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Lowell Council votes to proceed with demolition of Smith Baker Center after years of debate
Summary
After months of public comment and a detailed engineering report, Lowell City Council voted to move forward with demolition of the vacant Smith Baker Center, citing structural deterioration and high projected rehabilitation costs; councilors and preservation advocates clashed over alternatives including a final RFP and nonprofit-led restoration.
The Lowell City Council voted on Jan. 14 to proceed with demolition of the long-vacant Smith Baker Center, a nationally listed historic building, after a lengthy public hearing that included presentations from preservation advocates and engineers.
Councilor Daniel Dakota moved for demolition; the motion passed on a roll-call vote (Councilor Chao: yes; Councilor Dakota: yes; Councilor Gaetzschier: yes; Councilor Jeunesse: yes; Councilor Mercier: no; Councilor Noon: yes; Councilor Robinson: no; Mayor Roark: yes; Councilor Scott: yes; Councilor Yem: abstain; Councilor Belanger: yes). The vote followed more than an hour of public remarks and council debate.
Supporters of preservation, organized as Save Smith Baker/Smith Baker Preservation Corp., urged the council to allow their nonprofit group time to develop a restoration plan and market strategy. Speakers including Carol Kirsten, Brad McGowan, and others described the building as architecturally and culturally significant and said the group would pursue grants, tax…
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