On the Local Economy
Commercially, in all areas of the city, we’ve struggled. As your City Councilor, I will work to support efforts to increase our commercial tax base, thereby lessening the burden on residential and existing commercial property owners.
With fuel prices going through the roof, it’s becoming an economic necessity that we be able to provide good paying jobs for the residents of Lowell, so that folks living in Lowell, may work in Lowell.
I will encourage “out of the box” thinking in our approach to economic development with a renewed marketing strategy. I believe that by strengthening our ties with the Umass Lowell and Middlesex Community College and technological communities within the Merrimack Valley, we can create sustainable, economic development throughout the City of Lowell.
Commercial Expansion
Over the past several years, the City of Lowell has taken the path of least resistance. More resources within the Department of Planning and Development must be channeled towards expanding our commercial and industrial tax base. Historically, we have sought out residential tax base gains through residential development and in doing so, have “given away” much of our valuable commercial space to residential development. There are many avenues we can take as a means of attracting business and industry. The businesses we should be seeking to attract are bio-technical, nanotechnology and other research industries. We must capitalize more effectively on our partnership with UMASS Lowell and Middlesex Community College.
Other businesses could be looking to Lowell for facilities that support back office operations, such as utility companies, mutual funds and the banking industry. We have the labor pool to accommodate this need and with our proximity to Boston, we are in an ideal location, with operational costs that are significantly lower than the costs of the Boston area.
While progress has been tremendous in our downtown, it truly needs to be more diversified in its offerings. We could find value in creating venues for all socioeconomic levels - from pricier, higher-end boutiques, to basic needs, such as a grocery store. I do believe that a prime tenant for the new parking garage, for which we have yet to find a means of paying, is a grocery store. Why should our downtown residents have to travel to the outer neighborhoods to meet their basic needs? In addition, our downtown should be open later in the evenings, to accommodate those residents returning to Lowell each day after they have finished work.
We must also have to plan farther into our future in regards to adequate elderly housing for our Baby Boomer generation. At the rate we’re going, we won’t have the affordable housing units available for these folks when they reach that point in their lives.
As your City Councilor, I will work to make Lowell the “go-to” community for arts and culture. This revolution is already in the works with the dedication of folks from the Revolving Museum, the Arts League of Lowell and Western Ave. Studios, to name a few…however, we must maintain a close eye on our Creative Economy, to ensure its progress with our Commercial Economy.