TO:                  Mayor William F. Martin, Jr.

                        And

                        Members of the Lowell City Council

FROM:            Bernard F. Lynch, City Manager

DATE:             May 25, 2007

RE:                   Council Motion of 5/15/07 by Councillor Elliott

“Request the City Manager report on the ways and means of restarting the Demolition Program.”

The following are the properties that have been tentatively placed on the demolition list:

1.           33 Hildreth Street

2.           63 Varnum Avenue

3.         155 Westford Street

4.           68 Wollaston Street

5.         290 Branch Street (barn building only – demolition completed by owner)

Over Fiscal Year 2007 under the Demolition Program we completed the Freudenberg/

Jackson Street demolitions and the emergency 295 Middlesex Street demolition.  The amount of Federal Funds remaining for salaries, asbestos surveys, and the actual demolition of properties is now $9,371.95.

This amount of Federal Funding is insufficient for any additional demolition activities.  Federal Funds have not been awarded for the next fiscal year 2008.

The funding source dictates the steps taken for the demolitions.  The following list provides an overview of the steps involved in the process.

1.         Federal Funding Source

a.         Inspectional Services notification to owners with proof of citations and

            documentation of abandoned and dangerous status of the building.

b.         An initial review request regarding the historic values of the properties are sent to the Lowell Historic Board and when applicable the Lowell National Historical Park.

c.         A comprehensive complete package of all materials, including citations, photos, etc. is put together on each building and submitted to the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) for approvals.  MHC has 30 days to respond with a request for additional information, conditions, and/or approvals.

d.         The property list is sent to the Law Department for review of notifications and citations to the owners and notification of a public hearing with the City Council for Demolition Order

 e.        Upon approval by the City Council procurement of an Asbestos Inspector to provide surveys of all buildings is conducted.

f.          Upon receipt and review of the asbestos survey information the demolition is bid under M.G.L. 149.

2.         City Funding Source

a.         In most cases, when City funds are used, the process can be expedited by elimination of the MHC approvals.

In order to expedite this process, I have moved ahead with the initial site review and photographs of the properties and taken the steps above of notification and request for information and status to the Lowell Historic Board on all of the properties listed.

In order to move forward any further the following must be provided:

1.         Inspectional Services or other funding source and verification of available funds.

2.         Inspectional Services notifications to owners of abandoned and dangerous buildings along with all receipts and all documentation in the file pertaining to

155 Westford Street and 22 Varney Avenue.

3.         Update from Inspectional Services on 68 Wollaston Street - Inspectional Services letter 6/28/06 stated this property was secure and not opened to the weather, but to remain on list pending updates.

4.         63 Varnum Avenue pending National Park approvals.

5.         33 Hildreth Street – funding required.

Please let me know if I can be of any additional assistance.  Thank you.