As discussions continue with residents and other stakeholders in the neighborhoods surrounding the Hamilton Canal District, the City of Lowell in partnership with Goody Clancy and Associates will be holding its second round of public vision sessions, or “City Building Workshops,” in the Downtown/JAM area, Acre, Lower Highlands, and Back Central Neighborhoods.
Following is the schedule and location for each session.
• Back Central Neighborhood: Tuesday, May 26. 6:00PM – 8:00PM Massachusetts Alliance for Portuguese Speakers, 11 Mill Street
• Lower Highlands Neighborhood: Wednesday, May 27. 6:00PM – 8:00PM Lowell Boy’s & Girl’s Club; 657 Middlesex Street
• Downtown/ JAM Neighborhood: Thursday, May 28. 6:30PM – 8:30PM Pollard Library; Community Meeting Room, 401 Merrimack Street
• The Acre Neighborhood: Tuesday, June 2. 6:00PM – 8:00PM Lowell Senior Center; 276 Broadway
During the first round of workshops, held last month, residents discussed and identified opportunities for neighborhood enhancement that will build off the development of the Hamilton Canal District.
General themes covered during these sessions included Business Development, Housing, Arts/Culture, and Accessibility. More specifically, this first round clearly demonstrated an interest by residents in enhancing connections – cultural, institutional, and physical — between the target neighborhoods and the Hamilton Canal District as well as improving connections among the neighborhoods themselves. During the second round of Workshops residents will have the opportunity to identify and prioritize specific enhancements designed to achieve improved connections, both physical and programmatic.
The City expects the initiative will bring together residents, the City, and other neighborhood stakeholders to work collaboratively in order to realize a vision for each neighborhood, not only to benefit from the development of the Hamilton Canal District, but create improved physical, economic, and social linkages between the target neighborhoods as well as the District. It is expected the outcome of the workshops will provide a roadmap to guide the Hamilton Canal District beyond its significant role as a place-making initiative to become a catalytic force in recombining neighborhoods, and thereby provide a major opportunity to facilitate “city making.”
For more information on regarding the workshops please contact Aaron Clausen at 978-446-7200. CONTACT: Aaron Clausen Lowell, Division of Planning and Development p. 978-446-7200 aclausen@lowellma.gov
