Two weeks to the day after InsideLowell reported that, as part of discussions about the future of the former UMass Lowell Inn and Conference Center, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts would be speaking with Lowell City Manager Tom Golden about potentially converting the two abandoned city courthouses into housing, the Healey-Driscoll Administration officially put the former Lowell District and Lowell Superior Courthouses on a list for future development.
The news about the Mill City buildings came as part of an announcement that more than 450 acres of surplus state-owned land could be used for the development of 3,500 new housing units across Massachusetts. The administration expects to make 17 additional sites available to developers in the next year, including issuing Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for ten sites and holding an auction for an additional seven sites in September 2025.
An RFP will be issued by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) for the District Court building on Hurd Street within the next six months. The Superior Court building on Gorham Street will be made available to developers as soon as late summer 2025, or the second half of 2025 and into 2026.
“The goal of the City of Lowell today is to let developers know that Lowell is open for business,” City Manager Tom Golden is quoted as saying in the press release. “Lowell appreciates the opportunity presented by the Healey-Driscoll Administration to showcase our beautiful City that boasts pride, culture and community that are steps away from our commuter rail. Developers will be impressed with our concierge permitting process that is hassle free and welcoming for developers to build commercial properties or expand our market rate, affordable ownership and workforce homes.”…