Attendees: Mario Madrid, DPD; Colin McNiece, DPD; Sandra Swaile, DPD; Marlene Faulhner-Hussein, Downtown resident/Middlesex Community College; Brown Miller, Boott Cotton Mills; Bill Lipchitz, Center City Committee; Ed Barry, Boott Cotton Mills; Nancy Kleniewski, U-Mass Lowell; Peter Aucella, Lowell Nat. Historic Park
Thomas Galligani, Director of Economic Development, opened the meeting with a presentation to CAC members of the revised Residential Survey results. DPD staff compared the results from elderly housing with the market-rate housing, and discrepancies were clearly identified.
Colin McNiece, the Chief Planner and Mario Madrid, Transportation Engineer, gave CAC an update on the Downtown Traffic Study. CAC was informed that a public meeting with the traffic consultants will take place in the next CAC meeting on March, 29.
Sandy Swaile, Design Planner informed the CAC on the latest improvements taking place at the Roy Public Garage. The placement of kiosks on key locations inside the garage will enhance its physical appearance; improve illumination and information through the display of downtown maps. Although CAC members were satisfied with the physical improvements inside the garage, yet the lack of parking signage needs to be addressed.
CAC members were invited by DPD staff to attend two workshops entitled "Keys to a Thriving Downtown" organized by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). These workshops will focus on Downtown issues such as the creation of a Business Improvement District and the "Economics of the Downtown". The workshops will take place in Boston, on March 27th and 28th. Some of the CAC members registered for one of the two workshops offered.
Thomas Galligani informed the CAC that the Final Downtown Plan Document would be available to CAC to review it before is presented to City Council. Mr. Galligani explained the process taken to approve the Downtown Plan.
Thomas Galligani invited the CAC to review the Mission Statement and the 6 major goals of the Plan, established in the past by the CAC:
Mission Statement
"Downtown Lowell is envisioned as a unique, vibrant 24-hour community that provides an attractive, safe and ""user-friendly"" place for people to work, shop, visit and live."
· Downtown Lowell must be physically attractive and void of unkempt buildings, trash, graffiti and other unappealing features;
· Downtown Lowell must be safe all the time, especially during evening hours and weekends.
· Downtown Lowell must strive to be interesting and "user-friendly", focusing on making the Downtown easy and convenient to these groups to access on a regular basis.
Goal 1: Utilize Downtown Lowell's unique cultural heritage, historic tradition and natural resources to generate new economic opportunities and growth in the Downtown.
The CAC mentioned that retail should focus on Lowell's unique cultural heritage and ethnic diversity. The CAC also suggested that Downtown Lowell should have art galleries concentrating on Southeast Asian art. Coffee shops with night entertainment such jazz were also mentioned.
Goal 2: Make Downtown Lowell safe and convenient to pedestrians:
The CAC mentioned that lighting in the Downtown is a key factor to improve the feeling of safety in the Downtown area. The members suggested keeping the lights on the trees year-round.
Goal 3: Create new opportunities for artists and residents to live in the Downtown.
Regarding this goal, a CAC member expressed her concerned about the fact that more residents in downtown does not mean more activity in the Downtown. Colin McNiece, Chief Planner, advised that was still too early to see the results of the new housing development (Ayer Lofts). McNiece reinforced that mixed use should be the strategy taken to increase the activity level in the Downtown. CAC member stated that they would like to see more artists and artists galleries in Downtown Lowell. Colin McNiece reminded the CAC that an Artist Overlay District was created in the Downtown but is not currently perceptible. Peter Aucella stated that the City should create more opportunities for Artist Housing, remarking that a market for Loft Space currently exists.
Goal 4: Create an active, clean and safe urban riverfront that creates opportunities for recreation and becomes a spine of the Downtown community.
The CAC emphasized that the connect must be strengthened between the Downtown and the rivers. The rivers generally cannot be seen from the Downtown. Access to the Riverwalk needs to be improved. The CAC was informed that the Lowell Development & Financial Corporation (LDFC) has been working on a Marketing brochure about the Riverwalk. One suggestion included encouraging restaurants on the riverfront.
Goal 5: Enhance the positive image of and investment in the Downtown.
CAC mentioned the following elements that could enhance the positive image of the Downtown:
· Outdoor Cafes
· Bars and restaurants with live entertainment such as Jazz, Comedy shows
· A Downtown Movie Theatre
· A "Virtual Reality" Arcade
· Utilize to the maximum our museums' space for other activities during evenings and weekends. Public buildings with good seating capacity should be reused for other public activities.
· There is a need for more events to occur in the Downtown area. A CAC member suggested having billboards on the highway and major routes announcing special events in Downtown. Peter Aucella mentioned that we a constant marketing effort in the Downtown.
· The vacant parcel located on Merrimack Street was identified as location for future development opportunities. This parcel is owned by Enterprise Bank, and it is currently used as a parking lot. It was suggested that the owners and developers should be aware of development opportunities and strategies for the Downtown. It was mentioned that significant demand for both housing and office space exists. However, due to uncooperative landlords and the undeveloped condition the some buildings are an obstacle to both investors and tenants.
Goal 6: Develop cooperation and coordination amongst Downtown Groups- particularly in the area of marketing and maintenance.
Peter Aucella and Nancy Kleniewski mentioned that the success of the retail in some of New England's downtowns such as Downtown Portland, ME and Downtown Portsmouth, NH is in part a result of teamwork efforts by City officials and other local organizations. Peter Aucella suggested a trip to Portsmouth in order to learn more about their strategies for success.
CAC members once again mentioned the establishment of a Business Improvement District as a solution to coordinate the various downtown activities, most particularly, the physical upkeep of Downtown Lowell.
The next meeting of the Downtown Plan CAC has been scheduled for:
Thursday, March 29, 2001 at 6:00 PM in the
Arthur Hammar Conference Room at the JFK Civic Center - 2nd Floor.
Send questions and comments to:
Thomas Galligani, Downtown Plan Project Manager
Division of Planning and Development
J.F.K. Civic Center
50 Arcand Drive
Lowell MA 01852
(978) 970-4276
tgalliga@ci.lowell.ma.us
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