppers straight to the mall.

They say that the road would help reduce traffic on the local streets.

Residents of Hudson, and especially those who live near the golf course, are not convinced the development is a good idea.

At a planning board meeting earlier this month, concerned residents came to voice their opinions and to ask questions.

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Connie Owens has lived near the Green Meadow golf course for 18 years.

CLIP [People who live along there are golfers. My granddaughter had her first ice skating on one of their little ponds, we walked the dog, we watched the eagles nesting along the river. That is an emotional appeal to have it there. But, in reality they can do what they want. But will it negatively impact the rest of us?]

Holly Dunn’s backyard abuts the golf course greens. For her, the proposed upscale development is a mixed blessing.

CLIP [I’m very iffy about it. I love the action… I’m from Boston, I have to drive so far to find action, night clubs, and even to find shopping … there is no fine shopping up here … so I have to drive a ways to get to Lord and Taylor. But if they’re going to put the upscale shops there, I’m not opposed to that. It depends on the stores.]

Dunn, however, is quick to voice what has some residents troubled.

CLIP [A mall. They’re going to build another mall. Just what America needs. More shopping. Family values down the drain. It’s just shop shop shop.]

And many residents aren’t sure they need another mall.

After all, the Pheasant Lane Mall is just a few miles away in Nashua.

The developers are quick to point out that this process is still in its infancy.

They have introduced only a conceptual plan and they don’t intend to submit an official master plan to the town of Hudson until late spring or early summer.

Jay Leonard is David Friel’s lawyer.

He says that in an effort to thwart rumors they began giving the public information earlier than usual.

CLIP [….There is a misunderstanding on the part of the public; they think we’re at a different point. So it’s taken us a month or so to have the community and neighbors believe and understand that we’re not really far in this process. We’re just trying to give a lot of information early so that they can be a part of the process.]

Kenneth Massey is Chairman for the Board of Selectman in Hudson. He says the potential impact will be significant.

CLIP [If a project of this nature goes in, Hudson as we know it will change forever. What I think people think in the region need to understand if this project goes forward it will impact the region. It won’t be just Hudson. It will be Hudson, Nashua, Merrimack, Litchfield, Londonderry, Manchester, Lowell, Tyngsboro. It would have a region-fold impact, it’s that big of a project.]

And before the project moves forward, Massey says the developers and the town will have to address a lot of issues: traffic, municipal services such as sewage and water, and a potential increased demand for police and fire services.

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So far David Friel says he is pleased with how the developers are trying to incorporate the town and its residents into the process.

Green Meadows golf course expects to be open for another two years.

And the proposed development, if it is approved, could take up to a decade to complete.

CLIP [You know it wouldn’t shock me if in three months these guys said this is just turning into a nightmare and we’re not going to do it. Or maybe they don’t have the interest from the tenets and they need assurance that the retailers want to come rent the space.]

If that were the case, David Friel says he and his brothers would continue to run their business as they always have … until another opportunity to sell comes along.

For NHPR News, I’m Hilary McQuilkin