Downtown and JAM Ideas

Robeson Street Beautification

Idea:

Work with Lowell Transitional Living Center, Mill No. 5, and others to brighten up the alley behind Mill No. 5. This could include tables, cleanup, weeding, and other improvements to make it feel more “intentional.” Maybe even pieces of art–and maybe it could include some bump-outs to widen the sidewalk near LTLC? Let’s see what [Read more…]

Benefit:

Better connection to Middlesex Street, show public realm interest in underutilized area, build partnerships with shelter

Location:

Downtown / JAM.

Walking Area

Idea:

Work with the City to create a temporary walking/patio area in downtown Lowell. This could be many areas, possibly on Merrimack St from John to Shattuck Streets no through track, emergency vehicles only. A left only on to Merrimack from John St. there would be access to Kirk St. making a left from Merrimack. This [Read more…]

Benefit:

It would benefit the many businesses in the area. More comfortable outdoor dining for the restaurants and encourage or bring back other merchants such as gift shops, boutiques to that area. There are garages at each cardinal points within walking distance.

Location:

Downtown / JAM.

Independent Creators Expo Lowell

Idea:

This event would be like a Comic Con but more like the Small Press Expo in Bethesda, Maryland. The emphasis would be on artists, cosplayers, writers, musicians, and any other creative who is self-generating projects in the Arts and Entertainment. Of course, as the big draw of Comic Cons has been performers in genre specific [Read more…]

Benefit:

Lowell has an incredible array of the arts and entertainment creatives, both professionals and hobbyists. This event would benefit these creatives by bringing them to a larger and specific audience. Lowell would benefit by having the event outside of Boston. There are many people from all over northern New England [Read more…]

Location:

Downtown / JAM.

Tiny Doors Lowell

Idea:

Atlanta has tiny doors hidden in public spaces. Parks, buildings, museums. They’re fun to just stumble upon and I feel like it brings a sense of wonder to the community. It’s artistic and fun. Essentially, small doors are created and decorated as if a fairy or maybe a mouse had a door leading into their [Read more…]

Benefit:

If it becomes a larger phenomenon, people may be incentivized to seek out the doors and explore more of the city. Otherwise, it’s a small scale community art program and who doesn’t love that?

Location:

Citywide, Downtown / JAM.

Yuletide Market

Idea:

An idea I think that would thrive in Downtown Lowell is creating a Yuletide Market. The first or second weekend in December, close down Middle Street or another spot in downtown Lowell, with the cute cobblestone roads, and invite all the vendors from Western Ave. Brush Arts etc. and have mulled wine and hot chocolate [Read more…]

Benefit:

Downtown Lowell in the winter is so cute time with all the lights, wreaths, and old brick buildings, I think if this is done right, it could turn into a holiday destination in MA.

Location:

Downtown / JAM.

Nintendo Nights

Idea:

Put together a weekly or monthly series of events where people can bring picnic food (or we invite food trucks and get an alcohol permit for a beer garden if we’re ambitious) and there are one or two projectors set up in a locked case hooked up to old video games. They can eat and [Read more…]

Benefit:

Would help revitalize a park and bring people together. If it was advertised, maybe people would come from out of town to experience this unique Lowell idea.

Location:

Downtown / JAM.

Sidewalk Poetry (With stamps or stencils)

Idea:

The Public Works departments of Cambridge, MA and St. Paul, MN have a Sidewalk Poetry Program that annually requests residents to submit original pieces of poetry to be stamped into fresh cement. A group of individuals then reviews the poems and select a few to be used. The cost of this program is minimal: the [Read more…]

Benefit:

This would serve a dual purpose: engaging pedestrians —including visitors– with art and inspiring Lowellians to submit their original work. Furthermore, the poetry/ public art will have a lasting impression since the sidewalks could exist for decades.

Location:

Downtown / JAM.