The Renaissance of Ward 3

Diane Sheehan says deciding to run for Ward 3 Alderman in 2009 was only natural.

"I had been the champion of my ward anyway, out there working to get things done, so once I became alderman, there really weren't any surprises," Sheehan said.

Now well into her second two-year term as Ward 3 Alderman, Sheehan is all business when it comes to advocating for her ward constituents, which includes the city's northeastern corner.

Sheehan resides in French Hill by choice, which is an important detail.

"I inherited my mother's house, off of Exit 4, but we chose to live here, where my husband had a home," said Sheehan.

Yes, like many residents of French Hill, there's a subtle but audible tone of defensiveness there.

Her neighborhood, like many, has been undergoing a bit of a renaissance. Ten years ago it there were many more blighted homes and businesses. Railroad Square had a completely different vibe, and not in a good way.

"We have the only business Neighborhood Watch in the state at Railroad Square. The business owners have been investing in this area, and it's made all the difference," Sheehan said.

and anchor the small business plaza adjacent to the historic Laton House, a former hotel which is now a rooming house. Across the way there's, , and , some of the city's most popular destinations.

"Identification of where the problems are makes you manage your gaps, you identify who owns what and assign a solution," Sheehan said, channeling her former business persona seated in a sunny spot at the Riverwalk Café, where she's a regular.

As Alderman she's ready to fight for improvements and repairs. But it's the people that need to get involved if they want their neighborhoods to be safer and more liveable. It's come a long way, but there's still plenty more to do.

"My job is making sure the city's resources are being used in way that everyobdy is lifted up by it. But I'm just one person. Anything that's happened here has happened because the people made it happen," Sheehan said.

She's looking forward to the , a community clean-up effort planned for May 19. Sheehan has been working with organizers Pattie and Dan Chouinard to make sure the event has the support it needs to be a success.

"I'm good at facilitating and finding the right resources, but this is truly a neighborhood event," Sheehan said.

As she looks ahead, her priority list is pretty straightforward. She'd like to see the city's Title 1 schools brought up to speed – lower the class sizes and basically do whatever it takes to improve the educational experience for students.

Another priority is doing the Broad Street Parkway "correctly," a big and expensive project that should ultimately bring out the best of what the city has to offer along its riverfront, highlighting its assets while improving traffic flow, which can be impossible at times. 

"For one thing, I think the International Design Competition was a great way to bring fresh ideas into the mix. Now we have the opportunity to do something really great with this project. Managing it correctly is really important at this point," Sheehan said.

While some have questioned the relevance of the project, which has stalled out several times in the past, Sheehan says lost time has been costly, and the need for it is indisputable.

"For example, one day around lunch time it took me 40 minutes to drive from the at Exit 8 to – I can drive to the Burlington Mall faster, and while that may seem like a small thing, at certain times of the day, it's actually a big deal," Sheehan said. "How do you think local business owners will look at that kind of gridlock when considering Nashua?"

She says she loves this city, loves her neighborhood, has everything to be excited about when it comes to the future. This is where she's raising her children, walking her dog, investing her tax dollars, investing her time as an alderman. She takes it all to heart. She does her homework. She works hard to remove the hurdles that would slow down progress.

She gets frustrated when others don't.

"If there is a down side to getting involved, it's that I don't have time to waste. I put a lot of time into this because it's important, but it's time away from my family. So when other people aren't prepared at meetings, or don't know what they need to know, that bothers me. I am here to get things done," Sheehan said.

The other down side might be the two-year term.

"If we had a four-year cycle, people would probably behave differently, and we'd have more time to get things done without worrying about the election cycle," Sheehan said.

Contact Alderman Sheehan with your questions, comments or concerns about Ward 3: 603-759-7173 or SheehanD@nashua.gov.