Historic Preservation in Lowell

Lowell has proven that historic preservation and urban economic development can work hand-in-hand for the betterment of a community.  Urban disinvestment and decline were a familiar sight in America’s older cities in the mid-twentieth century.  Lowell was no exception to this phenomena as the collapse of Lowell's once-thriving textile industry in the 1920s and 1930s resulted in empty mill buildings and a decaying central business district. During the 1950s and 1960s, federal urban renewal funding became available to Lowell. Unfortunately, these efforts did not stimulate economic renewal and resulted in the demolition of some of the city's most significant millyards and tore apart several ethnic neighborhoods. 

However, some in the community saw the city's history as a means to its revitalization. In the early 1970s, city planning efforts began to focus on preservation as a core element of its revitalization strategy.  The establishment of the Lowell Heritage State Park in 1974 added  credibility to Lowell's efforts to establish a National Park in the city. The first Historic District Commission and two local design review districts were created downtown by the City in the1970s.  Much of the downtown, millyards, and canal system were placed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The City invested in pedestrian improvements downtown that reinforced the area’s 19th century flavor and provided design assistance for owners of historic properties.  Finally, Lowell National Historical Park was established in 1978 in a federal law that also established the Lowell Historic Preservation Commission, which during its existence assisted with much of the historically sensitive building rehabilitation that took place between 1979 and 1995.

For the past quarter century, the Lowell National Historical Park (LNHP) and the City of Lowell have served as stewards of Lowell’s historic and cultural resources, systematically assisting in the rehabilitation of its many historic downtown buildings so that they once again contribute to the city’s character and economy.  The LNHP has played a leadership role in making historic preservation the theme of the community’s economic development program.  The City’s comprehensive economic development program likewise, has been dedicated to fostering community pride in its industrial and working heritage and providing new hope for and commitment to its economic future.  In doing so, the LNHP and City in concert with a host of public and private partners have created a vibrant living, learning, and working environment that respectively preserves and tells the story of the industrial revolution in Lowell.

The City’s numerous historic districts contain a critical mass of structures from the nineteenth century when Lowell was America’s textile capital.  Lowell contains a total of 13 districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places and 22 individually-listed National Register properties scattered throughout the community in the downtown and neighborhoods.  Lowell has the fifth highest number of properties in Massachusetts included on the state’s inventory of historic resources.  The Lowell Canal System, which provided the framework that shaped the entire development of Lowell, is listed as a National Historic Landmark and is also been designated a Civil and Mechanical Engineering Landmark.  Efforts are currently underway to seek World Heritage Site designation for the canal system.  Also included in the city are two local architectural and design review districts.  Lowell’s physical resources include the original 5.6 mile power canal system, major cotton textile millyards, and evolutionary streetscapes of commercial and residential structures.

The LNHP and City have been part of an active public/private partnership that has been responsible for the rehabilitation of over 250 structures downtown and the creation of extensive public programs to preserve and interpret the city’s cultural resources.  Several major mill complexes have been successfully renovated into housing and office space.  Aluminum and stucco facades have been removed from downtown buildings revealing attractive 19th century commercial storefronts.  The banks of Lowell’s canals have been largely reclaimed providing areas of recreational enjoyment and interpretation of the city’s rich history.  Streetscape improvements including brick pavement, granite pavers, and period lighting and benches grace the downtown, enhancing the 19th century urban character of the city.

Strengthening and expanding historic preservation review and regulations in Lowell was a requirement of the federal law creating Lowell National Historical Park in order to ensure community actions would not be inconsistent with the preservation goals of the Park.  Since the establishment of the Lowell Historic Board by the Massachusetts Legislature in 1983, over 1,700 permits have been issued within the Downtown Lowell Historic District indicating an extraordinary level of change within the downtown.  A second design review district also overseen by the Board, the Acre Neighborhood District, was created in 1999 to assist in the implementation of the Acre Neighborhood Revitalization & Development Plan.  Eight additional design review districts under the purview of the Board were created in 2005 in the already existing neighborhood National Register districts for purposes of demolition and new construction.

Extensive public programming, interpretive and educational programs, waysides, and public art add to the vibrancy of the city and reinforce Lowell’s history and culture.  Waysides and public art help to weave together the significant areas, vistas, and structures along the Canalway and throughout the downtown historic district.  Cultural events such as the Lowell Folk Festival, Boardinghouse Park Summer Music Series, Doors Open Lowell, and Winterfest encourages the community to celebrate its rich heritage while participating both as actors and audience in the midst of Lowell’s most historic buildings and sites. 

Lowell’s revitalization is a tribute to the highly successful public/private partnerships that have been a central ingredient in every project undertaken by the City.  The Lowell Heritage State Park played a key role in preserving Lowell’s history by securing the recreational and air rights to the canal system as well as much of the right-of-way needed to develop the Canalway.  The Lowell Historic Preservation Commission, the Park’s former sister agency, also played a pivotal role in the city’s impressive revival.  The Commission provided over $5 million in preservation grants and loans for façade rehabilitation during its 17 year tenure.  This investment generated over $50 million in private investment in 63 nationally significant historic structures.  The Commission set the standard for high quality rehabilitation and restoration within the downtown historic district and creatively invested its cultural funding to help bring the district alive.

Within Lowell’s neighborhoods an active historic home marker and brochure program has been established by the Lowell Historic Board.  Other efforts have included survey and identification of historic resources and National Register listings as well as technical assistance and outreach to homeowners regarding preservation.  The City has been instrumental in the preservation and rehabilitation of historic landscapes including Tyler Park and Rogers Fort Hill Park through partnerships with neighborhood groups and various state grant sources.

Very little could have been accomplished in Lowell without the consistent support of the community’s business and governmental leadership.  Effective leadership through the years was delivered by seven city managers; numerous city council members; Lowell’s bankers; and officials from the nonprofit banking consortium, the Lowell Development and Financial Corporation.  Of critical importance has been the advocacy and support of the Lowell Plan, Inc., the community’s prominent business advocacy organization.  Together, these entities have been responsible for implementing the urban cultural park vision.

For its efforts, Lowell was recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation with one of its distinguished National Preservation Honor Awards in 2002 as well as one of America’s initial Dozen Distinctive Destinations in 2000.  In 2004, Lowell was designated a Preserve America community by the White House and Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.  Lowell has succeeded where many other communities have failed in reclaiming the attributes that make communities special places.  One important lesson Lowell has learned is that insistence upon quality rehabilitation and historic integrity can pay off.  Through this practice, Lowell has set a standard and model of excellence that other communities have sought to follow.  The Lowell model emerged out of a clear vision and has been kept alive through multi-agency support and commitment to promoting quality of life issues in the city.  This vision and commitment will ensure the continued focus over the coming years necessary to complete and maintain the accomplishment of the city’s reclamation of its historic and cultural resources.