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Council authorizes Lot 15 land deal to advance 75,000 sq ft Draper research facility in Hamilton Canal Innovation District
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Summary
Lowell City Council authorized a land disposition agreement enabling Wexford to develop a 75,000 sq ft Impact Center leased to Draper; officials said the project, backed by UMass Lowell and state funding, aims to create about 150 skilled jobs and begin occupancy in 2028.
Lowell City Council voted to authorize a land-disposition agreement with Wexford Development LLC that clears the way for a 75,000-square-foot research-and-development building in the Hamilton Canal Innovation District.
City Manager Golan introduced the item as a milestone for the LINK initiative and invited UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen and developers from Wexford and Draper to present details. Chancellor Chen said the project is part of a broader LINK ecosystem and credited partnerships with the city and state, citing $25 million committed by the state for the project and $75 million to the broader LINK efforts.
Mike Demmerd of Wexford described the proposed two-story Impact Center and schematic site plan for Lot 15, saying the building would be 100% leased to Draper. Draper program manager Stephanie Valerio said the facility will focus on small-scale secure microelectronics production and is expected to bring roughly 150 highly skilled jobs to the area.
The developers presented an early schedule: schematic design completed in March 2026, financial closing and building permits through the fall, construction mobilization in November 2026 and substantial completion in mid-2028, with equipment installation and start-up following. Draper and Wexford said the loading dock is enclosed and that routine operations would not generate frequent semi-truck traffic; they estimated occasional large deliveries during equipment installation and routine courier deliveries thereafter.
Councilors pressed the developers on aesthetics, neighborhood fit, truck traffic, noise, health and workforce training. Draper and UMass representatives said design review meetings are planned, the loading dock and enclosed logistics will mitigate neighborhood disruption, they expect the facility to be quiet, and plans include coordination with UMass Lowell and Middlesex Community College on workforce pipelines.
The council moved to adopt the authorization; a roll call recorded 11 ayes and the motion carried, formally allowing the city manager to execute the land disposition agreement with Wexford Development LLC.
The vote authorizes city staff to finalize the land contract; construction timing and final design remain subject to permitting, financing and final agreements. The developers and university indicated they would continue design review and community engagement as the project advances.
