LOWELL CENTER CITY COMMITTEE, INC.

 

Stakeholder's Representatives Meeting
September 30, 2008

MEETING MINUTES

The meeting opened at 8:35 AM.

The Stakeholder groups were represented by the following members:

Artists, Steve Syverson;
Building Owners, Marshall Field;
Business/Community Banking, Jamie O’Hearn;
Business/Resources, Terry Williams;
City of Lowell/Police Dept., Ken Lavallee
Education/UMass Lowell, Dr. Joseph Lipchitz;
Non-Profit Corporations/CTI, Bill Lipchitz;
Residents/Lowell DNA, Ted Lavash;
Visitors/CVB, Fred Hunter;
Visitors/Lowell Festival Foundation; Janet Leggat;

Absent:

Business/Chamber of Commerce, Jeanne Osborn;
Business/JAMBRA, Tim Shanahan;
Business/Lowell Plan, Jim Cook;
Business/Restaurants, Franky Descoteaux;
Business/Retailers, George Vallaras
City of Lowell/DPD, Chris Samaras;
Cultural Organizations, L Z Nunn;
Education/Lowell High School, Roxanne Howe;
Education/Middlesex CC, Molly Sheehy;
General Population/LRTA, Jim Scanlan;
General Population/NMCOG, Beverly Woods;
Visitors/Lowell National Park; Peter Aucella;
Youth/UTEC, Greg Croteau;

Also present:

Alternates: City of Lowell/Police Dept., Sara Khun-Leng

Special Guests:Deborah Friedl, Deputy Superintendent of Police;
Janet Lopez, LPD;Chris Deveau, GMVCVB
Jim Lichoulas, III, JAM area developer

Bill welcomed newly appointed Deputy Superintendent Deborah Friedl of the Lowell Police Department and congratulated her on her promotion. Debbie has attended many CCC meetings over the years in conjunction with some of her previous positions wit the LPD including commander of the Downtown Sector. In her new position, she will be responsible for Support Services and communications for the Department.

Minutes of Previous Meeting

On a motion by Joseph Lipchitz, seconded by Janet Leggat, it was voted: to accept the minutes of August 26, 2008.

Treasurer’s Report

Treasurer Jamie O’Hearn reported that the CCC has a balance of $1,902.95. The CCC is acting as fiscal agent for JAMBRA and still has some bills to pay on its behalf. In response to a question, it was noted that  all dues had been paid by January and February, prior to CCC’s annual meeting March.  Membership is $50 for each stakeholder group and $15 for an individual. On a motion by Joseph Lipchitz, seconded by Janet Leggat, it was voted: to accept the report.

Updates

WIFI in Downtown

The invited guests from the City’s MIS Department and the LTC were unable to attend this meeting. Miran Fernandez, Chief Information Officer for the City of Lowell, was unable to fit this meeting into his schedule but agreed to attend at a future date.  Ellie Pye, new Executive Director of LTC, declined due to workload. This topic will be rescheduled.

Downtown Lowell Blog

The blog was started in June as a joint venture with the Downtown Neighborhood Association, but after a few weeks, it was decided to separate the two because the DNA needed to also use their blog site as their website. The CCC created its own site using Wordpress and there have been several posts at the site http://downtownlowell.org/blog. Although several CCC members agreed to be authors, we are still in need of additional writers. Anyone interested in posting their stories, opinions or comments have several options. They can become authors and post directly to the site on a regular basis; they can write a blog occasionally and email it to blipchitz@comcast.net  or they can submit comments on the blog page itself in response to a post from someone else. The intention of the blog, similar to the weekly informal meetings, is to generate ideas to make downtown better and facilitate a dialogue about what is posted.

Newcomers Night

The event was considered a success at its new venue behind the Doubletree Hotel along the canal. Jamie reported that this year’s Newcomers’ Night had the largest turnout to date.  Six restaurants participated and a band from UMass Lowell provided music. The NPS sponsored canal boat rides were a big hit. The space was long and narrow with entertainment at one end and exhibitors along the canal, so visitors worked their way from one end to the other and back several times during the evening. Steve Syverson mentioned that the city’s recycling coordinator has access to a list of new people moving in and might be able to share it with the Committee. Ted mentioned that sending out letters by mail ended up being costly.  Fred Hunter suggested contacting the Registry of Deeds to see if postcards could be inserted with their mailings to new property owners, in which case mailing costs would not be an issue.  Jamie O’Hearn said the Newcomers Committee would be meeting this afternoon at 3 to discuss how the event went and what else could be done on a regular basis to keep newcomers informed. It was suggested that information for newcomers to Lowell be put on a website where it could be accessed year round.  The CCC is a sponsor of the event. On a motion by Marshall Field, seconded by Steve Syverson, it was voted: to donate $250.00 to the Newcomers Night event.

Special Guest

Bill introduced Jim Lichoulas from Fieldstone Property Group who presented information about developments planned in the JAM area outside of the Hamilton Canal District.  Jim owns the property between Jackson and Middlesex Streets where the Charter School is located, and also along Middlesex Street where the Lowell Transitional Living Center is located. One of his buildings contains 75 residential condos (above the Charter School) that are all sold, and an adjacent building that is being built out as additional housing. He also owns some buildings that were once used as a boiler house and steam generating facilities, next to a large smokestack, that he is planning to redevelop into a café (partnering with Brewed Awakenings) and a 100 seat theater, all centered around the large steam engine that is too big to move out. He also wants to incorporate an “artground” play area in collaboration with Jerry Beck of the Revolving Museum that could be used during the school day by the Charter School and other times by the community. He is currently working on the permitting process which he hopes to complete by November, and then will begin the physical work. He would like to be open within a year if possible. Jim also reported that the LTLC offices were moved to a building next door and he would be renovating that space. Ken Lavallee asked if there might be space available at minimal cost for a Police Precinct. Jim agreed to discuss it with him. Jim said he thinks the shelter can co-exist with other developments in the area, as is done elsewhere, and that he would be working with them to try and make it work here.

Reports from Representatives

Steve Syverson reported that Open Studios held last weekend was smaller this year, down from 2,000 attendees to 1,700, in spite of the fact that $6,000 was spent on advertising this year as opposed to $3,000 last year.  Rainy weather was probably a factor in the smaller turnout; the economy probably played a role as well.  No information on sales is available yet, however it did appear that art sales were down.  Many of the visitors were artists visiting from other areas. Also, the Art Walk competition concluded in conjunction with Open Studios and several prizes were awarded.

Ted Lavash reported that the Lowell DNA had held their meeting last week and made progress on the noisy bar issue. The long-awaited Village Smokehouse is planning to open October 8th. The restaurant contains 200 seats and will live entertainment on weekends.

Janet Leggat announced that the Monster Bash, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club and the Lowell Police Department, would be taking place October 28th at the Tsongas Arena.The event provides a safe way for children to trick-or-treat.Tickets are $3 in advance and $4 at the door. The haunted house will take place between 5pm and 7pm.

Bill announced that CTI’s Local Heroes event will be taking place October 22nd at Lenzi’s.

Police Superintendent Ken Lavallee formally introduced Lowell's new Deputy Chief of Police, Deborah Friedl. Ken assured committee members that the police will maintain an active collaboration with the Center City Committee. An LPD meeting with downtown businesses has been scheduled for November 4th but that date may be changed due to Election Day.

The next informal meeting will be October 7th.
The next Stakeholders Meeting will be October 28th.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:39 AM.

The Next Informal Meeting of the Center City Committee
Will be
Tuesday October 7, 2008
8:30 AM
Olive That & More
167 Market Street

The Next Meeting of the Stakeholder Representatives
Will be
Tuesday October 28, 2008
The MCC Morse Federal Building
East Merrimack Street
8:30 AM.

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