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Lowell prepares developer tour for Frontrunner City delegation, schedules July visit and downtown walking tour
Summary
City staff told the council they will host a Frontrunner City delegation July 8–10, plan a downtown walking tour and an 11-stop bus tour highlighting housing and commercial development opportunities, and invited local developers to meet the delegation.
Assistant City Manager Yovanni Baez Rose told the Lowell City Council that a Frontrunner City delegation is tentatively scheduled to visit Lowell July 8–10 and that the city will present development opportunities through a downtown walking tour, an 11-stop bus tour and meetings with local developers.
Why it matters: The delegation visit is intended to showcase Lowell’s housing, commercial and industrial redevelopment potential to the Frontrunner City program and to regional developers; councilors said the visit could help attract investment.
Baez Rose said the first day will include a walking tour of downtown and a stop at the Hildreth Building as an example of upper-story renovation into housing. The city plans an 11-stop bus tour across neighborhoods to show a range of sites with housing, commercial and manufacturing potential and said it invited seven or eight active local developers to meet with the delegation.
Councilor Scott and several colleagues praised the approach and asked about the number of projects and developers participating. Baez Rose described multiple engagement opportunities: a nonprofit roundtable, a walking tour, the bus tour and one-on-one meetings between developers and delegation members so the delegation can understand local projects and capacities. “We have about 11 locations that we're doing on that bus tour,” Baez Rose said.
Council discussion also raised cultural preservation as a potential talking point for the delegation; one councilor asked that the city mention cultural-preservation components when presenting the Smithbaker Center and other sites. City staff confirmed they hope the delegation will be able to address the council and community during their visit.
Discussion vs. direction vs. action: The council received a staff briefing and expressed support; the administration is organizing the event and outreach (direction). No vote or appropriation was taken at the meeting.
Background: The city plans to use the visit to highlight the MBTA overlay district, Link project and other development areas and to coordinate with nonprofit and private developers to present a cohesive portfolio during the visit.
Next steps: The delegation visit is tentative for July 8–10; staff will finalize invitations and agendas and will bring the delegation to a council meeting on the first night if scheduling permits.
