Category Archives: Downtown Lowell

License Commission Meeting Time

Pleased to find this SUN editorial regarding the License Commission. Well stated and also includes the suggestion of a compromise.

“In this case, we see a simple compromise that can satisfy both the business sector and the public.
The License Commission can hold a 3 p.m. meeting on the first Thursday of the month, followed by a 6:30 p.m. meeting on the third Thursday of the month.
Those who have business before the board can simply inform the commission’s executive secretary as to which slot is convenient for their schedule.
Of course, it won’t solve the problem of giving the same access to all the people all the time, but it is a start in the right direction. Over time, we’d prefer to see the 6:30 p.m. meeting time become the rule rather than the exception.
The License Commission performs a valuable function and does its job well. All it has to do now is become a bit more flexible in continuing its public service”.

http://www.lowellsun.com/ci_19751791?IADID=Search-www.lowellsun.com-www.lowellsun.com

Man stabbed in downtown Lowell

And more discussion over at Left-in-Lowell
http://www.leftinlowell.com/2012/01/16/what-the-hell-is-going-on-downtown/

Rob Mills has updated his story on-line
http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_19751690

Thankfully the young man who was stabbed has been released from the hospital.
this situation does beg the question why the city continues to ignore repeated reports from Chief Lavallee about the escalating situation in this area.
There are some very simple and cost efficient things that could have been done immediately…enlist business owners to keep lights on at night, specifically in the parking lot of Paige & John where most of these fights occur; place surveillance cameras in the parking dept. office which is directly across from aformentioned parking lot and cameras at the corner of John & Merrimack Streets.

The city has committed considerable resources on surveillance to catch people illegally dumping trash; can we not do at least that much to improve public safety?

Rob Mills tells the very sad story and states the obvious about the neighborhood bickering…

Man stabbed in downtown Lowell
Posted by Police Line on January 15, 2012
The Lowell Downtown Neighborhood Association, bar owners, the city administration and the License Commission are battling each other in an epic attempt to decide when to hold a meeting.

Meanwhile, a man was stabbed in downtown Lowell and flown to a Boston trauma center early this morning shortly after last call.

Police have not identified the man. I have no indication whatsoever whether alcohol was involved. Here is what I do know:

At about 2 a.m., a police sergeant called the “downtown portable,” a police unit assigned to patrol around downtown bars, to the area of Middle and Central streets to help deal with a “highly intoxicated” woman.

At the same time, a fight was reported in the area of Paige and Lee streets — a common trouble spot downtown when bars close, which has been discussed at prior public meetings.

Two cars who weren’t dealing with the situation on Middle Street were sent to Lee and Paige. By the time they arrived, they reported the fight was breaking up. There were no more radio transmissions regarding the fight.

At 2:12 a.m., an officer was sent to the emergency room at Lowell General Hospital, because a man had just walked into the ER with a stab wound…

Read the whole blog entry:
http://sunpoliceline.wordpress.com/2012/01/15/man-stabbed-in-downtown-lowell/

Veterans for Peace plan "eat-in" at Babylon Restaurant tonight

Nice coverage of this story by Rachel Maddow

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

In the event you may not be aware, as reported in today’s Lowell Sun, a restaurant downtown was recently the victim of a malicious act of vandalism where a 20 lb building stone was thrown through the window. While investigations are currently underway to determine whether this incident was a “hate crime,” it goes without say that acts like this have no place in our community.

Vandalism and Public Safety are topics of frequent discussion concerning the state and culture of downtown and actions are currently being taken by the City, Lowell Police Department, Business Owners and Residents to address these concerns. The extreme nature of this recent incident at Babylon Restaurant has shown us just how important these partnerships are in the continuing growth and development of downtown.

I am contacting you to encourage you to join the Veterans for Peace and other concerned Lowellians tonight at an “eat-in” at Babylon Restaurant, 25 Merrimack Street,between 5pm and 8pm. For those who are unable to attend I encourage you to visit this restaurant for lunch or dinner, at any time, and tell the staff that you support them and are taking a stand against violence in our community.

Each of us has the power to help make our community a place that everyone can enjoy. In addition to continuing to support businesses downtown, I hope you will join Center City Committee in discussing and creating solutions aimed at Downtown’s continued development as a place for all to admire and enjoy.

Bobby Tugbiyele
President
Center City Committee, Inc.
centercitycommittee@gmail.com
http://www.lowellcentercity.org/
The Center City Committee is made up of 23 Stakeholder Organizations representing every aspect of downtown life from residents to business owners (including retailers, restaurant owners and commercial businesses) to city officials, building owners, educational institutions, cultural organizations, social service agencies, students, and visitor-oriented organizations like the National Park and the CVB. It provides a forum for networking and information exchange and meets regularly to help promote the downtown.

Center City Committee President Bobby Tugbiyele

Q & A with Bobby in today’s SUN
http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_19607635

LOWELL — Bobby Tugbiyele moved to Lowell 10 years ago to secure a degree in political science and history at UMass Lowell and hasn’t left.

Instead, the 30-year-old Tugbiyele has become a community leader trying to bolster the city’s downtown.

He spends his days as a senior career adviser in the workforce-development division for Community Teamwork Inc., and in October was named the new president of the Center City Committee, Inc.

The Sun recently caught up with Tugbiyele to find out more about the Center City Committee, his goals for the group, his thoughts on the downtown and job market in the region.

Q: What does the Center City Committee do?

A: It is made up of a cross-section of anyone with a vested interest in downtown issues. There are a lot of issues that groups are dealing with on a daily basis, and there is a beauty of having other people who may not identify with those issues push the process and advocate for those issues. I’m not at the United Teen Equality Center or the Lowell Community Health Center during the day, but at our monthly meetings, I can hear about issues they are facing.

SANTA!

Free photos with Santa Claus
Saturday December 10, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM. Bring your little elves to the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce (131 Merrimack Street) for a keepsake photo with Santa Claus, free of charge. In addition to the all-important visit with Santa, kids will receive a candy cane.

Central St. Bridge Work

In today’s SUN…
City bridge work to drag on through February
Construction on the Central Street bridge over the Pawtucket Canal, which began late last summer, has been delayed by a couple months, according to the company overseeing the project.
Enel Green Power North America, Inc., an Andover-based renewable-energy plant operator, owns the canal and is completing the project on the Central Street bridge and two other bridges in the city.
A spokesperson for the company said work on the Central Street bridge was supposed to be complete by mid-December, but the schedule has been pushed back to projected completion in February due to conditions that were not known until construction began.

SATURDAY

City of Lights Parade starts at 4:30. More info:
www.lowellcityoflights.org

National Small Business Day. In recognition downtown retail business/restaurants have a variety of specials offers available. Start your holiday shopping without getting into your car.

LDNA MEETING TONIGHT

LDNA meeting for Monday, November 21st, 7PM at LTC.
There are two agenda items:
1. Bobby Tugbiyele, downtown resident and recently appointed President, Lowell Center City Committee, will discuss ways to elevate the downtown .
2. Daniel Bach, Teaching Assistant, UML, will pick up where he left off at our last meeting. Daniel is gathering information and input from residents and business owners across the city to determine if there is a desire/need to establish recycling drop-off locations for those that do not have access to the city recycling program.

Downtown Bars

Spoke too soon…this one is ours.
From Channel 4 Eye Team
A man was arrested for allegedly attempting to punch Celtics guard Rajon Rondo outside a Lowell nightclub early Saturday morning.
Rondo was at Brian’s Ivy Hall on Merrimack Street in Lowell for a promotional appearance.

According to Mr. Hayburst, one of the clubs owners in a SUN article, “Rondo was unpersonable and disrespectful toward patrons.”
http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_19378063

However Mr. Hayhurst told the Globe, “Rondo…didn’t seem aggressive at any point during the night…”
http://www.boston.com/Boston/metrodesk/2011/11/haverhill-man-allegedly-tries-punch-celtics-guard-rajon-rondo-lowell-nightclub/MPvga9KineKK5e33ToKe7N/index.html?p1=News_links

On Brian’s Ivy Hall Facebook page, “Get here early! Be prepared for yet ANOTHER CRAZY night!!.’ “ANOTHER CRAZY NIGHT AT Brian’s Ivy Hall!!! BEST CLUB IN LOWELL!!! LAST NIGHT 700 PEOPLE”

Unlike Mayor Menino; I have never seen our Mayor or a city councelor come downtown to see for themselves what is going on at 1:45 AM.

City of Lights Parade Saturday November 26th

this is a great fun, festive start to the holidays. Photos from previous parade.

In preparation for next Saturday’s City of Lights Parade (Saturday November 26 at 4:30 PM), parking meters will be bagged starting at 7am on Saturday November 26 on Central Street , Merrimack Street and Arcand Drive . From 4pm – till about 6:00pm the streets listed will be completely closed until the parade passes.

Please note once the parade is over all bags will be removed and during the parade there will be two way traffic on Mark et Street from Dutton Street to the garage.

On parade day parking will be free at the John and Mark et Street Garage from 11am – midnight. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at any time and for additional information please visit www.lowellcityoflights.org or www.lowell.org