Category Archives: Downtown Economy

About last night…and all the other nights

Here’s a thought…everyone who has commented or has a suggestion on how we find balance…and by balance I mean let’s keep everyone in business (but hold them accountable for compliance with existing regulations) and keep residents from moving (because the city does not need another round of empty buildings)…consider attending the meeting on Thursday night so we can have a constructive conversation about our neighborhood. No rants…no pointing fingers…this is a great neighborhood and a great city…and it should be open for everyone to share. In the meantime GET OUT AND ENJOY WINTERFEST! There is soup and hot chocolate to be tasted and Human Sled Dog races to be run…kids skating at the Arena…we’ll pick this up again next week.

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.

2011 Downtown Summit

The next LDNA meeting will be held Monday, October 24th, 7PM, at LTC, 246 Market St.

Agenda
1. City Manager Bernie Lynch
2, Daniel Bach, Master’s Student – Teaching Assistant, Community Social Psychology, to discuss ideas about creating common area recycling drop-off locations downtown.

DOWNTOWN SUMMIT

The city is asking downtown residents, students, business owners, employees, and commercial property owners to please take a few minutes to fill out this brief survey. This survey will provide valuable information for discussion at the Summit.

Downtown Residents/ Students please fill out this survey
http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e4ysi50bgt7lyf8w/a012cgtr1jjl9/questions
Downtown business owners, employees, and commerical property owners please fill out this survey:
http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e4ysueuvgt7nz4pk/a012dgtr1k4zq/questions
For more information contact downtownsummit@lowellma.gov

I posted this on Rob’s facebook…but will share my thoughts about the License Commission meeting today.

Since I was at the meeting too I have to say a few things. 1. Respectfully to Mr. Bayliss; this is NOT about him or the License Commission. This is about everyone involved getting together and trying to determine what the future of the neighborhood is going to be; stop pointing fingers and come up with some solid ideas. In my opinion Chief Lavallee has identified a problem and he is reaching out to everyone involved looking for solutions 2. I’m sure the stats are up because more incidents are being reported. That does not mean there were less incidents. I could be wrong but I suspect this can be attributed to the current sector captain who was formerly in a neighborhood were REALLY bad things happen and the guy is probably wondering why on earth this nonsense is tolerated. 3. In my opinion the reason we can not attract better businesses downtown is because any serious business owner doing their due diligence is going to hang around the neighborhood at all hours for at least a few weeks…and probably thinking this is not the place for me. 4. People from Belvidere should not have to look at there watch and think “It’s almost 10; I better get out of Dodge”…reference point 3. 5. Possibly above all else and something newer people to the area do not understand; historically people did not LIVE downtown; they worked here. When industry started to leave and the city found itself with a ghost-town (I remember the 80’s) someone came up with the wacky idea of filling the place up with subsidized housing. That was good but still more space…let’s fill the rest of the place up with more people (really crazy idea). However no one ever sat down and thought about the logistics of how you mix all those pieces together. I think LDNA and the LPD and most of the bar owners have done an excellent job of getting together and finding a way to make it all work. The city council and the License Commission should get on board and throw out anyone who doesn’t have a long-term goal of being a responsible part of the community. 6. As someone who does not discriminate; I make an effort to try out everything downtown; I love my island! (yes we are surrounded by water on all sides-maybe we should just pull up the draw-bridge at 1AM…alternatively we might consider shutting off the alcohol at 1AM and staying open all night for breakfast) It’s a great place to live; it is and should be a great place for anyone to come out and have some fun and not have to deal with the both the petty nonsense and certainly not have to leave before 10 to avoid an unruly bunch of drunks or precariously step over the vomit going out the door in the morning…or worse. 7. Last but not least, the LPD should not have to “baby-sit” drunks when there is an entire city who needs them; my tax dollars could be much better spent. KMM

p.s. Commissioner Weicker did not make a new friend today when he made reference to my being “old”.

Folk Festival

Remember when Folk Festival was just fun…no stress no worries or at least for those of us who only attend and do not have to do any of the hard work of planning or working or cleaning up.

Reading today’s stories in the Sun I found the statement by Acting Superintendent Deborah Freidl that the late-night crowds downtown are just a part of the event’s evolution to which officials will adjust, most important. Good point! Just 3 days prior to the commencement of the festival Chief Lavallee held a meeting and asked everyone to do what they could to make sure that after festival hours DO NOT turn into mardi gras… (or as Craig would say; Shangra-lowell) oops! I have total confidence in Captain Kennedy’s ability to evaluate the situation and make the right decision and comments from bar owners sound like they agreed too.

I know that a few bar owners did voluntarily close early all three nights due to the large crowds…therein lies the dilemma. How great that people who come to folk festival stay after to enjoy the city…and how great for all of the businesses who had to turn people away. Hopefully by next year there will be a few more neighborhood places open. So the CM’s comment about starting now to plan for next year is the right thing to do.

I do have to throw just one question out there…why did the city council approve a deal for the Smokehouse to build out the sidewalk? Did anyone provide them with information about the 11 incidents police have logged at this location (only outdone by Brian’s Ivy Hall coming in at 14)? There are many other business owners who would be eager to have the use of 4 parking spaces to build out their outdoor business but have been told no (Old Court aside; they are just to close to the corner for LFP to make the turn)…why this one?

Two stories in the SUN: http://www.lowellsun.com/todaysheadlines/ci_18615060#ixzz1U5E8Oak4

Innocent plea in Lowell Folk Festival brawl – Lowell Sun Online
LOWELL — In the midst of the Lowell Folk Festival festivities last weekend, police arrested a Lowell man after they spotted him in a group of partygoers kicking a man on the ground…
Rest of the story at SUN on-line: http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_18615061

Notes from License Commission Meeting Thursday

License Commission Meeting Thursday
http://ltc.org/schedule/municipal/license_commission
It’s a long meeting so skip forward to about 55 minutes. We will soon have two new bars in the neighborhood.

All Star Lounge former home of C’est on the corner of Merrimack and Kirk St. You be the judge…watch the video and see if you can tell what type of place they are planning. I couldn’t tell. Interesting fact; the President is David Cruz former manager of El Rincon. I will say the owners have been given fair warning by the commissioner’s to manage the place well.

Fuse Bistro, Scott Pelletier, Manager. Palmer St. formerly Caffe’ Paradiso.
I think the most important thing about this location being open again is this once vibrant section on the neighborhood will no longer be dead and dark. I am optimistic some of life will be “fused” (no pun intended) back in the block.

Downtown Lowell is for sale

According to the SUN…downtown properties will soon be available. FINALLY!
I have a really optimistic outlook that having these properties on the market will create some great new business opportunities. Let’s hope for the best. There are some really great locations on this list (assessed value is also noted).

“Nearly a dozen properties owned by the heirs of the late Louis Saab are on the block, said his younger brother, Thomas Saab”. Read more: http://www.lowellsun.com/todaysheadlines/ci_17938728#ixzz1KkEVrvdO

198 Central St., $423,500
39 John St., $246,400
53 John St., $23,800
26 Merrimack St., $1,228,000
61 Merrimack St., $261,500
72 Merrimack St., $506,300
101 Paige St., $184,100
147 Central St., (Saab Building), $1.3 million

LDNA meeting Monday January 24, 7PM, at ALL Gallery 22 Shattuck St.

Agenda
-Discuss inviting downtown businesses for bi-annual presentations.

-Discuss city elections and charter change proposals
-Public Safety and the cost to increase number of police officers

-Nominations for officer elections in February