Doors Open Lowell is this Thursday thru Saturday. There are some interesting new buildings on the list this year (we’ve always wondered about the trolley barn at the Boott and now we get a chance to visit it!) More info here.
And, if you’ve been wondering what happened in the mail room last weekend, someone forced the window and helped themselves to some packages. There’s a photo of the culprit in the Lowell Sun here.
The monthly board meeting is tomorrow, the 25th, in the lobby office at 7:00. Residents are welcome.
The Festival of Lights is this Saturday, the 28th, at 6:00 at 282 Suffolk Street, a short walk across Dutton Street. This lovely evening festival involves music, international food, and floating lanterns.
And there’s a new festival in the works for mid-June centered on Shakespeare and fantasy creatures. They’re currently looking for vendors, fairy house builders, and costume competitors. Sounds like a great chance to flex your creative side!
Just a reminder to lock your car, particularly in the surface lot—we do live in a city. Last week our security cameras showed someone going car to car in the side lot and he just opened the doors on 4 cars that were not locked.
The vote on increasing parking fees has been postponed after downtown businesses complained at Tuesday’s public hearing. More info here.
A reminder that Ron and a tech or two will be checking the fire alarm and sprinkler equipment in each unit this Thursday between 8:30AM and 4:30PM. If you haven’t already completed your permission form, please fill it out and drop it at the office ASAP. Extra copies are available at the office if you no longer have your blank copy or contact me and I’ll see about posting a copy. This annual inspection is important for everyone’s safety.
Also, there seems to be a new festival in the works aimed at children and adults and planned for June 16th. For anyone interested and available, there’s a planning meeting at Humanity Style at 128 Merrimack from 10:00–11:00AM this Thursday.
After the March City Council meeting, here’s what Georgi reported back:
“I attended this evening’s Lowell Council meeting and the parking increases were accepted without discussion.
“A few months ago there was a special meeting to discuss the planned increase in parking fees (and fines throughout the city) that was attended by about 30 very interested parties who were against the then-submitted proposal.
“This current and now passed financial plan is very close to what many of us suggested at that meeting.
“The increase is 37% higher than what we pay now in the garage but the increase is perfectly aligned with the cumulative inflation rate since the last time the garage costs were increased (2003).”
Also, Brian advises that there will be one more public hearing about the fee increases next Tuesday, the 3rd, at the regular City Council meeting in the City Council chamber at City Hall, 2nd floor. The agenda for the meeting can be found here, with the specifics about the parking fee increase here.
A neighbor (thank you, Brian) provided the following info:
“Just an FYI. On the City Council agenda for the March 20, 2018 meeting an ordinance change is being requested to increase the parking fees/fines as of July 1, 2018. I’m not sure if a hearing will take place or if the council will just vote on it at the meeting.”
After some digging, I found this, which offers the new rates under discussion, and which is part of the larger agenda for this meeting. For anyone interested in attending, here’s the info.
Date: March 20, 2018
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: City Council Chamber, 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA
No one likes to have their fees go up, but the increases they’re talking about now look much more reasonable than the ones they were discussing earlier. The monthly pass card rates for the Leo Roy Garage given in the new ordinance are:
(1) Individual pass card: $87, market rate
(2) Pass cards, group billing (20 o r more): $71, 81% of market rate
(3) Residents of the central business district: $66, 75% of market rate
(4) Persons 62 years of age and over residing in downtown Lowell and handicapped or disabled persons residing in downtown Lowell shall pay $36 per space per month .
The parking ban ended at 7:00am. This means that anyone who is parked in one of the garages that allows residents to park for free during a snow emergency has until 9:00am to move their car before they begin incurring fees.
To no one’s surprise, a parking ban has been declared because of the approaching storm. If you’re parked in the surface lot, please be sure to move your car to one of the city garages ASAP or risk being towed. Any time the city bans on-street parking, the Canal Place Association bans parking in our surface lot as well to allow for plowing.
From the City of Lowell: “Snow Emergency/Parking ban declared March 12, 2018 at 2 P.M. Ban shall take effect 10 hours later at 12 A.M. March 13, 2018. No parking on city streets from 12 A.M. March 13, 2018 until ban lifted. Vehicles parked in violation of ban subject to tow at owner’s expense. Free parking available from 6 P.M. March 12, 2018 at Ayotte Garage, 1 Post Office Square, Downes garage, 75 John St., and Lower Locks, 90 Warren St.”
The current snowstorm parking ban officially ends at 2pm. If you’ve taken advantage of the free parking at one of the other city garages you have until 4:00 to move your car before they start charging.
A parking ban has been declared by the city because of today’s snowstorm. If you have a car parked in the surface lot, please be sure to move it to one of the city garages before 4pm or risk being towed. Certain garages have free parking for city residents during the ban but, unfortunately, not the Leo Roy Garage next door. More info can be found here.