People From Nashua's Crown Street Homeless Camp Relocated To Motel 6

NASHUA, NH — There appears to be a new effort to move the people from the newly formed Crown Street Park and Ride encampment to a Nashua motel.

On Sunday, about a dozen people who had recently set up tents in a grassy area near the park and ride, packed up their belongings. They brought the items to a parking lot where they awaited transport from the area.

A few tents were broken down, however the tents were left behind on the ground where they had been previously set up.

In speaking to the people who had packed up their items they told us that they were “given rooms at a motel off exit one”. No information on who is paying for the motel rooms, the length of stay, or the amount being spent has been verified.

No people at the parking lot appeared to be from outreach, the health department, law enforcement or anyone representing the city of Nashua.

After about an hour the people gathering their items were loaded into an RV and also assisted by a man who had been parked in a pick-up truck.

A short time later, the RV arrived at Motel 6 on Spit Brook Road, where people unloaded their items and piled them outside of the check-in area of the hotel.

The focus on the parking lot area began a few weeks ago when the city of Nashua began to direct members of the homeless community to that area, which had been designated for them. Potable toilets were set up in the parking lot and the city promised outreach.

A short time after people began to move to the space, a man on Chase Street allegedly yelled and argued with a woman, and several shots were fired. Nashua Police arrested John Smith Jr., 31, who was accused of criminal threatening with a deadly weapon, three counts of reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, and falsifying physical evidence. He is currently being held on preventative detention, his lawyers will seek an evidentiary hearing saying the incident was self-defense.

The city has pointed to the large number of encampments along the railroad tracks that were scheduled to be removed by CSX railroad. The railroad has crews staged in the area with materials and they are planning to do repairs to the tracks in the area. To perform the work all the encampments will be removed, and the brush and foliage will be cut back to make it safe for workers.

At a city meeting held Wednesday, the city said they had asked CSX, who the city says only runs one train a month, not to remove the encampments. The company rejected the request and said they would proceed with the construction.

In order to keep the people in the encampments safe, the new area at the park and ride were designated, Mayor Donchess stressed at the meeting it was the best option on such short notice. The city pledged to offer support services and additional police patrols in the area.

Sources indicate the repairs on the tracks will begin Monday. However, it was initially scheduled to begin two weeks ago. In walking along the tracks that can be accessed from Temple Street, there appeared to be several dozen encampments. Only a few of the encampments appeared to be occupied, and many appeared to be abandoned.

Neighbors in the area have attended meetings, spoken to media outlets, and formed designated social media pages expressing concerns about the new location of the encampment. Some residents were disgruntled about the city not notifying them, and others were concerned for their safety.

Members of a local business located adjacent to the camp spoke of installing additional video surveillance and lighting to help prevent any incidents at their building.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news