Wiring downtown key to cyber-district launch
Lowell has the space, but needs Internet links
By JASON LEFFERTS
Sun Staff
By JASON LEFFERTS
Sun Staff
LOWELL -- Downtown Lowell may have a historic feel to it, but it's the wave of
the future that city officials think can help spur on the district's redevelopment.
Division of Planning and Development staff members met last week with
downtown leaders for the first time to discuss the creation of a cyber-district in the
city. The goal is to spider-web the area with high-speed phone and data lines and
use the empty, open upper floors of downtown building to create a fledgling
dot-community.
Last week's meeting drew more than 30 people, and signals the start of the effort to bring smaller,
high-tech, companies to the downtown.
"I think the bigger turnout has seen a glimpse of what the future of downtown is, and it's looking good,"
said Fred Faust, who attended the meeting as a representative of the Greater Lowell Chamber of
Commerce.
The believers in the new district say the start-up companies they are trying to attract can be lured to
Lowell by a number of benefits. Some, like the atmosphere and open spaces downtown offers, are
already in place. Others, such as cheap rents and in-place infrastructure, could take some time and
money.
City officials would like to organize a plan that not only lays down the wiring that digital media
companies need, but also helps landlords and those companies reach a middle point on rents.
Before a company moves in, the high-speed, high-capacity Internet connections are essential. Matt
Higgins, a DPD planner, said the Route 3 expansion and projects along Route 495 are bringing the new
electronic infrastructure to companies locating those areas, but it's unclear to what extent the lines will
penetrate downtown to make it more attractive for the smaller, start-up companies that a cyber-district
would seek to attract.
"Are we going to get access to those high-speed lines, and how are we going to work with building
owners to get them the capacity we need," Higgins said. "We need to build a partnership with some
business owners."
One starting point will be the $100,000 Unisphere Corporation is paying the city for extension of a tax
benefit area to cover the company's planned expansion. That money, Higgins said, will be used to help
try to attract businesses downtown.
At the same time, an effort will be made to change state laws to free up some funding from Beacon Hill.
"Right now, the infrastructure programs are designed for roadways and parking garages. It would be
easy to make the changes for digital technology," Higgins said. "With minor tweaking of the programs
there would be money available."
Even with state funding, wiring a number of building would be an expensive process.
Fran Eagle, the executive director of the Merrimack Valley Manufacturing Partnership, said it will cost
her group about $20,000 to drop a number of lines and connections into a roughly 11,000 square-feet.
The partnership runs UMass-Lowell's business incubator, which uses shared services like secretaries
and conference rooms along with private space to get newborn companies off the ground. The incubator
is almost out of space, and is creating more room at Wannalancit Mills, a space which, like many in
downtown Lowell, has little infrastructure available.
"It will take 60 days for a major rewiring for Internet access and digital telephone capability," Eagle said.
"I think everyone agrees this is the right time to get involved in a Digital Media Zone."
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