CENTER CITY COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
October 28, 2003

Present: Mehmet Ali, Jerry Beck, Fr. John Cox, Larry Field, Marshall Field, Roxanne Howe, Ted Lavash, Bill Lipchitz, Bill Samaras, and Steve Syverson.

The meeting opened at 8:35 am.

Ted Lavash reported that there was a public hearing at the City Council meeting tonight regarding Keyspan’s request for a permit to open a street, and that the Ayer Lofts residents would use it as a means of conveying to the Council their concern that Keyspan has not replaced the cobblestones on Middle Street from previous work done there. Bill Lipchitz agreed to attend the meeting to show support for the issue of cobblestone replacement and to stop Middle Street from being inundated in a lava flow of asphalt.

Lowell High School Headmaster Bill Samaras introduced Roxanne Howe, who is an intern at LHS and will attend CCC meetings. Bill discussed the recent bomb scare/hoax at the High School that resulted in 3600 students being evacuated to the Tsongas Arena and the closing of Arcand Drive for several hours. Some businesses on Arcand Drive were affected, and he would like to open a dialogue with the business community near the High School to mitigate any concerns about the students and their behavior. (The students were very well behaved during the evacuation, much to the credit of school officials). He said some of the students would be volunteering to help at elderly centers with a goal of increasing the mutual understanding between the students and the elderly citizens of downtown Lowell. He asked what else they could do to help in the downtown. Bill also said he has a “cabinet” of about 40 students who participate in a student government process. It was suggested that the CCC meet with some of these students to discuss ways to improve the downtown. Bill said he would organize a cleanup of the area near Lee Street; and also set up a time when some of the students can attend a CCC meeting in the near future. A tentative date of November 18th was discussed.

Mehmet Ali talked about the fact that many crosswalk signs are missing and tha crossing some streets, particularly French Street near the Mogan Center was very difficult. He will speak to Captain Flaherty of the LPD to see if the signs can be replaced.

Bill Lipchitz talked about the upcoming Urban Land Institute conference being put on by the Lowell Plan. He apologized for not getting Henri Marchand of the Lowell Plan here this morning but would have Henri provide a one-page write up that will be sent with the minutes. The ULI will be in Lowell the week of November 10th and will cap their look at downtown plans with a symposium on the 14th at the Doubletree Hotel that will be open to the public.

Jerry Beck reported that the Superintendent of Schools and the Downtown Coordinator have been working with the Revolving Museum to have Lowell Students do a mural project that will be put in empty storefronts. There will be a team of LHS students who will work on this public art project and will also conduct a charette in conjunction with the Doors Open event next May.

Ted Lavash reported that Lowell Open Studios was highly successful last weekend, with about 700 people visiting artists in the Ayer Lofts studios and buying artwork. One local artist sold 10 paintings and received commissions for 13 more. Reports from the Brush Gallery (over 300 visitors), the Mogan Center and St. Joseph’s Shrine where 13 artists exhibited (about 250), and the Revolving Museum (400-500) all were very positive.

Steve Syverson said there would be a meeting tonight (Tuesday) to discuss the formation of a new organization for artists in Lowell that would help with finding work space, marketing and promotion.

The meeting adjourned at 9:30 am.

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