Left In Lowell

I just got an email from Aaron Clausen of the Lowell DPD regarding planned neighborhood charrettes modeled after the successful public planning meetings with Trinity Financial and the Hamilton Canal. This is a super awesome idea, and I hope that the public takes advantage of the opportunity to shape the future of their neighborhoods. From the email (bold mine):

The City of Lowell in partnership with Goody Clancy and Associates is pleased to extend an invitation to participate in a series of “City Building Workshops” scheduled for the Downtown/JAM area, Acre, Lower Highlands, and Back Central Neighborhoods.

Our purpose is to expand on the success of the Hamilton Canal District charrette where we experienced an outpouring of public participation that helped shape the District in a way that creates a new, vibrant urban district befitting the City of Lowell. During the “City Building Workshops” we will be seeking input from the public to help create a vision for each neighborhood’s future. Specifically, these workshops are designed to help us prepare for the impacts of the Hamilton Canal District development, identifying opportunities for neighborhood improvement.

There will be four workshops conducted in each of the target neighborhoods; Downtown/JAM, Acre, Lower Highlands, and Back Central (see below for a complete schedule and workshop overview). We hope to see you at any one or more of the workshops, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions at 978-446-7200.

The schedule is as follows:

Downtown: April 23, 6:30-8:30pm, Lowell High School
Acre: April 27, 6:30-8:30pm, 276 Broadway St
Lower Highlands: April 29, 6:30-8:30pm, Boys and Girls Club, 657 Middlesex St
Back Central: April 30, 6:30-8:30pm, Rogers Middle School, 43 Highland St.

Refreshments will be provided, translation services will be offered.

The ad in the email also says: “Learn about the new housing, retail, commercial space, parks, and jobs coming to the HCD. Share your thoughts on how this development might benefit your neighborhood…and the city as a whole. Voice your ideas about how you can respond to the opportunities and challenges coming from the HCD. Join your neighbors in helping to shape your city’s…and your neighborhood’s future regarding: economic development, housing, arts and culture, access, and linkages to other neighborhoods and communities.”

This seems to me to be quite short notice, so I hope the DPD is doing stringent outreach to the neighborhoods in question, if they want a good turnout. But otherwise, I think this is the right way to operate and I hope that people show up! If you live or work in one of those neighborhoods, you should plan to go. Your input is important to the process.