ISSUES

* The Boston Globe reports that the redevelopment of mill property in older cities is the subject of a Tax Credit Bill in the state legislature.

* Mirja Troppenhagen has opened haus, a unique store specializing in gifts for the home on Shattuck Street.

* Mark Coddaire to open Marx Running and Fitness, a specialized Running Gear shop on Merrimack Street.
* The Boott Mills are giving a boost to downtown in a recent Lowell Sun article
* The development of Lowell's Empty Mills was the subject of a recent Lowell Sun article
* Visit Lowell's downtown green spaces
* On July 20, Artist Jerry Beck will open The Revolving Museum, at 22 Shattuck Street.
* Second Annual African Festival was held in downtown Lowell.
* Lowell Couple planning to open Higher Ground, a casual coffee house and music venue to replace Callahan's Pub on Middle St.
* In a first, Lowell National Park to have ties with Smithsonian.
* Lowell Heritage Partnership announced its formation.
* Envisioning an Urban Ideal
* Lowell is getting safer every year

* Getting Around Downtown Lowell

* Starting May 23, 2002 theMarket Street Parking Garage will charge a $3 fee for night parking.
* New freeTrolley Buses for downtown
* A study done by The Greater Lowell Transportation Management Association (GLTMA) Lowell Parking Garage/Commuter Survey Analysis on who uses the public parking garages.

* Lowell Receives New Federal Designation as a Renewal Community

* Retail Development in Downtown Lowell

A recent article in the Boston Globe discusses a new book entitled Downtown: Its Rise and Fall, 1880-1950. by Urban Historian R. M. Fogelson.

The City of Lowell announces the Downtown Venture Fund , a program of Financial Assistance for prospective and existing Retailers and Restauranteurs

An Irish Pub, The Old Court opens in Downtown Lowell

Middle Street Changes include new restaurants and renovations of the former Smithwicks

Haverhill, MA in an Identity Crisis.

Middleton, RI tries to build a downtown from scratch.

What does the Downtown need to succeed? Why is Lowell failing as a 'destination city'?   and   A 'wish list' for downtown Lowell   articles appearing in The Sun by Jack Costello, Editor.

Other successful downtowns: Waltham ,   Newburyport ,   and Nashua ; articles apearing in the Sun.  

*The State Department of Housing & Community Development presented a two-day workshop called Keys to a Thriving Downtown in Boston on March 27th and 28th. A brief description of the workshops on Business Improvement Districts and The Economics of Downtown are available.

* Housing in Downtown Lowell

Sen. Panagiotakos files a bill to preserve affordable housing in inner cities.

Artists who have moved into the Live/Work space developed in the Ayer Building on Middle Street Show off their Work in the new Gallery

The Effect of Market Rate Housing on Retail Operations. What is the proper mix of types of housing and businesses to promote a diverse, economically vibrant downtown?

The Center City Committee Position Paper on Housing in the Downtown

An article that appeared in the Boston Globe January 29, 2000 on Urban Sprawl and the Housing Mix: Before We Take on Sprawl, Let's Understand What We're Fighting   By Nicolas P. Retsinas, Director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University.

* Creating a Master Plan for Downtown Lowell

The effort to locate a Judicial Center moves forward.

Process and Progress on the Plan

April 2000: Mayor Eileen Donoghue named a City Council Subcommittee to determine the best course of action.

The Ad-Hoc Subcommittee on Downtown held meetings with interested citizens on 4/18/00 and 5/16/00 as part of an ongoing process. The Center City Committee submitted suggestions to the subcommittee as part of the public input.

Matt Higgins of the DPD notified interested parties about the various Focus Groups to be held about the Downtown.

A Citizens Advisory Committee was created to provide input and feedback to DPD. The minutes of their meetings and other information related to the plan can be found at the City of Lowell Downtown Plan Home Page.

* The Internet and the Local Economy

Lowell planning a Cyber District: Articles appearing in the business section of the Lowell Sun on March 23, 2000 and May 4, 2000

* Recent Comparison of Lowell, Massachusetts with Paterson, New Jersey

In 1975, Lowell and Paterson were in competition for federal funds and designation as the first Urban National Park in the country.
Lowell won.
25 years later, a series of articles in the New Jersey Herald & News compares the two cities.

*Parade Magazine of May 7, 2000 reported that the National Trust for Historic Preservation has named 12 distinctive destinations as some of the best preserved and unique communities in America, with Lowell being rated as No. 7. All 12 communities had to meet certain criteria that included well-managed growth, commitment to historic preservation, interesting and attractive architecture, cultural diversity, a dynamic downtown, an economic base of locally owned small businesses and walkability for residents and visitors.