CENTER CITY COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
March 7, 2006

Present: Mehmed Ali, Larry Field, Marshall Field, Matt Fitzpatrick, Bob Kennedy, Janet Leggat, Bill Lipchitz, Jeanne Osborn, Russ Smith, and Terry Williams.

The meeting opened at 8:35 AM.

Mehmed Ali announced that the repairs to the Boott Mill building should be completed in a week or so. The building has been shored up with steel beams. The canals had to be drained while the work was being done. Marshall Field pointed out that it would be a good time to clean out the canal beds. Some discussion ensued on efforts to clean the canals including information about a Lowell Plan subcommittee that is working on the issue. Cleaning of the canals is complicated by multiple ownership and water rights. The Locks and Canals Co. only owns the canal walls and bed of the Pawtucket Canal, having sold the rest to Boott Hydro, which also controls the flow of water. Other players are the National Park Service, the City and the State.

Russ Smith brought up the issue of crosswalks, and particularly the difficulty pedestrians have in crossing Market Street from the Garage to Palmer Street. This issue came up before when the Committee met with the Traffic Engineer who was planning to do some kind of study on the use of crosswalks. He left the job recently, and the position is vacant. Marshall said this should be a major issue for the CCC as it relates to getting around downtown and livability. Bob Kennedy compared Lowell to other cities where traffic control is a higher priority. Larry Field proposed asking for a comprehensive review of all crossings in the downtown, research best practices in other cities, and come up with some rules that would be the same for all crosswalks, with uniform signage and marking. Jeanne Osborn said that the recent growth of the downtown means that issues like this have to be addressed, with Russ adding “and rules enforced”.

Bill said this should be part of a larger discussion at a monthly stakeholder’s meeting where a plan is developed regarding goals and objectives for the next year. It was agreed that, in addition, the recent survey done by DPD about the downtown would be a good starting point.

Bill reminded members that, in order for Stakeholder Representatives to be eligible to vote at the Annual Meeting, the organizations they represent must pay their dues ($50 according to the recently adopted by-laws) before the meeting. Although notices were sent out in mid February, very few have returned the forms listing the member and/or any alternate to attend the meetings, nor the actual dues. Please return the forms and dues as soon as possible to: Chris DeFeo, 167 Dutton Street, Lowell, MA 01852.

Marshall said he has been investigating the status of the building on Merrimack Street that used to house the Foxtail Lounge, and later, the Usual Restaurant. He thinks it would be a great venue for a movie theater. The building was being considered for a sports bar of some type, but the plans have been abandoned, according to his research. Also, he found out that some people, who had looked at it for a theater in the past, felt that it was not high enough for the screen they were planning on using. Nevertheless, Marshall thinks it has possibilities. Russ mentioned the Newburyport Screening Room as an example of a small but well functioning downtown theater. He provided its website address: http://www.newburyportmovies.com/history.html

One of the advantages to the Merrimack Street site is its proximity to the John Street Garage. This began a discussion of the former LRTA waiting area that runs from Merrimack to Paige Streets. The area has been run down lately, and the fact that the busses no longer use Paige Street provides new possibilities for the area. Bob Kennedy said that the LRTA had commissioned some drawings from an architect showing how the street could be beautified and made more attractive, and included putting some storefronts in the John Street Garage along Paige Street. Ali suggested that a sub-committee look into ways to spruce up the area, and Jeanne Osborn volunteers to help him with that.

The meeting adjourned at 9:35 AM.