Lowell City Council - November 10, 2026

The Lowell City Council’s regular meeting on November 10, 2026, approved by a 10–0 roll-call vote the confirmation of executive-session votes authorizing a parking agreement, tax increment financing (TIF) agreement, and right of first refusal with Charles Stark Draper Laboratories Inc. for property in the Hamilton Canal Innovative District. The discussion identified a TIF benefit of approximately $10 million over 15 years and a commitment of 100 jobs over 10 years. Councilors and residents debated enforceability, local hiring, environmental impacts, and the value of the incentive. Developers and building-trades representatives described a separate agreement reached that day establishing construction workforce goals—10% Lowell residents, 15.3% minority participation, and 6.9% women’s participation—and apprenticeship opportunities prioritized for Lowell residents; the council noted this agreement was made outside the city’s TIF documents. The council also adopted the FY2027 minimum residential factor of 0.899590.

The council voted to accept and expend a $35,640 EMPG grant and a $75,000 MassDEP SMRP grant, and authorized the city manager to execute contracts with Tech Inc.; these items passed together by a 10–0 roll call. It received notice of MSBA approval for window projects at the Bailey, McAvenue, and Shaughnessy schools, estimated at $7.6 million total with an estimated $2.4 million local share; related loan orders were referred to a December 7 public hearing, rather than finally approved. Several National Grid/Boston Gas utility work requests were referred to the wire inspector for reports and recommendations. The council also referred five additional school projects for anticipated MSBA review, and advanced a cemetery fee-schedule amendment to a public hearing.