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Lowell council seeks timeline, costs and artifact-salvage plan for Smith Baker Center
Summary
Councilors voted to require a timeline and cost estimate for remediation and demolition of the city-owned Smith Baker Center and also requested a plan to identify and try to preserve historical artifacts or façade elements; public speakers and preservation advocates urged delay and reuse options.
The Lowell City Council on Jan. 28 asked the city manager to outline a timeline and cost estimates for containment, remediation and demolition of the city‑owned Smith Baker Center, and separately requested any plans to salvage historical artifacts or sections of the building27s façade.
The motions followed public comment from preservation advocates and a review of an engineering study that councilors said raised structural and cost uncertainties. Councilor Yang (mover) and Councilor Noon (second) carried the measures, and the council instructed the administration to return with details, including possible salvage measures.
The requests come after the council voted previously to move toward demolition. Supporters of preservation urged a pause and an RFP that would allow developers or nonprofits to propose reuse. Resident Bruce McCauley said he has launched online petitions and called for time to let “investors, nonprofit[s]…make an offer,” adding, “I feel a tremendous amount of guilt and…
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