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December 19, 2007

Developing the 'new' Lowell

Is the Lowell of the future also the Lowell of the past?

It's an intriguing question, one to be discussed and dissected over the next several months as city officials and citizens shape the vision of the Hamilton Canal District in a series of public meetings with representatives from Trinity Financial, the project's master developer.

Today, the 15-plus acres of the Hamilton Canal District are littered with crumbling mill buildings and relics of the 19th century's Industrial Revolution.

Historic Board members and preservationists marvel at this graveyard of bricks and mortar. Some hope to see it rise again. They envision a miraculous reconstruction of mill debris where new "old" buildings come to life and permanently lock in Lowell's historic heritage.

But is the mill renaissance landscape what Lowellians really want for the downtown's potential jewel?

I believe if the Hamilton Canal District turns out looking anything less than a modern center of inspirational beauty and energy, Lowell is doomed. A great opportunity to really reinvent Lowell would be lost forever.
This is no "mills to martinis" project for dilettantes. The stakes are high. A "minds to millions" (as in dollars) project is more like it. The vision that emerges will likely determine the city's economic fortunes for the next five decades and beyond.

The district represents the last chance to get it right for a downtown lacking the spatial amenities of other urban centers. Two that come to mind are Providence, R.I., and Portsmouth, N.H. Both cities have taken advantage of waterways to connect residents and tourists to downtown attractions.

Anyone who's been to Providence's Waterfire evening galas has likely been mesmerized by the torch-lit barges sitting in gleaming rivers. It's enjoyable to walk along the wide boulevards, stop at kiosks for a fanciful delight, or hop inside a quaint bar for a drink. Providence had to uncover three rivers running underneath the city surface, plus divert them, to create a business district showcase.

Portsmouth too has cashed in on its waterfront, turning a tired downtown into a fashionable sea of boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants.

Lowell's existing downtown lacks adequate on-street parking. As a result, the traffic flow manufactures choke points at nearly every turn. Imagine, though, if the Hamilton Canal District could be designed as a no-car zone, just like Venice.

It's time to think big again -- and forwardly -- as in 20 years from now.

I, for one, love Lowell's existing mill buildings and the wonderful renovations that have taken place over the past decade. Lowellians should take pride in the past and preserve historic buildings. But when is enough enough?

A walk up and down Merrimack Street and along the city's Historic District satisfy my lust for preservation.

As a four-year Lowell resident -- and someone who's worked here for 19 years -- I want something new and innovative to be proud of. Bowl me over with ideas, please.

Lowell has a chance to create a city within a city, to inspire awe with eye-catching designs, elegant green spaces, and wondrous canal waterways.

Canadians take equal pride in their "old" Montreal and "new" Montreal. Why can't Lowellians do the same here?

To be successful, the Hamilton Canal District needs its own identity. What if its centerpiece was a tall, glass building featuring a see-through elevator that rode all the way up to an elegant, top-floor restaurant? Would you visit? I'd find it irresistible.

What we don't need are refurbished tax-exempt mill buildings where developers get all the breaks and the taxpayers get all the burden.

I'm aware that Trinity Financial has its hands full. The pressure from community groups -- and preservationists -- to build an all-encompassing development that meets everyone's needs will be overwhelming. What a trap. If Trinity tries to make everyone happy the district is destined to become a nightmare.

Here's three goals for Trinity: Think beauty, safety and functionality.

And words of caution: Don't panic. If investors are slow to respond, resist expedient deals and ugly development that will cheapen the district's future prospects.

With Trinity's help and forbearance, Lowell can enhance the downtown with the creation of a unique extension that enlivens streets, sidewalks and shops and produces new residents, workers and tourists.

Lowell's vision for the Hamilton Canal District should be a sight to behold -- not a site beholden to the past.

Jim Campanini is editor of The Sun. E-mail him at jcampanini@lowellsun.com.

Posted by Admin at December 19, 2007 12:01 PM