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University Heights Historic District - Lowell's First Suburb
Made in Erie 814 posted a City Journal entry in Lowell - The Heart of SimNation's Rust Belt
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS City wards map with University Heights highlighted by star; University Heights Street Map HISTORY University Heights was founded as North Lowell in 1877 by Thaddeus Leo Kaufman. As Lowell grew, the desire for single-family homes grew as well, as many of the city's earliest residents lived in tenement buildings along or near the Merrimack River. Kaufman purchased several thousand acres of land on a hillside overlooking Lowell, and began subdividing the land for new residents to build homesteads. Kaufman's reserve was along the east side of Merrimack Street between Central Parkway and Fullerton Avenue, as UNB Lowell had already been granted the land west of Merrimack by the State of New Bearin for the establishment of the university. After a brief battle with Kaufman (who had declared himself as "mayor" of the new town), North Lowell was annexed by Lowell in 1889, and officially became part of the city. The area grew further in the early 20th century as the Lowell to Lawrence streetcar was completed and began service in 1901. The neighborhood boasted a general store, school, police and fire department, church, and several specialty shops. In 1906, North Lowell was officially rechristened as University Heights by then-Lowell mayor John Burke. The streetcar was decommissioned in 1940, and many of Merrimack Street's shops began closing or relocating back into the city center. After the war, the construction of the Lowell Connector made it possible for residents to take advantage of larger homes and lots in suburban communities, and University Heights' longtime homeowners began leaving the area. In 1980, Lowell Board of Education closed the Olsen Street School, which had been open for over 60 years. Olsen School was demolished in 1986, and many homes were either abandoned or sold to absentee landlords. Crime rose in the area, and UNB Lowell police often helped city police patrol the area. In the 1990s, the City of Lowell, Middlesex County, and the State of New Bearin announced an initiative to rehabilitate the neighborhood. Many blighted and abandoned homes were able to be preserved and resold, at affordable prices for first-time homeowners and young professionals. Vacant storefronts on Merrimack were marketed to business owners with tax-free incentives to move into or back into the city from the suburbs and other areas. By 2001, University Heights' comeback was well underway, and in 2009, the Merrimack Parc building was constructed on the former Olsen Street School site, which had been abandoned and vacant for over 20 years since the school's demolition. This build represented the largest residential project completed in Lowell since the Bedford Terrace public housing project was built in 1962. Today, University Heights is a vibrant community to live in. Many of its residents are UNB Lowell students and faculty, as well as young couples and families. The storefronts along Merrimack Street have been repurposed into an entertainment district for the area. University Heights is a mix of the greatest... Former United Merchandise Building; now apartments for UNB Lowell students. ...and the latest in architecture. This is the Merrimack Parc Apartment building, built in 2009. The building primarily houses UNB Lowell students, although apartments are available to the general public. Situated directly across Merrimack Street from UNB Lowell, the Merrimack Street Entertainment District provides weekends of fun for students, residents, and visitors alike. Well, that's all for this one. As always, I'm never sure where in Lowell (or beyond) our next installment will take us, but there's only one way to find out. Thank you for visiting Lowell...The Heart of SimNation's Rust Belt. Come Back Soon!!- 2 Comments
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