Category Archives: Uncategorized

Announcement from Community Associations Institute

By a vote of 67 to 32, the U.S. Senate has approved S.1926, the “Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act,” legislation delaying substantial increases in flood insurance premiums. S.1926 now moves to the U.S. House of Representatives for further legislative action.
“When Congress reformed the National Flood Insurance Program in 2012 it was with the best of intentions in mind,” said Thomas Skiba, CEO of Community Associations Institute. “Unfortunately these changes made flood insurance coverage too expensive not only for individual homeowners, but also many community associations.”
The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (Biggert-Waters Act) was intended to place the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) on sound financial footing through increases in flood insurance premiums. As the Biggert-Waters Act was implemented, homeowners and community associations saw flood insurance premiums soar to unaffordable levels.
While some property owners qualified for a 5-year phase-in of higher premiums, many did not. Homeowners seeking to sell their property did not qualify for the premium phase-in, effectively lowering real estate values by thousands of dollars. Faulty federal flood maps also caused homeowners living in properties constructed above flood levels to see unaffordable increases in flood insurance premiums

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Please be advised that the Snow Emergency Parking Ban will be lifted effective today, Friday, January 3, 2014 at 4:00 PM

PARKING BAN BEGINS AT 2PM TODAY, JANUARY 2ND 

Free parking for city residents at the garages listed below. Cars must be removed within 2 hours after the parking ban has been lifted.

George Ayotte Parking Facility (Tsongas Arena)
11 Post Office Square
Lowell, MA 01852

Edward Early Jr. Garage
135 Middlesex Street
Lowell, MA 01852Edward Early Jr. Garage
135 Middlesex Street
Lowell, MA 01852

Please see update below on Prescott Street night work from Fred Faust of the Edge Group.

On the nights of Wednesday, December 11 and Thursday, December 12, work may be ongoing a water connect project on Prescott Street, which will include a full street closure as of 8 PM and re-opening no later than 6 AM. Because this work relies on suitable weather and restoration of the sidewalk is involved, there may also be a lane closing during this work. If necessary, completion of work may also include the night of Friday, December 13. We regret any inconvenience.

For additional information, please call Fred Faust at 978-458-8822 or 978-397-8086.

Nighttime work on Prescott Street next week will be done with full street closure.

DOWNTOWN
Prescott Street–Friday, November 29
Contractors will be digging a test pit on Prescott Street for the new UTEC property at 27 Prescott
Street.
• Work will start at 8 a.m.; one lane will be closed but the street will remain open
• Friday’s work will be followed by nighttime work (with full street closure) next week to make a water connection
• Traffic signs and a police detail will be used to minimize traffic issues
• For more information contact Fred Faust at (978) 458-8222

The students have some new photos posted here.  This one by Sevy Doung.

City of Lights ParadeSaturday, November 30, 2013
11 AM – 8 PM
downtown Lowell

FREE parking from 10 AM – 12 midnight at the John & Market Street Garages
View a map of garage locations and information on street closures.

Public Road/Construction Projects
Week of November 23

DOWNTOWN
City of Lights
This Saturday morning–light nets will be installed at the following locations:
•Kearney Square
•Central Street at Merrimack
•143 Merrimack Street
Streets will remain open during installation.

Kearney Square Bridge replacement
•Bridge will be closed on the nights of Wednesday, November 20 and Thursday, November 21 from 8 p.m. – 7 a.m. to install deck panels. Detours will be posted.
•Phase I of this project is expected to be completed by December 31, 2013
•Phase II will start on April 3, 2014 following a winter break with both sides of the bridge open for the winter
•At least one sidewalk will be maintained throughout
•Traffic lanes will be narrow during construction (9’ in each direction) but passable; care should be exercised when traveling through this area
•This project is being funded by Boott Hydropower, Inc., a subsidiary of Enel Green Power North America, Inc.
•For project details and an updated project schedule please visit the follow website setup by Enel Green Power North America, Inc.:
http://www.enelgreenpower.com/en-GB/ena/events_news/kearney_square_bridge_replacement/index.aspx

SPECIAL EVENT THIS SUNDAY, OCATOBER 20
Baystate Marathon—8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• The marathon runs along both sides of the Merrimack River between the Aiken Street Bridge and the Tyngsboro Bridge
• French Street from John Street to Arcand Drive will be closed beginning at 6 a.m. for race setup
• Traffic over the Aiken, University, O’Donnell and Bridges will be impacted between 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
• The Rourke Bridge will be closed from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Jen Myers has a great entry about the new chief on her Room 50 blog.

As you may be aware City Manager Bernie Lynch, is in the process of selecting a new Superintendent of the Lowell Police Department. He is in the process of conducting several “Listening Sessions” with neighborhood leaders, members of the Patrol and Superior’s unions of the LPD, local business people as well as members of the clergy and nonprofit organizations in the City and has received some very constructive feedback so far.
He is also interested in receiving comments and suggestions on what qualities the residents of the City would like to see in our next Superintendent.

To that end, he will meet with members of the general public at an additional ‘Listening Session’ at the Lowell Senior Center, 276 Broadway Street, on Thursday, October 24th at 6:00PM. All members of the general public are invited.

More information contact:
Lynda Clark| Executive Assistant
Office of the City Manager
The City of Lowell
City Hall, 375 Merrimack Street
Lowell, MA 01852
phone: 978.674.1001

poster by Nick Jackson

Friday 10/18 8:00pm until 1:00am
COME DOWN TO UNCHartED STUDIOS FOR A SPOOKY NIGHT FULL OF MUSIC, FRIENDSHIP, HORROR, AND OF COURSE, BLOOD! IN COSTUMES!
66 Merrimack St.