CENTER CITY COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
November 20, 2007

Present: Mehmed Ali, Marshall Field, Ted Lavash, Bill Lipchitz, Chris Samaras, Russ Smith, Steve Syverson, George Villaras, and Terry Williams.

The meeting opened at 8:35 AM.

Ali reported on the calendar project. The printer is still waiting for the Cobblestones logo but we have to get them printed asap. Ali will tell the printer today to go ahead. There was some discussion about how to get the calendars out on the street for sale. Some will be sold through stores downtown and some will be taken to meetings such as the DNA and JAMBRA groups.

George Villaras talked about the preparations and activities for this Saturday’s Parade and Tree Lighting. The parade will step off from Jackson Street at 4:30 PM and come doen Central and up Merrimack past City Hall.Steve Syverson is a float judge. St. Anne’s Church will ring its bells at 6 PM when the tree is lighted, and then hold a chorale session and sing along in the church at 7 PM. The window decorating contest has 19 stores participating, and Lowell High School students will be decorating the vacant space on Merrimack Street where the Woodcrafter Shop was. Students from the Immaculate Conception school will be decorating the former Lowell Optical space on Central Street. George said that he needed one more window judge, and Terry Williams volunteered.

Chris Samaras reported that a Mexican restaurant was planning to open in the former Mike’s Restaurant space across from the Mambo Grill. There is also a hair salon going into 11 Central Street. Santa Claus will be at 177 Merrimack Street (corner of Kirk) on Saturdays December 1, 8, and 15 from 12-2 PM with gift-wrapping services and pictures with Santa available along with validated parking. Santa will also be there Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 7:30 PM December 6 and 13.

George also said that the DLBA is working on a campaign to bring more people downtown after the first of the year through a collective marketing effort.

The first Charette for the Hamilton Canal District will be held on Wednesday, December 5th at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium.

The agenda for Tuesday’s Stakeholder Meeting was discussed. Adam Baacke will be invited and we will get an update on the downtown summit follow-up and the new garage on Middlesex Street. We will also discuss a distribution plan for the calendars.

Ted Lavash said the newly opened apartments at 27 Jackson Street are spectacular and contain an art gallery, large meeting area and other amenities. The 127 apartments rent for $1,500 – 2,700/month. It was suggested that the CCC meet there on December 18th in lieu of the regular December Stakeholder Meeting. Ted will try to arrange it.

Steve Syverson said that Saints Memorial Medical Center has contacted ALL to put some original artwork in the hospital waiting areas.

The meeting adjourned at 9:25 AM.