LDNA 3/26/18

7 PM, LTC

Present:

Jack Moynihan

Stephen Greene

Sam Litvin

Meeting called to order at: 7:00.

Opening greeting

Approval of minutes

Approval of January and February minutes; Motion by Stephen, 2^nd by Sam.

Treasurer’s Report

Approximately $775.25 balance.  Everyone is invited to make a voluntary $10 membership contribution.

Police Report

Capt Crowley – Sector ‘A’ Commander.

               2 aggravated assaults related to Club 74.

1 assault related to a tow driver dispute.

Burglary related to someone moving into their apartment; truck left unattended.

Burglary of digital x-ray machine from professional building.  ($7k)

Shoplifting (of skin cream) from drug store

Various vandalism (smashed windows, and damaged car at John St. Garage)

Staffing grant money now available for extra downtown patrols during good weather.

Q:  What to do about needles?  A:  Call non-emergency number and Trinity will pick them up.  If not gone within an hour or so, call again.

Q:  How can we focus better on cracking down on over-serving?  A:  LPD works with investigation section and ABCC investigators.

Q: What about drunk driving?  Thorndike DUI checkpoint is no longer available.  A:  Encourage increased use of ride-sharing – working on a way to make this more convenient for patrons.

Special Guest:  Yovani Baez-Rose and Christine McCall, Lowell Department of Planning & Development

• In the process of doing open space plan
  • 5 year plan
  • Pre-requisite for state funding of projects
  • Public comments available on City Website; also online survey available with translations in Spanish and Kamai
  • Public meeting on 4/17 at Senior Center.
• What’s missing in downtown?
  • Non-vehicular access to other parts of the city.
    • In particular access to Western Ave Studios, Bruce Freeman Trail.
  • Picnic / BBQ areas with tables
  • Deteriorating benches in many parks
  • Spruce up existing parks (e.g. small park in front of Leo Roy Garage.)
  • Active features such as life-size chess/checkers set or “walking labyrinth”
    • But security issues have to be a major consideration in design
  • Improvement to south common such as artificial turf.
  • Close streets to vehicular traffic for a Sunday (Maybe each Sunday in a different neighborhood) to encourage pedestrian activity.
  • Need more bike racks all over.
  • More concerts/events in brick courtyard by LNHP visitor center.
  • Green walls to improve e.g. parking garage walls.
• What about in other areas of the city?
  • Better utilization of Vandenburg esplanade
    • Including improvement to sidewalk access to downtown
  • Improved dog-parks
  • Water access (e.g. for kayaks) downstream of the falls.
• What do you leave Lowell to do that we could bring here?
  • Cross-country ski trails
  • Activities for small children
  • Climbing structure that doubles as public art.
• What’s going on with trees?
  • Many are in bad shape. Survey of the situation will take place in spring.
• No need to put down quite so much rock salt; it only serves to wreck pavement and plants
• Open house meeting at LNHP Headquarters on 4/4 at 6:30pm.

Special Guest:  Nick Navin, City Parking Director

• City Council Public Hearing on new parking rates on 4/3 at 7:00pm.
• No rate hike in ~14 years.
• Initial proposal for rate hike was deemed to aggressive; new proposal is more modest as simply an adjustment to account for inflation over the past 14 years. (36%)
• On-street parking rate increases from $1/hr to $1.50/hr

Q:  What about a validation to help businesses?  A:  Willing to look at it?

Q: What about extending meter hours past 6pm?  A:  I’m in favor, but there’s not widespread support.  Also demand-based parking rates and progressive pricing.

Q:  Isn’t it outrageous that parking spot reservation on public streets outside of downtown is only $10/yr?  A:  Yes.

Q:  What about more electric vehicle charging stations?  A:  Councilor Cirillo says a motion is in the works to look at expanding access.  Nick points out huge backlog of maintenance and notes that as funds become available more chargers will be installed.

Meeting Adjourns at 8:31.

LDNA – 06/26/17

Present – Carolyn Alphen, Corey Sciuto

Meeting starts – 7:05

Carolyn, motion to accept minutes. Corey seconds

Treasurer’s Report – $638.29

LPD Report – Quiet and typical month downtown and citywide, except the Vibe (former El Rincon), where there was a quadruple stabbing. Everyone survived, but someone was badly injured. All mutual combatants; none cooperative with police.  License Commission will look into it.

Folk Festival – Henry Marchand, Tobi Marx, Cultural Affairs and Special Events. 31^st Annual. Standard street closures and stages, etc. Downtown streets will close at 3 PM on Friday to help accommodate hard barriers.

Ted Lavash wonders if more attractions could be on the Shattuck/Palmer stretch of Middle Street to bring more people down by Ayer Lofts, etc (obviously this involves Enterprise Bank and the amplified music at St. Anne’s)

Tobi points out that increased Federal funding scrutiny has put a lot of limitations on any expansions to the festival that aren’t directly related to its mission.

Discussion around better ADA accessibility. Henri will look into it.

Fall Events – Tobi Marx

Millyard space near Appleton Mill is close to ready to be available. Made in Lowell will be piloting with food trucks. Many festivals beginning in September. Some examples at http://tlfwf.org/events, http://lowellkinetic.com/, and http://www.cultureiscool.org/lamf-overview

<<Discussion about parking access downtown>>

<<Discussion about retail and entertainment downtown>>

General Announcements

 First floor of the Roy Garage is closed.

No July Meeting!

Meeting adjourns – 8:38

LDNA 05/22/17

7 PM, LTC

Present:

Jack Moynihan

Stephen Greene

Corey Sciuto

Meeting Start 7:01

Jack makes motion to accept May’s minutes

Corey seconds, approved

Treasurer’s report

Stephen says we have $570.29

Police Report

Sgt. Prescott

Crime reports are quite low right now

CrimeMapping.com stopped working in March

Sean Thibodeau, Pollard Memorial Library

Museum passes and events available at http://www.pollardml.org/

Library also offers book clubs

eBooks – http://www.pollardml.org/research/electronic-resources

Blog and newsletter: http://blog.pollardml.org/

Open Floor

Kathleen Marcin suggests we hold a social event

Suggest someone from DPD speaks soon

Kathleen asks Nick Navin (Parking Director) when we should expect to see the Hamilton Canal surface parking lots. Nick says this summer.

Stephen Greene asks if the Roy Garage has more spaces with tighter spots now. Nick says no; if anything, it’s gone from 1,030 -> 997 due to the removal of some compact spaces.

Parking utilization:

Corey asked if we could get a recycle bin in the garage. Nick said he’s working on it.

Adjournment

8:10 PM

LDNA 04/24/17 

Present:

Jack Moynihan

Carolyn Alphen

Stephen Greene

Corey Sciuto

Meeting Starts 07:05

Treasurer’s Report 

$582.29

Police Report

Sgt. Prescott

Aggravated assaults are domestic, as is typical.

Assistant City Manager, Mike McGovern

Lowell High School:

Currently working on feasibility studies, since August. City needed to find 16 acres, including six acres of parking. There are four remaining options: Full Renovation, Addition/Renovation 1 & 2, New site @ Cawley

New presentation on findings to the City Council on June 6, Special meeting on June 8; aiming for a forum on June 10.

Timetable: 6 years full renovation. 3 years, new school. 4, ~4.5 yrs for the renovation/builds.

Tax increases are estimated to be ≈ 7%.

General Information / Announcements

Continued work on garage spaces

Meeting Adjourned 

8:25 PM

Opening greeting

Carolyn introduce herself to begin the meeting and introduced the Board members Jack and Stephen.  Cory was delayed

Approval of minutes

Minutes from the February meeting were motioned, seconded and approved as posted on the website

Treasurer’s Report

The current LDNA balance at Enterprise is $519.29.   New membership donations of $70 were received and will be deposited.

Police Report

Officer presented a concise report for the area including the regular Compstat statistics and map for the period 2/27 to 3/26/2017.  Overall the numbers are down from the previous month’s report.  There were fewer car breaks.  Two of the aggravated assaults involved the police in the line of duty.  Disorderly conduct typically was bar patron related.

Teddy Panos, owner of Athenian Corner, plan to build a boutique-style hotel in Downtown Lowell. Presentation by Attorney George Theodorou.

Attorney George Theodorou  (Market St, Lowell) presented the 52 room boutique style family run hotel proposal that will include the Athenian Corner Restaurant on the ground floor at the current location on Market at Shattuck St..  The project will include the existing Athenian Corner building and new construction using the existing parking.  The new 5 story construction will not be red brick, but white, with the 5 floor set back.  The 5th level will be event rooms and an outside area as currently envisioned.  There will be a recessed drive through area at the corner of Shattuck for guest drop off and valet parking. Parking will be in the Roy Garage and it anticipated that many guest will self-park.  Restaurant guests will park on the street or garage.  Parking was discussed as a concern.

The each floor of hotel will have pictures of the various Lowell neighborhoods.  The ground floor restaurant will be slightly expanded (the seating currently not used on the 2nd floor will be part of the expansion).  It is envisioned that there will be seasonal outside seating on Market Street.  A recess would provide space for tables on what is relatively narrow side walk.

Supplies would be unloaded on Shattuck Street.  The alley would not be affected and trash and recyclable would be removed from building storage through the alley.

The neighborhood is supportive.  Parking was the only expressed concern.

Summer music would be moved to the 5th level.

If permitted, the project could get underway in June as an optimistic date.

There is a Planning Department Hearing on Monday 4/3 at 6:30 PM City Hall.

The proposal goes to the Historic Board on 3/10.   

Asking the people present at the meeting and getting affirmative support,  the LDNA Board motioned, seconded and approved a letter of support for the Athenian Corner Hotel Project.

Gabby Davis, CEO of Made in Lowell, discussed what her group does and the events they host in the City.

She also had a PowerPoint presentation with pictures.  Made in Lowell foster economic and community development in Lowell.  Gabby showed a number of events including some in Lucey Larkum Park.  Made in Lowell organized the Craft Beer walk around local business (next one is planned for Nov 11) as well as a food truck series.  It also organizes Friday Nights.  It will have an Octoberfest event this fall (10/14).  The plan is to go into the neighborhoods in 2018.  There is a wine sipping planned for May 20th.  This gets folks to taste select wines while visiting various business around the downtown as they get their passports stamped.  

Most events are free except if there is food or beverages.  Gabby is limited in the number of 1 day liquor licenses she can get as they are granted to an individual.  Additional involved people could help.  Each event includes significant planning and coordination as well as work with the City.  She is working on more events along the canals and canal walkways.  Another end of year event is planned and she hopes the weather which was very cold this past year is more cooperative.

Abbey welcomes support and volunteers.   Go to her web site – www.madeinlowell.org/

General Information

Councilor Samaras announced that for the Lowell High School Project, better cost information will be available on May 28th

Adjourn

Meeting Opens 7:03 PM

Present:

Jack Moynihan – Co-chair

Carolyn Alphen – Co-chair

Corey Sciuto – Secretary

Treasurer’s Report

$497.29

Police Report, Lt. Crawford

Quieter month than last, with the holidays being over. Car breaks continue; three disorderlies this month due to three different bars refusing entry to drunk people who caused trouble.

Officer Hanson, Canine officer. ‘Bossy’ the German Shepherd

Bossy is used for patrol, narcotics, etc. <Training demo>

Andy Jacobson, Board President of Cultural Organization of Lowell (COOL)

COOL has new offices outside of City Hall and has opened up a shop at 122 Merrimack Street: https://www.facebook.com/pg/CultureIsCool/about. Arts and Maker Fest September 16-17: https://www.facebook.com/LowellArtMakerFest

Adjourn

8:29PM

January 23rd, 2017 7 PM, LTC

Present:

Carolyn Alphen, Co-Chair

Jack Moynihan, Co-Chair

Stephen Greene, VP/Treasurer

Corey Sciuto Secretary

Begin Meeting

Stephen moves; Corey seconds

Annual Re-Elections

All officers re-elected

Treasurer’s Report

Police Report, Lt. Crawford

Higher-than-normal crime this month, related both to increased activity due to Christmas and New Years, including higher police presence. An individual who committed many of the elevated rate of car breaks was arrested this month as well. Discussions around improved lighting, vagrancy, etc.

Neighborhood Services Subcommittee is present

Supt. Bill Tailor, LPD

3rd consecutive year with double-digit reduction in crime. Includes 15-18% reduction in shots fired.

Maryann Ballotta, Director of Research and Development, LPD

Application for grant for downtown neighborhood (potentially $1M over three years, includes mandatory nine-month planning period, being submitted soon with grant beginning early 2018). Maryann has reached out to and is working with Jack Moynihan. Potential goals include increased lighting, addressing panhandling (change program). Self-watering flower pots. Partnership with Lowell Transitional Living Center to help them better serve their population downtown. Increased lighting in Kerouac Park as it’s a known crime hot-spot. Potentially coordinating with Mill City Grows to open a community garden downtown.

Council expresses interest particularly in working more closely with Lowell Transitional Living Center, especially around keeping their clients occupied with programming during the day.

City Manager Kevin Murphy

We have 252 police officers, highest count since the Clinton era. Most uniformed firefighters in two decades. $4.5M under net school spending at the beginning of Murphy’s tenure; $9.5M over currently. 90% ground-floor occupation level citywide.

Kathleen Marcin asks for highest and best use study re: Lowell High School.

• City will provide LDNA with highest and best use study.

Wayne Jenness asks what will happen to the courthouses when the new one opens.

• They’ll be sold on the private market.

Discussion around art gallery shuttles

David Ouellette, Inspectional Services

Over 100 food establishments downtown. About 10 closed food establishments.

Nick Navin, Parking Dept

Lower Locks garage repair work is done, Market St is nearly done.

The closing of Market St during City of Lights blocking the garage was in error.

Surface Parking Lot next to Canal Place III will not be built until they end up developing Hamilton Canal District 2 and 4, which are currently surface lots.

Call the Parking Dept. if your car was damaged during the garage repair process.

Discussion around 1 East Merrimack St and Parking. They can’t fit that many cars in the Davidson St lot unless a garage is built there.

Overall, there is interest increasing the number of parking spaces downtown.

Motion to ajourn

Carolyn moves, Stephen Greene seconds.

LDNA Meeting, November 28, 2016

7 PM, LTC

Present:

Jack Moynihan, Co-Chair

Carolyn Alphen, Co-Chair

Stephen Greene, Vice President

Corey Sciuto, Secretary

Police Report (Lt. Crawford):

Car break suspect has been caught

Interested in creative solutions on how to reduce backup downtown of people waiting on Ubers when the bars close.

Talk about lighting issues in the Canal Place parking lots.

Gates aren’t always closed by Trio.

Discussion around home access issues during events – Councilor Samaras looking to make a motion to address this.

Bridges closing: http://www.lowellbridges.com/

Discussion about licensing commission meetings.

Lowell High School Project

Presentation by Skanska and Perkins Eastman

Please direct questions to the City Manager’s Office

Next community presentation at LHS Auditorium on Thursday, December 8 2016 at 6:30PM

Website on the project should be available in March.

Motion to Accept Minutes

Corey made, Stephen seconds

Treasurer’s Report

$367.29 + donations from today

No meeting till January 23rd!

Motion to adjourn

Carolyn moves; Stephen seconds 8:44PM